Let's go for a walk in Stocksfield

A guide to some interesting and pleasant walks in and around the villages of Broomley and Stocksfield, Northumberland. All the walks described on this page start at Stocksfield Station.

Click to download a map (PDF) to help you follow these walks - If you need a PDF file reader, click on 'Get Adobe Reader.

Please observe the country code:

Walk 1 - approximately 3.5 miles

Stocksfield Station to Prudhoe Station

Turn left out of Station Car Park along the A695. Follow the main Road past Broomley First School and Stocksfield Sportsfield.

Immediately beyond the row of cottages (Merryshields Terrace) turn left onto a footpath signed "Eltringham 1.25, Ovingham 2.5". The footpath very soon joins a wide track. Continue on this track to Merryshields Farm passing the farmhouse on the right.

Leave the farmyard by gate and bear left at a junction of farm tracks. A short distance on go through a gate at a waymark arrow onto a grassy track leading towards a wooded area. After a second gate the path narrows and becomes rather overgrown. This wooded area on the left covers old mine spoil heaps and contains two gates with stiles alongside.

Leave the wood by a stile, after which for a short distance the main path is very muddy, though this can usually be easily avoided (by keeping left and above the path).

Cross the field fence at a stile on the right, and follow the direction of the waymark arrow across the field and aiming for the next waymark post (visible towards the lower end of the Bullion Hills). At this waymark keep right along a wide grassy path to a ladder stile. There are good views here in all directions along the Tyne Valley. Cross the ladder stile and follow the path along the field boundary heading towards Eltringham Farm which can be seen straight ahead. Cross another ladder stile at the end of the field, turn right and then left over another stile. Walk across the middle of the field towards the farm gate. Pass Eltringham Farm on the left and turn left down the metalled road just past a footpath sign showing Merryshields 1.25 miles.

(A short detour of about 100 yards up the road to the right, will bring you to the National Trust property of Cherryburn, formerly the home of the engraver, Thomas Bewick).

Just past some old works buildings, turn right along a wide track which soon climbs up to and passes a house and garage. Follow this rough track, keeping to it even where a signs shows a footpath to 'Prudhoe 1 mile' leading off to the right. The track continues on to join the A695 Prudhoe by pass at the Hammerite factory. Follow the path left outside the factory railings, parallel to the main road. Where this path reaches the main road again turn sharp left keep the factory railings on the left. This path goes down through steeply sloping woodland, which signs tell you is in the care of the Woodland Trust.

The River Tyne is soon visible below and to the left. Leave the woodland via a gate where the path reaches the Newcastle-Carlisle railway line and cross the railway onto a riverside path which leads to the Tyne Riverside Country Park. Cross the road to reach Prudhoe Station.

(Another short detour takes you over the footbridge across the Tyne to visit Ovingham village, with its ancient parish church (where Thomas Bewick is buried) and old pack-horse bridge over Ovingham burn.)

This walk can be rough and muddy in places.

Walk 2 - approximately 3.5 miles

Stocksfield Station to Riding Mill Station via Broomley Woods

From the Station cross the road to the kissing gate west of the Post Office.

Follow the grassy path bearing right. (It's well worth climbing the Round Hill on the left, to admire the view and see the dog memorial.)

Continue west and towards the railway track, passing through a group of mature oak trees to reach and cross the Hindley Road. The steep sided hillocks are typical sand and gravel deposits formed by the last Tyne glacier.

Beyond the car park follow the right hand path close to the railway, passing by huge beech and oak trees. Take the first waymarked path on the left through the grass glade to the top the hill. Disregarding the two stiles over the left hand fence, go straight ahead and soon enter a young mixed wood. Before entering the wood, it is well worth looking back at the view of the Tyne Valley eastwards. In the wood, look out for wood ant heaps and green woodpeckers.

This path leads over wooden duckboards by a pond to a clearing with a waymarker. (Walk 4 turns left at this point.)

Keep right, and soon there is a wide ravine and small stream (the Smithy Burn) on the right.

At the end of the wood, cross the stile and stream, walk up to the waymark post and bear slightly to the left. Cross diagonally across the field – there is another waymark post about a quarter of the distance – towards the opposite corner. Head for the farm gate – to the left there is a stile. Cross the stile (Walk 3 turns left at this point) and turn right along the byway, going straight ahead at the crossroads, signposted towards Riding Mill, through stone built Broomley village.

After leaving the village behind, proceed to the point where the road bends gently to the left and look for a stile over the stone wall to the right. Cross the stile and follow the hedge line to the end of the field, disregarding the small stile over the hedge about half way along. At the field end, cross the stile, the gravel track, and another stile. Note the large glacial boulder beside the stile.

Follow the hedge line, making a minor detour to cross the stile to the left of the farm gate over the stone wall. At the corner of the field turn left, and walk along the edge of the wood until a stile to the right. Cross the stile (which has a small gate to allow dogs through). The stone clad structure houses apparatus for the Tyne to Tees water pipe line. Walk along the edge of the coniferous wood until a footpath sign is seen.

