Ellingham Circular Walk _ Newham Hamlet , Chathill

Walk START : Facing the front door of the Pack Horse Inn, set off left, down Ellingham's single street, past Ellingham Home Farm and ignoring a gravelled private road turn left at the T-junction towards Preston.

At the next junction where the road swings right towards Chathill continue straight ahead down the lane. Ellington Hall is over the wall to your left.

Carry on down this lane. It swings right and downhill between stone walls. On coming to a fork, take the left hand and turn downhill to Brook Cottage.

There is a small gap to the left of the cottage. Follow the grassy path up the hill to a gate and continue on through another gate.

The walk passes left in front of the new cottages walk along the broad gravel frontage and on through a gate into an avenue of trees

Go right over the stile at the end and ignoring the other gates there continue on in the same general direction with the fence to your left until you come to a gate. The path passes through the edge of Broad Wood beyond this gate.

The Path emerges onto open farmland. Follow in the same general direction along the left hand field margin. This drops down over a footbridge across Priestsdean Burn.

Continue along, with the hedge to your right, to reach the minor road at Newham Buildings

Take the road to the right and follow it to the hamlet of Newham, crossing the main London- Edinburgh railway line.

Follow the road through Newham.

The road sign shows to Coldrife.

Continue along this road over a slight rise where there is a large tree on the left and at about 800 yards from Newham is the entrance to the Green Lane (NU182282)

Follow the lane, it is about 1 mile long in total, there is a footbridge passing over "Priestdean Burn" and continue on until you come to a junction with a metalled road beside a white painted building , this was the Tewart Arms. It would appear now to be a private residence.

Turn right down the road and walk past a house called Pinewood to the Level crossing at Chathill.

Through Chathill follow the road left around the bend and continue along the roadside until the road takes a pronounced dip. Go through the farm gate on the right and pass diagonally to your left up and across the pasture.

From the top of the rise you will see two areas of woodland, Broad Wood and to its left Hagg Wood, divided by a narrow gap. Walk towards the left hand edge of Hagg Wood. Use the telegraph poles as a guide.

Over the rise you will come to some marshy ground. Skirt around it to the right and you will find a path leading to a fenced footbridge over "Long Nanny" and then still heading to the left of the wood, on to a stone stile over a wall.

Beyond the wall stile take the path diagonally left across the field beyond, up to a gate.

The path beyond climbs up through a wood to another gate and a few stone steps then lead into the church yard.

Pass either way around the church building and take the avenue of yew trees along and down right, to a kissing gate.

Though the gate follow the left hand side of the field up and past a white painted footbridge at St Maurice's Well. Don't cross the footbridge but go right up to the metalled road.

Take the road right, past some modernised farm buildings. Follow the turns left and right back to the start at Ellingham.

For consideration, when using the countryside

This selection of walks in Northumberland follow recognised public rights of way or permissive paths and should be easy for most people to negotiate: but please remember that wet and winter weather can make paths muddy in places and the summer months produce fresh growth of vegetation - so wear suitable clothing and footwear.

If on any of these walks you find obstructions, or damage to stiles or footbridges which make paths impassible, please report these details as soon as possible to the countryside department of the Local or National Park authority responsible for the area.

Relationships between local farmers and those who use the footpaths are generally very good and there is no reason why they should not remain so given reasonable attitudes and understanding. Remember that the countryside is the farmers' livelihood, so please observe the Country Code : keep to the paths; close gates after you ; and take care not to cause damage, or leave litter; keep your dog under control; and leave all wild flowers for others to enjoy.

Taken from: Country Walks in East Tynedale by Philip R. B. Brooks (1978) NBM Sept 2009

Dogs in the countryside :-

On Rights of Way - Dogs must be kept under close control, preferably on a short lead.

On Access Land - 1) Keep your dog on a short lead from 1 March to 31 July this to protect ground nesting birds from disturbance

2) Local restrictions may include a ban on dogs.

3) Note that restrictions do not apply to Guide/Hearing dogs, or if you are using a public right of way

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