. t h g i l r a t s

f o s r u o h l a n i f

e h t n i e n o t s

t s a l e h t g n i y a l

y b t e b s i Walk 5: h

n o w s i c n a r F

r i S d n a y a The ‘Dunes and Delavals’ d

a n i e l t s a c a

d l i u b t o n d l u o c . m e h t

e h d e m i a l c

d n u o r a s e c a p s n e e r g d n a d l i w e h t y o j n e d n a s s e c c a o t e l p o e p r o

The Kings Head f

t a h t r e g a w

s e i t i n u t r o p p o e h t e s a e r c n i o t s m i a k r o w t e N e c a p s d l i W s ' y e l l a V h t y l

Public House, B

a d e t p e c c a e

Seaton Sluice. H

. y l i m a

Distance: 6 miles (9.6km) f . s t i f e n e

This harbour once thrived on b

s u o m a f n i d n a

h t l a e h m r e t - g n o l g n i r b n a c h c i h w , s s e r t s e c u d e r y l t n a c i f i n g i

Duration: 2 hours shipping salt and bottles from s

c i r t n e c c e n a

n a c e d a l g d n a l d o o w a h g u o r h t g n i l l o r t s r o n e d r a g l i u q n a r

Start/Finish: () the nearby glass works. t

f o t s e d l i w e h t a n i g n i t t i s s e t u n i m e v i f t s u j t e Y . e r u t a n h t i w t c e n n o c e r o t y t i n u t r o p p o

, l a v a l e D e k a l Guide: Red squares B e h t r o n e m i t e h t r e h t i e n n e t f o s i e r e h t d l r o w c i t c e h s ' y a d o t n I

s i c n a r F r i S y b

y b t l i u b y l l o f a n o i t c u d o r t n I

f o s n i a m e r e h T

e l t s a + Leaving the car park at the Melton Constable cross over the main + 200 yards on, you meet a main road. Turn LEFT onto this road C

t h g i l r a t road at the bollards to find the start of the Blyth dunes footpath. (you are actually keeping the same directional line) and it will S From the bridge you can look into the harbour created by the eventually bring you to a T junction onto The Avenue. Delaval family. Under the bridge were huge gates that could hold back the , so when opened, the waters would sluice + Turn LEFT onto the Avenue and just 100 yards along you will turn out the built-up silt from the harbour bed, hence ‘Seaton Sluice’. RIGHT to go along the front of a row of red-bricked terraced houses known as Harboro Terrace. + Walk along the Dunes' for about 1½ miles (30 minutes) until you arrive at Gloucester Lodge Farm. Turn left, crossing the main + At the end of this terrace continue along the earth track, keeping road to the gateway following the footpath towards Lysdon Farm. the same direction, with the obelisk in front of you (slightly left). Gloucester Lodge Farm was named after the visit of the Duke of Keep to this track (following the colour-coded marker posts) down

Gloucester in 1795 at the height of the war with France. It was into Holywell Dene until you reach the riverside that is actually the

. f l e s r u o y y o j n e , l l a e v o b a d n a , t u o g n i t r a t s e r o f e b t e l f a e l s i h

said that he lodged at this spot so he could review seven Seaton Burn. t

n i h t i w e d i u g ' g n i k l a W y h t l a e H ' r u o d a e r o t e m i t e h t e k a t o d e s a e l thousand of his troops on Blyth beach for the benefit of the Duke The obelisk signifies the spot in 1723 when Admiral George P

of York, Commander in Chief, who rode along the line to Delaval was found dead still attached to the horse that dragged

. s k l a w e h t n o r e t n u o c n

demonstrate a show of strength. It also gave confidence and him there from the T junction on the Avenue you passed earlier. e

l l i w u o y s e r u t a e f g n i t s e r e t n i e h t f o e m o s e b i r c s e d o s l a h c i h

reassurance to the local population that they would be protected w

w o l l o f o t u o y r o f s n o i t c e r i d n e t t i r w e r a e r e h t p a m e h t g n i s u s a l l e w s

from the very real threat of invasion from Napoleon Bonaparte. + Turn LEFT here and follow the path with the river on your right for A

