On Sunday, 22nd November, the Stockton Rambling Club will have three circular walks in the Cotherstone area of County Durham. All walks will start and finish in Barnard Castle {NZ 049 166} - see the following map.
Crown Copyright (2009). All rights reserved. Licence No. 100046831. Produced using Anquet Maps.
The A-walk will take in Cotherstone, Booze Wood, Loups' Hill, Crag Hill and Deepdale.
The B-walk will visit Cotherstone, Cuckoo and Crag Hill.
The C-walk will pass through Naby,Cotherstone and West Holme.
This is a Route 2 coach pick up and is also an early start (Billingham: 9.00 am, Acklam: 9.15 am and Stockton: 9.30 am).
On Wednesday, 18th November, Stockton Rambling Club have a mid-week walk in the Darlington area of County Durham. Please meet at 10.30 am at Asda {NZ 309 168} in Whinbush Way - see the following map.
The walk will not be longer than 5 miles. For further details ring 01325-266803.
The small village of Rushyford {NZ 282 288} in County Durham is located near the two round-abouts that make up the intersection of the westerly going A689 road and the north-bound A167 road. We often pass by the village en route for Weardale. Today's expedition took us from the Rushyford area to Shincliffe via Ferryhill, Hett, Tudhoe, Sunderland Bridge and Croxdale Hall.
We set off from our drop-off point on the A689 road {NZ 295 286} (see the picture below) at about 10.00 am. There were 9 people in the group: JB, PB, RB, MC, KF, CH, JH, LM and WM. WM led the walk.
After negotiating the gate, we followed a northerly bearing along a good track that took us through Standalone to the south-eastern corner of the village of Chilton {NZ 293 294}. From here we made an easterly trek to Kay's Hill where we turned back onto a northerly bearing in order to reach Great Chilton Farm {NZ 298 302}.
After crossing the minor road at {NZ 298 305} we continued on our northerly bearing over Wheel Hill {NZ 297 306} and onwards to reach Ferryhill. We entered the village at {NZ 290 322} and made our way through a network of roads and houses to emerge in open land again at {NZ 292 331}.
We continuerd on our northerly trek - crossing a dismantled railway at {NZ 287 337}. Our path now took us pass a large electricity sub-station (on our right) as we joined the A688 road (Thinford Lane) at {NZ 285 346}. We walked in a westerly direction for about 200 yards and then turned right onto a footpath at {NZ 283 346} that took us in a northerly direction to a minor road at {NZ 281 356}. Turning right, we followed this into the small village of Hett {NZ 281 364} - see the picture below.
Turning left pass the village hall, we headed in a westerly direction to cross the A167(T) road at {NZ 274 362}. Our route now took us across the fields to a school on the outskirts of Tudhoe Colliery {NZ 266 359}. Continuing on a south-westerly bearing we arrived at Tudhoe Village {NZ 258 356} where we had a short lunch stop on the village green.
After lunch, we headed in a south-westerly direction to cross Valley Burn. We then had a very pleasant westerley trek through Spring Wood to reach the River Wear at {NZ 242 359}. As a consequence of yesterday's heavy rainfall, the level of the river was very high - and it was flowing at a tremendous speed. Turning onto a north-easterly bearing, we now followed the course of the river to Sunderland Bridge {NZ 265 378} (see picture below) where we joined the route of the Weardale Way (WW). As we approached Sunderland Bridge we had some very good views of the Croxdale Railway Viaduct {NZ 263 376}.
After stopping for a while in order to watch the turbulent waters of the River Wear, we entered the Croxdale Estate and followed the WW along a good road to Croxdale Hall {NZ 274 378}. We stopped here (near the church) for a short tea break. Continuing along the WW, we now made our way to High Butterby Farm {NZ 288 389}
From the farm, we descended down a steep, muddy path into Shincliffe Wood and continued along the route of the WW until we reached the village of Shincliffe {NZ 289 409} - where our expedition ended.
Many thanks to WM for organising such an interesting and exciting adventure for us today. We had a really great time. Use the buttons below to see where we went, how we did and some of the sights we saw.
Note
JB and I had a really delicious cup of tea (or two or three) in The Rose Tree at the end of the walk.
On Sunday, 15th November, the Stockton Rambling Club will have three walks in the Sutton Bank area of the North York Moors. All walks will finish in Kepwick {SE 469 909} - see the following map.
Crown Copyright (2009). All rights reserved. Licence No. 100046831. Produced using Anquet Maps.
The A-walk will start at Sutton Bank {SE 516 830} and will take in Old Byland, Hawnby and Arden Hall.
The B-walk will also commence at Sutton Bank and will visit Tang Hall, Gurtof Wood and Gallow Hill.
The C-walk will set off from near Ox Bank{SE 431 926} and will pass through Nether Silton, Black Hill and Gallow Hill.
This is a Route 1 coach pick up and is also an early start (Billingham: 9.00 am, Stockton: 9.15 am and Acklam: 9.30 am).
