NORTH EAST
19 NORTHUMB/TYNE & WEAR WYLAM
■Distance: 7¾ miles/12.5km ■Time: 4 hours ■Grade: Moderate
While this walk starts in Northumberland, 99% of its length is in Tyne and Wear, specifically within Gateshead. This is a proper country walk. Who would have thought you could have such a good walk with superb views within Gateshead? A fine reed-fringed pond with ducks and swans then on to views of the Tyne Valley and County Durham with the Pennines and the Cheviots in the distance. With a bit of luck you may see deer (there were three magnificent red deer stags when we visited) as you cross the grounds of Bradley Hall.
1 Start Turn L out of car park and cross bridge over river. Cross railway and continue along pavement. Turn R on cycle route towards Prudhoe/ Crawcrook. Pass Daniel Farm and stay on cycle way to Bradley Gardens (may be visited). Continue on road for 70m to view duckpond. Return 50m and go through gap in fence R. U-turn R on footpath. Turn R at T-junction and continue beside fence to road.
2 1½ miles/2.5km Turn R and cross road near bus stops. Turn L on Old Main Street. This road rises and dips; at bottom, turn R on signed footpath. Keep fence R and houses L. U-turn R after gate and walk to road. Cross and take short path No 57 to lane. Turn R, then continue over stile near gate. After four more stiles, turn L on steep stony lane.
ROUTE
Start/parking Wylam car park, Tyne Riverside Country Park, grid ref NZ119647, postcode NE41 8DW Is it for me?
Good paths (one very stony ascent) and mostly quiet roads Stiles 21
PLANNING
Nearest town Prudhoe Refreshments Many pubs and cafés to choose from in Wylam, Bradley Gardens Café, Wylam (01661 852176), The Fox &
Hounds, Coalburns (Sundays from 2pm) (0191 4132549) Public toilets Wylam Main Road, 150m west of the start point Public transport Bus 684 from Newcastle or Hexham, Bus 686 from Hexham or Prudhoe (gonortheast.co.uk) Maps OS Explorer 316; Landranger 88