. k r o w t e n t r o p s n a r t c i l b u p e h t f o h c a e r y s a e n i h t i w y l l a u s u , n o i t a c o

The white buildings in the distance are preserved World War Two nearly one mile, then cross over to the other side, and walk with l

e l b i s s e c c a n a t a d n e d n a t r a t s t e l f a e l s i h t n i n w o h s s k l a w e h t f o h c a ammunition bunkers and gun turrets. the river now on your left until you arrive back at Seaton Sluice E

and the Melton Constable.

. h g u o r o B e h t f o s y a w e l c y c d n a s h t a p t o o f e h t e r o l p x

+ At Lysdon Farm, the track curves gently to the LEFT and Along the Seaton Burn stands the remains of Starlight Castle, a e

y e h t s a r e i h t l a e h d n a r e t t i f e m o c e b l l i w k r o w t e N e c a p s d l i W e h t g n i s

continues as a potholed earth track for ½ mile, winding through monument to the folly of the 'Gay' (meaning jovial) Delavals. Built u

e l p o e p d l r o w l a r u t a n e h t f o s r e d n o w e h t g n i c n e i r e p x e s a l l e w s the outbuildings of Seaton Red House Farm to a tarmac lane. by Sir Francis to win a wager that he could build a castle in a day. A

Walk 6: What next?

The Avenue Loop 's Wildspace Network is an ambitious initiative to bring people closer to the natural world around them. The project builds on the strong community foundations of Blyth, and the villages to continually create the opportunities to make Small Tortoiseshell positive changes to the environment of Blyth Valley. As such you Its dark coloured, spiny have a vital role to play in the process, whether suggesting caterpillars feed on stinging Distance: 6 miles (9.6km) opportunities for further enhancements, reporting problems or nettles and when young, live getting involved in a more hands-on way through activities in your Wildspace Network Duration: 2 hours together in a mass of spun local community. We're always happy to hear from you. Start/Finish: Council Offices silk. Long walks Guide: Blue squares Acknowledgements

+ From Seaton Delaval Council Offices head coastwards, crossing + After nearly a mile along this gravel lane, turn LEFT at a marker The Blyth Valley Wildspace Network would not be possible without over the roundabout to reach The Avenue. post down a much narrower track through the trees, which brings the support of the following organisations: The Avenue gateposts are evidence that this was once the you out onto Double Row. Turn RIGHT, passing the fruit and driveway to constructed by the Delaval family vegetable shop, towards the roundabout at the end of the road. in the 1718-29. The drive was originally straight and level but the At Double Row, as the name suggests, was the site of parallel area is riddled with underground mine workings and the colliery houses and at this junction it was also the entrance to subsidence has created the undulations. Seaton Delaval Colliery. The heavy industrial pit-head has been replaced by lighter trading estate units but the landscaped 'spoil + After about one mile down The Avenue take the LEFT junction at heaps' are still in evidence. the signpost for ''. Where the road bends left, CARRY ON STRAIGHT AHEAD at the signpost. + Turn LEFT towards Seaton Delaval, walking only a few yards to Where the road bends, you are close to the sealed-off pithead of the railway bridge and cross over at the bollards. New Hartley (Hester Gardens) where there is a memorial to one of the worst tragedies in the history of coal-mining, when, in 1862, + Immediately over the road there is a footpath into the trees, with over 200 men were buried underground and suffocated through the railway line on your right. Follow this path for ¼ mile to the lack of ventilation. graveyard of Church. At the 'T' junction turn LEFT towards For further information about the Blyth Valley Wildspace Network Seaton Delaval, along a tarmac lane which passes the Old please contact: + This tarmac drive leads to Seaton Red House Farm, then Vicarage. becomes a pot holed earth track for another ½ mile where it Holy Trinity Church is dated 1848 and the vicarage of 1849 is an Environmental Projects Team reaches Lysdon Farm. Immediately past the farm take a LEFT early John Dobson commission. Community Regeneration & Culture, Blyth Valley Borough Council, turn which takes you behind the farm towards a stone arch which Seaton Delaval, , NE25 0DX. carries the old railway line overhead. About 100 yards after going + Eventually you come out onto Avenue Road facing Procter and through the arch you approach a 'T' junction …turn RIGHT here. Gamble. Turn LEFT and return to the Council offices along Telephone: 01670 542370. Facsimile: 01670 542233. Avenue Road. Email: [email protected] B2 A189 Pubs & Cafes Walk 7: Blyth Car Parks Newsham Circuit Local Nature Reserves

