LONG DISTANCE WALKERS’ ASSOCIATION

NORTHUMBRIA GROUP

DURHAM DALES CHALLENGE

ROUTE DESCRIPTION 16 MILE ROUTE

 

From school turn L and walk down to main road.  Turn L.  CROSS ROAD WITH EXTREME CARE. Continue to road junction on R (SP: Hamsterley 5 miles). Turn R and continue down to cross road bridge. Bear R uphill from bridge to PB on R (Rushy Lea Lane – ‘Carr Farm’ sign) just before Cul-de-sac sign at top of hill.

 

Turn R along lane (passing Snipe Cottage) to gate. Pass through gate and continue ahead with wall on L (ignoring good track) to second gate. Pass through gate and go diagonally R uphill to new metal gate in field corner. Go through this gate and turn R to join good track to further gate. Through gate again to continue on track to another gate and

 

CHECKPOINT “A” - BLACK ALLOTMENT

 GR: NZ 059349.  SELF CLIP.

 

From Self-clip continue STRAIGHT AHEAD on broad track towards small stand of trees ahead.  Continue past trees for a short distance to reach

 

CHECKPOINT “B” – ABOVE ALLOTMENT HOUSE

(GR NZ 036341)

 

From Checkpoint continue on track (ignoring all tracks on L) to reach further small stand of trees with broken fence in front. At fence turn L to pick up path through the heather which narrows but eventually reaches broad yellow stony track.  Turn R on this track and continue for approximately ˝ mile.  Leave the stony track as it swings R and continue on narrow path through the heather.  Path swings L and follows marker posts and line of cairns to eventually emerge in line of shooting butts (shooting butt No. 4 on L).  Continue down line of butts to reach stony track. Turn R and follow track down to reach road (B6278).  Turn L on road for a short distance to reach

CHECKPOINT “C” -  B6278 (GR NZ 997308)

 

From Checkpoint turn R and follow road uphill (WITH CARE – FAST TRAFFIC).  As road begins to descend take cinder track on R (GR991320) and follow this track.  At track junction bear L and follow downhill path as it twists and turns to eventually reach tarmac road.  At road turn R for approximately 100 yards to reach

 

CHECKPOINT “D” – BOLLIHOPE (GR NZ 007350)

 

From Checkpoint cross road bridge and follow path (with river on L) to pass between slag heaps (quarry on R).  Path eventually emerges at the river side and passes old lime kilns on the R.  Continue with river on L to reach stile by metal gate in fence.  Cross stile and continue on path to footbridge over river. Cross bridge and continue straight ahead on narrow path through gorse bushes, and then trees (now with river on R).  Path passes through large rock formation and continues to cross second footbridge.  Continue on path with river now on L to eventually emerge through gate on to road.  Turn R uphill on road to

CHECKPOINT “E” – WHITE KIRKLEY

(GR NZ 027359 )

 

From Checkpoint turn L through wicket gate (SP : Weardale Way) to further wicket gate in bottom Left hand corner of field.  Pass through gate and continue straight ahead with river on L to 3rd wicket.  Pass through and continue straight ahead to 4th wicket .  Pass through and continue straight ahead to 5th wicket.  Pass through and continue on path over stream to climb up to yet another wicket gate.  Pass through and continue with fence on L (IGNORE STILE IN FENCE ON L).  Path eventually becomes enclosed between two fences and emerges through wicket gate into field.  Continue along edge of field with fence on L to pass through two further wickets before emerging on to tarmac road.  Turn L and continue downhill straight ahead into wood (ignoring road on L).

 

Continue on path through wood (ignoring rising track on L) to emerge into field.  Continue ahead with wood and fence on L to pass through three gates.  From third gate follow track diagonally across field to red metal gate into farmyard.  Pass into yard and continue between buildings to further gate to exit yard.  Continue L downhill to ladder stile in wall.  Cross stile and railway line to enter Caravan Park.  Continue on tarmac road through Caravan Park.

 

 Where road swings L to cross road bridge CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD on footpath with river on L to reach and cross footbridge.  Continue ahead with river on L and railway on R through fields to reach second footbridge.  Cross bridge and continue straight ahead to eventually climb steps up from track on to road.  Turn L and continue down road.  At junction with main road turn L and continue to road junction on R (SP : Tunstall Reservoir).  CROSS ROAD WITH EXTREME CARE and walk up to school and

 

WALK HQ - (GR NZ 071374)

 

CONGRATULATIONS!!