Looking back and then to your right Bear right after about 100 metres and there is a good view of Thornton Hall. cross a stile by a fieldgate. Follow the This imposing manor house was built faint track ahead across the field to a by Ralph Tailbois in the 16th century. large oak tree next to a water trough Later it was owned by Sir Francis and turn left along the field edge to Bowes of Newcastle, a merchant cross a stile in the corner of this field. venturer who was loyal to Charles I Pass over a footbridge between ponds during the English Civil War. Sir to emerge via a stile into another field. Francis is buried in High Coniscliffe Turn left along the field edge, then church. right at the waymark post in the corner. No.6: Archdeacon Newton & Walworth

Continue along the track in the same Proceed to the end of this field and the direction across three more fields. The next, crossing a stile and footbridge en he walk starts at Mowden Bridge Take the bridleway running north, last has a stone wall on your left, and route, then exit via a facing stile onto a T on Staindrop Road, on the north- right alongside the A1(M), and after as it turns away left, just as the track farm track going in the same direction. west side of Darlington. Cars may be about 700 metres, turn left to pass turns sharply to the right, go forward Immediately after crossing a bridge left in a small car park in a cluster of under the motorway. The track turns down the arable field parallel to a over the motorway, leave the track as trees opposite Edgecombe Drive. sharp right after 200 metres and in fence on your left, as far as a twin it swings left, via the facing stile next Some paths have been legally diverted about another 800 metres leads to the footpath sign by a stile. to the gate. and may differ from the OS map, but quiet farming hamlet of Archdeacon Turn left across the stile, now walking Follow the field edge path ahead, with the route is waymarked and the map in Newton. Bear left into the farmyard eastwards, and go slightly left over to Coniscliffe Grange farmhouse away to this leaflet is correct. Walk along around a farm building and the Old another stile. Cross it and go forward your left. At the end, turn left through Staindrop Road past the entrance to Hall, then walk forward until a along the field, with the hedge on your a gateway into the farm, then right in Coniscliffe Grange Farm. bridleway sign on your left is reached. left, surmount a facing stile and carry front of a small bungalow to cross a on along the next field edge to go over stile, and follow a path which goes a stile at the end. Now make halfleft diagonally over the field to Staindrop INFORMATION for a stile in the hedge on the far side Road. Turn right along a footway of the field. Cross it and turn left onto beside the road for the 300 metres Distance: 9.5km. (5.75 miles) a track. return to Mowden Bridge. Time: allow 3 hours Standard: mostly level, easy going Enquiries about leaflets: [email protected] Transport: bus to Staindrop Road Full series available at: www.alanbhutchinson.co.uk/ramblingon1.html Refreshments: Cockerton, nearby The Old Hall, now a farm store, dates Climb the stile and go slightly left back to the 14th century and is the across the lane, to then follow only remaining part of the mediaeval bridleway waymarks around the farm, manor of the Archdeacon of Durham, passing between buildings and situated here at "Newtown". In the emerging into another lane. Turn right meadow to the northeast of the farm and keep on the lane as it swings left the historic remains of the banks, past Low Walworth Hall, over Cocker ditches, fishponds and many Beck, continuing then as a surfaced rectangular enclosures of the access road as far as the B6279 mediaeval village can easily be seen. Darlington - Staindrop road. Turn sharp left up the surfaced access Low Walworth Hall, a Grade II-listed road, and in a short distance take a building built in the 16th century, was stile in the facing stone wall alongside the seat of the Roman Catholic a footpath sign pointing the way across Jenison family during the 17th and the front lawn of Garthornes Farm. 18th centuries. The house was Exit the garden via a wooden gate in searched for arms in 1689 to forestall the far wall, which leads into a grass a suspected uprising against William field, then go halfright to join a track. of Orange, who had replaced James II Carry on in the same direction as far as as King. Eighteen members of the a bridge over a small beck. Jenison family became priests.

Pass through the facing metal fieldgate Cross the road and follow the and turn left along the field edge, bridleway southwards. It crosses the keeping the fence and beck on your trackbed of the Darlington - Barnard left. Continue over a stile and along Castle railway after 500 metres, and a the next field edge, then in the corner fine panoramic view unfolds from the ahead cross a small bridge and stile. top of the next rise. Walk across the arable field and pass The railway was opened in 1856 to through a gateway to approach in a improve the industrial fortunes of short distance Low Walworth Farm. Bear Barnard Castle. The line continued right alongside earth banks around the over Stainmore to Kirkby Stephen, but farm, past a pond to a stile in a fence it was closed under the controversial Leaflet originally designed by the Darlington Group of the Ramblers’ Association, © May 97. bordering a lane. Beeching Plan in 1965. Published originally by Darlington Borough Council. Version 4 revised to December 2019.