Just a Nice Walk From Firwood
JUST A NICE WALK FROM FIRWOOD, TAKING IN SOME VIEWS, WATER, HILLS AND MOORLAND, DOWN INTO WOOLER FOR LUNCH AND BACK TO FIRWOOD.
Turn right out of the drive at Firwood.
Turn right and follow the signs up the hill going to Langleeford.
Cross cattle grid and drop down into Harthope Valley.
Follow road to Carey Burn Bridge – take gate on right before crossing the bridge. Notice the remains of the old bridge, swept away in floods. The present bridge was built in1956. Keeping river on the left, follow the track, skirting the hillside and following the valley bottom. There are some very pleasant water falls along here, not very high but they can be quite noisy especially when the river is slightly swollen. Take great care when it is anything more than slightly! There are also some good areas to cool the feet in on a hot day.
Follow the river to an area where it is ‘duck boarded’ – they have used logs here very effectively. Cross the boards and climb away from the water slightly to the right – take right hand track up the hill with the woods and the valley you have just walked through on your right. When you reach the gate at the top of the hill, take time to turn around and look back at the Cheviots. Say to yourself, I am going to walk amongst that lot at some stage! Go through the gate, turn immediately left to join broad track (they have been doing some ditching work, so slight detour from footpath) and then turn right.
Take this track, if it is a clear day, you should be able to see the sea in the distance in front of you. You are also looking over the border into Scotland. Eventually you will pass a Farmhouse on your left – keep your eye open for some very handsome free range hens. Just after the farm, the road bends around to the right*. However, you take the left had gate across the field signpost to Wooler Common.
Follow this track; it takes you through the gorse. Just after, the track splits, keep to the left hand fork, in effect going around the hill. Again follow track through the gorse, dropping down to a gate and a small stream. Keep watching here, the Red Squirrels are often playing on the wall.
Go through the gate and this takes you to the car park which serves Wooler Common. Turn right and the road takes you down into Wooler. If you have time though, stroll around the walks from the car park, there is a very nice duck pond, lots of bird boxes, read the inscriptions on the trees and seats and watch out for the deer.
From Wooler, follow the signs for Northumberland National Park and Harthope Valley to return to Firwood.
* If you want a shorter walk, stay on this road as it bends to the right. It takes you down through the hills and back to Yearle Farm. Turn right and back to Firwood.
All the pubs on the Front Street are walker friendly; there are also 2 very nice cafés, The Terrace and The High Street.
You can find Firwood on http://www.firwoodhouse.co.uk
Turn right out of the drive at Firwood.
Turn right and follow the signs up the hill going to Langleeford.
Cross cattle grid and drop down into Harthope Valley.
Follow road to Carey Burn Bridge – take gate on right before crossing the bridge. Notice the remains of the old bridge, swept away in floods. The present bridge was built in1956. Keeping river on the left, follow the track, skirting the hillside and following the valley bottom. There are some very pleasant water falls along here, not very high but they can be quite noisy especially when the river is slightly swollen. Take great care when it is anything more than slightly! There are also some good areas to cool the feet in on a hot day.
Follow the river to an area where it is ‘duck boarded’ – they have used logs here very effectively. Cross the boards and climb away from the water slightly to the right – take right hand track up the hill with the woods and the valley you have just walked through on your right. When you reach the gate at the top of the hill, take time to turn around and look back at the Cheviots. Say to yourself, I am going to walk amongst that lot at some stage! Go through the gate, turn immediately left to join broad track (they have been doing some ditching work, so slight detour from footpath) and then turn right.
Take this track, if it is a clear day, you should be able to see the sea in the distance in front of you. You are also looking over the border into Scotland. Eventually you will pass a Farmhouse on your left – keep your eye open for some very handsome free range hens. Just after the farm, the road bends around to the right*. However, you take the left had gate across the field signpost to Wooler Common.
Follow this track; it takes you through the gorse. Just after, the track splits, keep to the left hand fork, in effect going around the hill. Again follow track through the gorse, dropping down to a gate and a small stream. Keep watching here, the Red Squirrels are often playing on the wall.
Go through the gate and this takes you to the car park which serves Wooler Common. Turn right and the road takes you down into Wooler. If you have time though, stroll around the walks from the car park, there is a very nice duck pond, lots of bird boxes, read the inscriptions on the trees and seats and watch out for the deer.
From Wooler, follow the signs for Northumberland National Park and Harthope Valley to return to Firwood.
* If you want a shorter walk, stay on this road as it bends to the right. It takes you down through the hills and back to Yearle Farm. Turn right and back to Firwood.
All the pubs on the Front Street are walker friendly; there are also 2 very nice cafés, The Terrace and The High Street.
You can find Firwood on http://www.firwoodhouse.co.uk
posted by Beth | 4/27/2005 05:39:00 PM
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