Allen Banks and Staward Peel

Start: Allen Banks and Staward Gorge National Trust car park, Bardon Mill, Hexham (NE47 7BP). Grid ref. NY 798 640

(S/E) From the car park, walk South, pass the kind of little hut and continue straight following the brown arrow with River Allen on your left-hand side. Keep on the main path, always following the brown arrows until seeing a little bridge and then a bigger one. (After 2Km or so)

(1) Cross both bridges left across River Allen, then take right following the arrow indicating the footpath to walk across the fields. Continue straight always following the main path until you clearly see a path junction after 1.3 Km.

(2) Take right (West) on the path going toward the river and following the green arrow. This path follows the riverside and will start to go up into a wood after 980m.

(3) At the junction, follow the John Martin heritage trail (red arrow) and continue on the large path South-East, now in the woods.

(4) The path bends left and continues following the John Martin heritage trail (red arrow).

(5) At the next junction, keep on the main path, now following the green arrow. Continue on this path until you come back at the junction at the waypoint (2) passing by Staward Peel remains.

(2) Retrace your steps along the riverside up to the farm.

(6) Then take right towards the farm. (If you are back to the bridges over the river, walk back) Pass the gate and take left on the road just before the farm. Continue on the road until seeing a path on the left (100m).

(7) Take the path and continue straight on it following the river on your left-hand side, all the way up to reaching a bridge.

(8) You can either continue straight following the river up to the car park or you can take a detour right to see The tarn. An arrow indicates the path to follow to see The Tarn. If you carry straight on, continue on the main path following the river until seeing a bridge above your head. Walk under the bridge to find the path on the right that goes up the bridge.

(9) At the gate, take right on the road to cross the bridge and continue straight back to the National Trust car park (S/E)

Start: Allen Banks and Staward Gorge National Trust car park, Bardon Mill, Hexham (NE47 7BP). Grid ref. NY 798 640

Car park: Allen Banks and Staward Gorge National Trust car park, Bardon Mill, Hexham (NE47 7BP), Fees apply to non-members of the National Trust.

Toilet: At the car park

Terrain: Forest paths, fields and a bit of road. Can be very muddy.

Dog-friendly: No stiles, wooden ladder to cross the bridge, some sheep in the fields

For more information and walks please visit Our Lake District Escapades website

Staward Peel ruins