Introduction
This walk follows a route across open moors and forest tracks
with superb views. The route passes through an underpass on the
old Wansbeck Valley Railway (Wanney Line) from Morpeth to Redesmouth.
This is not a circular walk (although circular variations are
possible), however the views in each direction make both the out
and return legs enjoyable.
Walk
Walk Distance - 3.6 miles approx.
The walk starts at a layby on the road from Knowesgate on the
A696 to Ridsdale on the A68. The layby is half a mile north of
the turn off to Sweethope Loughs and is exactly where the Ray
Burn crosses this road, so is easily located on a map. (GR953841).
When you leave your car cross the road and walk to a stile in
the fence just north of the Ray Burn. This is the start of a footpath
marked on the Ordnance Survey Map.
Cross the stile and follow the path through rough moorland.
The view east along the valley of the Ray Burn is superb (see
top photo on right), especially in winter when the sun is low
and colours of the fells are vivid. We did the walk between Christmas
and the New Year under rapidly changing skies and the views were
quite dramatic.
Follow the path down a dip, crossing a burn and up towards the
underpass under the disused railway. The railway is now used as
a farm track but it is easy to imagine a steam train puffing along
the track. (A video of the last train to Woodburn is available
in the shops and shows the real thing.)
From here the path rises in a roughly North Westererly direction
towards the forest. The path can be vague and the ground is rough
and wet so care is needed here and a compass may even be beneficial.
Eventually you will reach a gate where the path enters the forest
. Proceed through the gate and follow the path until you reach
a forest track.
Continue along this track as it rises to the top of a hill.
When we reached this point very dramatic, almost jet black clouds
appeared with clear blue sky beneath that presented a very unusual
view and the silhouetted tree tops look almost like advancing
aliens! That's how the camera captured it anyway.
From here the track drops downhill and in less than half a mile
a path to the right turns through the forest towards the summit
of Ray Fell.
Continuing from here means a very long walk so this is the start
of the return journey, along the same paths that you have just
followed.
Notes
