A short, pretty circular walk from Darras Hall.
Suggested starting point (point 1 on map): Broadway shops NE20 9PW
From Broadway, follow the ‘Medburn 1 ¾’ footpath sign in a Westerly direction to a path which starts behind the shops (picture 1).
Follow this path for 700mtrs until you get to a road (Western Way). Head straight across the road and onto another path ahead, following the ‘Dissington Bridge 1’ footpath sign (point 2 on map).
In 175 mtrs, the path will reach a field. Take a right here and head to the corner of the field where you will join a track. At the track, take a left (point 3) and continue on this track for 650mtrs when you will reach a farm house. You can continue on the track through the farm or take the alternative route around the farm as requested by the owners.
Once past the farm, continue on the track for 400mtrs, passing a some trees on your left. Once past the trees, enter a field with a hedge to the right.
Keep to the left of the hedge and walk on the right hand side of the field until you reach a large tree (point 4, picture 2).
At which point, bear left on a worn path through the field (picture 3).
Bear left once you reach the hedge, keeping the hedge to your left and walk towards a road.
At the road, take a right and walk on the road for just over 300mtrs. Once you reach a bridge, go over the bridge and immediately take the footpath on the right signposted ‘Ponteland 2 ¾’, and head down some steps into a field (point 5).
Keep to the well-worn path with the River Pont on your right. In about 1km, you will notice a clump of trees to your left (picture 4).
Head over to a stile by the left of the trees (point 6). Go over the stile and into the next field. Walk round the field, keeping the trees to your right.Continue around the edge of the field for about 250m, until you come to another stile. Go over the stile, following the direction of the waymarker (bear right). You will see a bridge about 150m away to your right. Walk past this bridge (keeping it on your right, do not cross it!). Head over a much smaller footbridge (picture 5) and keep on the track, keeping the river on your right.
(You will walk past a stile on your left which takes you across a field. Do not go over this stile and instead keep going straight ahead.)
At a point where the track forks, you can take either track here (as they join back up later). I would suggest taking the left hand fork, keeping to the field boundary.
Keep going until you get to another stile (picture 6, point 7 on map).
Go over this stile and follow the direction of the way marker round the edge of the field, heading towards the bridge in the distance (point 8 on map)
Once you get to the bridge, climb to the top of the bridge where you will join a wide track. Take a right (picture 7) and head in a Southerly direction along the track for just over 1km.
You will now recognise that you are back at point 3. At which point you can return to the starting point the way you came.
Northumberland walks 