On Thursday, 12th November, Stockton Rambling Club have a mid-week walk in the Bilsdale area of the North York Moors. Please meet at 10.30 am at Chop Gate car park {SE 559 993} - see the following map.
The walk will not be longer than 10 miles. For further details ring 01642-805781.
The Catterick area is probably most well known for horse racing and its close-by army barracks. However, for walkers and outdoor enthusiasts it is also a useful starting point for walks along the River Swale - and the access it provides into Swaledale. Today's expedition took us from Catterick Bridge to the town of Richmond via Brompton-on-Swale, Skeeby, Gilling West, Willance's Leap and East Applegarth.
We set off from our drop-off point (near the junction of the A6136 and B6271 roads) {SE 225 999} at about 10.14 am. There were 6 people in the group: PB, KF, CH, LM, JY and PY. PB led the walk.
Following the A6136 in a southerly direction we made our way to the road bridge over the River Swale (see picture below) where we turned right onto a footpath at {SE 227 994}. From here we headed in a westerly direction along the river bank. After passing under the old railway bridge (see here) and then under Agricola Bridge (see here),we skirted around the south-western edge of Brompton-on-Swale in order to reach the B6271 road at {SE 215 997}. Turning left, we walked along the road for about 490 yards in order to find a footpath on our right at Brompton Bridge {SE 212 999}. This path took us in a north-westerly direction to Union House {NZ 202 016} and then on to the village of Skeeby {NZ 198 025}.
We left Skeeby on a north-westerly path that took us to Gascoigne Farm {NZ 196 033}. Staying on our north-westerly bearing, we went along the western side of Gilling Beck in order to reach the small village of Gilling West {NZ 183 052}. As the weather conditions were so bad, we had our lunch stop here - in a bus-shelter near the church {NZ 182 051}. Just as we were finishing our lunch, the B-group arrived so we hastily vacated our shelter so that they could make use of it.
From the church we made a south-westerly trek across the fields and along Old Hall Lane to {NZ 174 045}. Now changing to a north-westerly bearing we passed through The Ashes and then entered Gilling Wood at {NZ 160 050} on a south-westerly bearing. We had a good climb through the wood along a well-defined track. While we were in the wood, the trees provided some good cover - both from the wind and the rain.
We emerged from Gilling Wood onto a minor road at {NE 155 046} and turned left along it. After about 65 yards we turned right onto a south-westerly going path along the northern edge of Black Plantation. Maintaining our south-westerly bearing, we arrived at a path junction at {NZ 141 034}. At this point we entered a wood (Beacon Plantation) on Richmond Out Moor. We made a southerly trek through the wood so as to reach a minor road near the aerial masts at {NZ 139 024} (see here). From here we went across the fields to reach the monument at Willance's Leap {NZ 136 021} - see the picture below. We had some good views of the River Swale and the surrounding landscape from here.
Leaving the monument on a westerly bearing, we followed the high ground around to {NZ 129 024}. We were exposed to some very strong winds during this section of the walk - so much so, it was, on occasions, difficult to maintain an upright position. When we reached the road (see here), we swung onto a southerly bearing and descended into the valley in the direction of Low Applegarth. At {NZ 129 017} we turned left onto a path that took us in an easterly direction to East Applegarth (see here) and Whitecliffe Wood. While in the wood, we decided to take advantage of the shelter it offered and had a short tea stop at {NZ 144 015}.
We emerged from the wood at {NZ 146 014} and made our way to High Leases and Whitcliffe Farm. There were some good views of Richmond Castle (see the picture below) as we made our way along the lane. Just after the farm, at {NZ 154 015}, we turned right into Green Lane and descended to the A6108 road at {NZ 155 008}. From here we made our way through the caravan park and re-joined the A6108 road at {NZ 161 011}. We followed this in an easterly direction into the centre of Richmond where our expedition ended in the car park at {NZ 168 011}.
When we set off today the weather conditions were pretty bad - and the numbers on the coach reflected this. We were exposed to very strong winds and incessant heavy rain. However, by late afternoon (as we approached Willance's Leap) the rain stopped, the sun appeared and we had some lovely light-blue sky. Nevertheless, despite these improvements in the weather, the strong winds stayed with us for the rest of the walk. Even though the conditions were not what we might have chosen, we had a really great day.
Use the buttons below to see where we went, how we did and a few of the sights that we saw.
On Sunday, 8th November, the Stockton Rambling Club will have three walks in the Tudhoe area of County Durham. All walks will finish in Shincliffe {NZ 290 408} - see the following map.
Crown Copyright (2009). All rights reserved. Licence No. 100046831. Produced using Anquet Maps.
The A-walk will start at Rushyford {NZ 282 288} and will take in Tudhoe and Croxdale Hall.
The B-walk will also commence at Rushyford and will visit Hett, Tudhoe and Nickynack Bridge.
The C-walk will set off from Ferryhill {NZ 291 325} and will pass through Hett, Tudhoe, Nickynack Bridge and Croxdale Hall.
This is a Route 3 coach pick up and is also an early start (Acklam: 9.00 am, Stockton: 9.15 am and Billingham: 9.30 am).