Turn left onto a track through the wood, and turn right at the waymark post. Follow the path downhill to a stile at the end of the wood, and a short distance on to a stile at the edge of the field. With extreme care, cross the busy A68 main road, and enter a small field. At the far side, turn left through a small field to Riding Mill.

Turn right onto the road, and then left at its junction with the A695. The station is on the right after the Wellington pub. Both Newcastle bound trains and 602 buses stop at Stocksfield station.

The first part of the walk lies within the Community Woodland recently planted by Allendale Estates. As well as the usual conifers, there are broadleaved trees and grassy glades. The latter provide grazing for deer and hunting areas for owls. The woodland has been a great success, and is much used and appreciated by local residents.

As well as the rights of way marked with yellow waymarks, there are permissive paths where the waymarks are green. The path over the Mound is one such. There is a map showing the paths close to the car park.

Walk 3 - approximately 4 miles

Stocksfield Station to Broomley via Broomley Woods and return

Follow walk 2 to Broomley. Instead of turning right through the village, turn left along the track. Follow the unmade lane to the junction with the Hindley Road. Cross the road and take the track ahead and to the left towards Old Ridley.

At the end, turn left on to Ridley Mill Road, passing along a short stretch of gravel path at the end. Look for a path leading off diagonally to the right and passing through a gap in the hedge. Follow the track to the right, behind the Scout Hut and the Tennis Courts. Follow the course of the Stocksfield Burn, taking in a short stretch of road before carrying straight on behind the houses.

Some 25 yards after the footbridge on the right, the route turns left off the path, up a steep bank and over a low wall. It then becomes the back lane of Mount View Terrace before its junction with the A695. The station is across the road.

Walk 4 - approximately 2.5 miles

Broomley Woods Circuit

Follow walk 2 to the clearing in Broomley Woods but turn left and follow the wide track through a stand of mature conifers. Take the first left and continue for about half a mile down hill with a hedge of hazel, hawthorn and blackthorn on your right.

As the car park comes into view, bear right, and after 100 yards climb the stile on the left. The path continues up the hill and after a further stile crosses the Hindley Road again. Take the path downhill, then bearing left, follow the route back to the original kissing gate.

Walk 5 - approximately 3 miles

Estate paths circuit

From the Station yard at Stocksfield, cross the A 695 and take the lane at the rear (left hand side) of the Post Office. At the end of the surfaced lane take the path at the left side leading to the bank of the burn and then follow the burn right, upstream. Continue left along a short section of road then, immediately before a wall, take the path on the left. This follows the burn around the rear of the tennis courts and finally rejoins the road at the end of the estate. Take the short section of gravel footpath which continues parallel to the burn to join Ridley Mill Road which again follows the burn After two hundred yards you will see the buildings of Ridley Mill on your right.

Continue ahead along the road crossing the burn, and take the footpath on your left signed with a finger post to Painshawfield Road. (Walk 6 carries straight on at this point.) Take this path up some steep steps to join Painshawfield Road and continue along the road, past the point where it is joined by Well Road from the right.

(At this point see possible alternative route)

After a very short distance take a footpath on the right (Finger post to Meadowfield Road) and follow across the open grassy area onto Meadowfield Road. Cross the road and take the footpath along the left side of the Church of St John the Divine, signed to Apperley Road . On reaching Apperley Road turn left continue across the junction with Painshawfield Road and down Adams Bank to the junction with Cadehill Road. Turn right and then after a short distance, left into Crabtree Road. At the end of Crabtree Road take the footpath on the right, signed to Kimberley Gardens and follow this until you join the main A695 road. Turn left and follow this road back to the railway station.

Possible alternative route after joining Painshawfield Road.

Continue along Painshawfield Road to its junction with Meadowfield Road. Turn left and follow Meadowfield Road to a sharp right turn, when it becomes Cadehill Road. Follow this and then turn left into Crabtree Road. You have now rejoined the original route (see above).

Following either of the routes, this walk will take about 1 hour.

Walk 6 - approximately 4 miles

Stocksfield Station to New Ridley via Ridley Mill and the Fords

Follow walk 5 along the Stocksfield Burn to Ridley Mill. The route continues straight ahead into Ridley Mill Road. At the T-junction some 400 yards on turn right. Cross the bridge by the ford, continue on and cross the second bridge. There are seats by both fords. Continue up the road until you reach a crossroads then turn left into New Ridley Village. There is a seat on the right hand side from which to enjoy the views.

The building you can see in the valley bottom is Hindley Hall. Returning to New Ridley, walk along the road until you reach the Dr Syntax pub, which was named after a famous early nineteenth century racehorse.

Opposite the Dr Syntax pub, (where you may feel like stopping after the hill you just climbed!) there is a footpath indicating Painshawfield. The stile at the bottom of the field is in the right hand corner. The footpath continues to the right of the fence facing you and the next stile is in the left hand corner of the field as is the last stile which takes you on to Batt House Road.

Turn left and then right onto Ridley Mill Road and retrace your steps to the station.