Places of interest B3 Skylark Bus Services Found mainly in grassland and meadows has a B1 B1 X11, X24, X25, 43, 101 Distance: 5 miles (8km) distinctive warbling song A1061 B2 X1, Ex1, 391, 316, 43 Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes B1 B3 X11 which can be heard B4 308, 310, 363, 364 Start/Finish: Newsham First School as it rises in vertical, B5 442, 316, H2, 363, 364, 810, 811 Guide: Yellow Squares hovering flight. B6 363, 364, 810, 811 B7 X25, X26, 42A, 42B, 365, 810 A193 + Start at the green opposite Newsham 1st School at the junction of + After ½ mile, cross a stile and down a tarmac path for 10 yards . Druridge Drive and head uphill towards Newsham. Turn LEFT Turn RIGHT and cross Laverock Hall Road. Re-enter another Cramlington along Winship Street, then RIGHT past the Black Diamond PH. 'tunnel' of conifers on the other side, continuing southwards. Newsham First School was unusual when first built and was known locally as the thru'penny-bit school because, like the coin, + After 1 ½ miles turn LEFT at the cross-roads. it had many angles. The Black Diamond is a colloquial name for + Follow this lane heading coastwards for ½ mile and you will arrive B4 coal. A190 at an obvious LEFT junction. Turn here and after 50 yards the + Continue straight up Plessey Road, passing Blyth Golf Club track curves to the right before going under a stone arch and Seaton entrance, and take the track alongside the Golf Course. approaching Lysdon Farm. On your left is a timber gate and stile. B7 East Cramlington New Hartley Sluice Plessey Road follows the line of the old six-mile wooden wagon Cross this and through the field on a faint track. way that led from Plessey Woods to Blyth Harbour which closed in the early 19th Century. The coals were loaded onto waiting keel + Keep heading northward and after two timber ladder stiles you boats. These keels were rowed out to the mouth of the River will eventually come out onto South Newsham Road, where you Blyth and loaded into waiting colliers because the channel should turn RIGHT and walk downhill for 100 yards before B7 approach was too shallow for the larger coal ships. crossing over near the junction with Sandringham Drive.

th + A189 B5 + You will arrive at a crossways at the end of the course (near 12 Walk along Sandringham Drive using the cycle track, then as the tee box). Turn LEFT through a tunnel of conifer trees along the road starts to curve to the left, take the cycle track off to the LEFT, old railway line (heading south). signed 'National Cycle Route 1'. Seaton The Blyth Golf Course was created from the old mine workings and spoil heaps of New Delaval Pit. The dismantled railway line + Follow these signs and they will lead you through to Plessey Delaval was for coal only, never passengers. Evidence of the mounds of Road. Turn LEFT and walk up to the roundabout and turn RIGHT Holywell along Winship Street and back to the START of the walk. A190 mine waste products can be seen to the left. Seghill B6

