No.2: Sadberge & Barmpton

The track swings around a barn and Cross the road and take a signed silo and just beyond take the stile grassy path on the right. Hill House is alongside the left-hand of two facing away to the left across large arable fieldgates. Go through a storage area fields and the Carcut Beck behind the and in 100 metres cross a stile beside hedge on your right is followed another fieldgate and carry on up a rise faithfully for 1.2 km as it weaves along the right-hand field edge. The about. Watch for an old fence line path descends to enter a wood and coming in from the left, and turn along goes straight on for 150 metres to join it, keeping it on your left. After Catkill Lane. Turn right down the Lane 400 metres a cross fence is met in a No.2: Sadberge & Barmpton which has lots of mud patches after wet hollow. Turn left and in a few rain, on an improving, undulating path. metres pass through a gap to step onto adberge village green, Follow the Lane for 1.6 km of sheer a track. Ignore the farm road to Hill 3 miles to the east of delight, emerging through a gateway at House and continue along the field SDarlington just Petty's Nook onto the junction of edge path as it curves gently to meet a off the A66, Bishopton Lane and the Roman road. green lane at the end. Do not enter this is the starting lane but instead point for this Catkill Lonning take the stile pleasant stroll is very ancient, on the right around a a British track into a field and network of which became turn left. Walk ancient lanes a Roman road parallel to the and much to Binchester. lane at first newer paths to the Later it was a then drift away north. Some trade route to from the hedge legally diverted convey coal and pass through paths may differ and lime from a fieldgate to from the OS Auckland and bypass a paddock map, but they Aycliffe. In and cross a are well waymarked. places the path facing stile and is quite narrow pipe bridge. A A large stone stands on the green near Descend the field edge, surmount a and very lovely sewage works the main crossroads, commemorating stile and cross to a footbridge in a countryside bars the way Victoria's Jubilee of 1887. The 4tonner damp meadow. Pass to the right of a views can be but follow the was dug out of Sadberge reservoir, pylon then carry on following the had through perimeter by but probably found its way here from hedge which appears on your right to the trees. turning right the west of the country by glacial step over low rails in the corner into an Other parts along the bank action. arable field. The path zig-zags left are enclosed by some dense of the stream then left along a very Walking up the road towards then right three times, following the woodlands where birdsong abounds. narrow path to a facing stile. Darlington, the Parish Church appears left-hand field edge for 500 metres, Towards the bottom of this fine old Immediately, take the stile on the right on a rise, then beyond turn right at a then crosses the second concrete cart road, its full width is clearly into a pasture, cross to the second footpath sign to a paved path alongside bridge over the Carcut Beck. Over the appreciated. A wayside inn, "Patie's fieldgate and walk up the grass track the Village Hall, emerging at the rear bridge, turn right so that the Beck is Nook", once stood here, ideally then the concrete strip to another to an expansive view across now on your right and follow it for situated for traffic down Catkill and fieldgate. Beyond this, pass through Darlington and Newton Aycliffe. 500 metres to Bishopton Lane. along the Darlington and Sadberge buildings, and in a few metres a turn to roads. It had a bad reputation and the left then to the right below the after a gruesome murder there it green will bring you back to the start at INFORMATION closed and no trace of it now remains. Sadberge crossroads. Distance: 9.5 km (6 miles) Time: allow 3½ hours Standard: some gentle rises, easy Enquiries about leaflets: [email protected] Transport: bus to Sadberge Full series available at: www.alanbhutchinson.co.uk/ramblingon1.html Refreshments: Sadberge village Turn left along the road verge, the left Viewed from here the strategic side being widest, and follow it as it position of Sadberge can be fully winds around three bends, taking great appreciated. The Roman road of care because of fast traffic. Burdon Rykenield Street from York to the Tyne Hall and lodge are seen on your right ran through the settlement, and then 100 metres beyond a gas terraces on the north east side are compound on your left carefully cross very good evidence of Roman the road to a rough layby, where a occupation. Sadberge was well footpath sign by a known as a Saxon "Wapentake" stile directs you into or "weapon-touch", a field. Go forward derived from with the hedge on the very old your left and ceremony of note the ox- followers bow remains saluting the of the former Saxon Lord course of by touching the River Skerne. weapons to Carry his uplifted straight on spear. The court in the same direction and where a where disputes were settled sat on the corner hedge comes in on the right the Hill of Pleas, and such was Sadberge's path descends slightly. Follow the line importance that it became the seat of of this hedge as it curves gently left civil power and a county in its own past a solitary tree to a stile in the right, outside of the jurisdiction of the fence ahead and enter an arable field. Durham Prince Bishops. The river appears below on your left as the path goes up a little rise at first, After passing curving left then descending to a low an old pond stile to emerge onto the broad stony 30 metres track which carries on for away to the 400 metres to enter the left, the path east end of goes through Barmpton a wide gap Village. in a cross hedge and rises into a After the corner before first house, swinging left turn to the and then to right at a the right. An footpath sign to soon enter an ancient extensive view towards the Ketton narrow sunken lane. This bends then Farms is revealed and the Cleveland broadens out considerably and Hills can be seen across rolling green becomes grassy, climbing gently to end pastures. At the end of this field turn in the corner of an arable field. Walk left along the margin, keeping the straight ahead along the edge, keeping hedge on your right, and within the hedge and fence on your right all 200 metres the broad track from the way, a fine view of Sadberge Barmpton is met at a bend by a lone perched on its hill and the Tees valley tree. Another 500 metres of easy sweeping away towards Darlington walking then brings you to the Leaflet originally designed by the Darlington Group of the Ramblers’ Association, © Oct 95. opening up behind you. unoccupied site of Moor House Farm. Published originally by Darlington Borough Council. Version 4 revised to December 2019.