Walk 8: Healthy Walking The Wagon Way Walk

The Avenue Branch Blyth Valley Borough Council encourages safe, regular physical The ‘tunnel’ of conifers once activity such as walking and cycling recognising the contribution it Distance: 8 miles (12.8km) used to be the main rail route can make to a healthy lifestyle. between the New Delaval Duration: 3 hours Colliery and the Tyne docks. Start/Finish: South Newsham Pavilion Being Active: Guide: Red circles + Can make you feel good Regular exercise can Wild Sights + Gives you more energy reduce the risk of + Helps you sleep better heart disease and is + + + a foundation for good From the Shankhouse Roundabout head towards Blyth. At the Head south in a straight line for about two miles, through two sets The large estates around Blyth Valley have played their part in Reduces stress Laverock Roundabout turn LEFT, crossing to the right hand side of gate/stiles, eventually coming out onto Double Row near shaping the countryside with grand tree plantings such as the + Controls weight health. of the road to the grass verge. After 150 yards turn RIGHT at the Hartley Caravans. Turn RIGHT here towards Seaton Delaval. Avenue approaching Seaton Delaval Hall. Here a double row of lime + Keeps your heart healthy junction, following the tarmac lane almost to the end where there trees (leaves pictured above) can be seen in between the beech is a field track on the right - this is the Plessey Old Wagonway. + At the end of this road is a roundabout. Turn LEFT. Walk 50 yards trees. Along the line of the Plessey wagon way, small horses would pull to a railway bridge and cross over the road at the bollards to Safety and common sense guidelines their chaldron [52 hundred weight] six miles along the wooden access a footpath through the trees. Drifts of bluebells are a joy to behold in rails to reach Blyth Harbour. The loads would be emptied and + British woods and can be seen through 1. Do not undertake activity if 5. You should try to be they would return for their twice a day journey. The nearby After ½ mile you arrive at the cemetery of Seghill Church. Holywell Dene in May. The bluebell is you feel unwell. active for half an hour on five Bedlington foundry provided iron runners as the wood wore down Continue with the cemetery wall on your left, and then you arrive under threat, however, from Spanish 2. Do not exercise if you have or more days a week. too quickly with the continuous heavy traffic. at a 'T' Junction. Turn RIGHT passing the stables on your left. invaders. The Spanish Bluebell was just eaten a large meal or 6. Take a mobile phone with introduced to gardens and happily + Proceed eastwards for about one mile, to the edge of Blyth Golf + Cross over the railway line and continue westwards with the have drunk alcohol. you, a walking stick can also th interbreeds with the English Bluebell. 3. There is nothing to be be useful. Course (12 tee box). Turn RIGHT at the crossroad in the tracks. Seaton Burn on your left. You eventually arrive at a T-junction The hybrid children are more robust gained from over-exertion. 7. Tell people where you are + where you turn RIGHT and meander through the Middle Farm and can take over from the true English When starting activity make going and when you will be This track goes through a 'tunnel' of conifers and to a stile leading development then bearing left to head westwards again. Bluebell. sure you only feel a little back, particularly if going out onto a tarmac path. Turn RIGHT and cross over Laverock Hall + breathless and are not alone. Road at the bollards, re-entering the tunnel of conifers. After 200 yards you approach a small hedgerow. Turn LEFT and The native red squirrel can still be found in the Borough. It is under speechless. 8. Vary your route and timing. The colliery railway line ran from the New Delaval pit through proceed towards Cramlington. You will then arrive at a crossways threat from the northwards expansion of the introduced grey squirrel, 4. Build up the frequency and Head for populated areas if Seaton Delaval and all the way to the Percy Main loading bays on in the path. Turn RIGHT here and this track takes you directly to which competes for food and can introduce disease to the red duration of activity first something doesn't feel right. the banks of the River Tyne. the subway under the A189 and out again at the Bay Horse Inn, squirrel populations. The red squirrel does have the advantage that before increasing the 9. Wear boots or strong shoes; the finish of the walk. You are about two miles south of your it can feed effectively in the maturing coniferous plantations. Look for intensity, e.g. walking faster take waterproofs, snacks starting point and a bus service back towards Shankhouse the tell-tale nibbled pine cones when walking through the trees. or including some inclines. and drinks; not valuables. roundabout is available (BUS NUMBERS).