A lovely walk along the stream of Greenhaugh Burn, along country lanes and through the fields from Greenhaugh, with some great views across the Tarset Valley. During July and August, you will be able to see some of our beautiful hay meadows full of incredible wildflowers.
Calculated time: 1h20[?] 
Distance : 4.18km
Vertical gain : 52m
Vertical drop : 52m
Highest point : 171m
Lowest point : 131m 
Difficulty : Easy
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Location : Tarset
Starting point : N 55.179379° / W 2.323047° (D/A) Start from outside the Holly Bush Inn, (with your back to the door) turn left and walk along the road towards Greenhaugh First School. Keep following the road. At the junction go straight on along the road, signed ‘Sidwood’. Cross the road bridge over the Tarset Burn and keep following the road uphill. Look out for the pretty waterfall on your right as you cross over the burn.
(1) At the junction turn left along the road signed ‘Thorneyburn’, and walk past St Aidan’s Church on your left. Keep following the road.
(2) Just before Thorneyburn Lodge climb over the stile in the wall on your left. Follow the garden wall (keeping it on your right), turning right and continuing 50 metres until you reach a stone step stile in the wall. Head across the rough fell the ground, in the direction indicated by the arrow on the stone stile. After about ¼ mile you will reach the stone remains of a battle next to a waymark post. Sheep and cattle may be grazing in these fields.
(3) Continue straight on until you reach the fence. At the fence, turn left and walk down the open grazing land (keeping the fence on your right) to the bottom of the field. Go through the gate and walk downhill, through the wooded dene, crossing the stream and going up to join the track to Boughthill Farm.
(4) Go through the farmyard, and turn left to walk along the farm track. The hay meadows here are full of wildflowers from May to July. Cross the footbridge over the Tarset Burn, and keep walking along the trackback to the road. At the road, turn left back into the village. The car park is on your right. (D/A)
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 160m - Car park
1 : km 1.24 - alt. 151m - Junction
2 : km 1.96 - alt. 171m - Thorneyburn Lodge
3 : km 2.6 - alt. 162m - Remains of a bastle
4 : km 3.21 - alt. 135m - Boughthill Farm
D/A : km 4.18 - alt. 160m - Car park
Start & Parking: Greenhaugh, car park near the Holly Bush Inn (NE48 1PW)
Local Services: Greenhaugh & Bellingham
Terrain: Footpaths, roads and tracks, footbridge, gates and stiles
Directions - To the walk start point
From Bellingham: Turn right by the Church, signposted ‘Kielder Water’ (just by the bridge over the River North Tyne). After 2 miles you will pass Boe Rigg at Charlton, keep straight on. At Lanehead junction turn right signed ‘Greenhaugh’. The car park is in the village on the right near to the Holly Bush Inn.
Public Transport Information
T: 0871 2002233
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Local facilities
The Holly Bush Inn at Greenhaugh is a great little country pub, offering a warm welcome to visitors and residents alike. It is dog friendly in the bar and garden and if you play an instrument then bring it along as there is often an informal ‘jamming session’ happening!
A defibrillator is located outside Tarset Village Hall in Greenhaugh. Bellingham a small town, is 41/2 miles away and has a wider range of services including petrol, a small supermarket and local Heritage Centre.
Dark Sky
Northumberland National Park is part of the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park and is one of the best destinations in England to see the stars at night.
A little bit of history
St Aidan's Church in Thorneyburn was built in 1818 by the Greenwich Hospital Commissioners to provide a living for ex Royal Navy Chaplains after the Napoleonic Wars.
Scattered throughout the landscape around Greenhaugh are Bastles (fortified farmhouses) that were built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries to withstand the frequent raids from the notorious Border Reivers.
Just 2 miles up the road from Greenhaugh is Black Middens Bastle. Take a stroll through the field up to this impressive ruin.
Wildlife to look out for
The hay meadow at Greenhaugh by Boughthill Farm has a rich mix of grasses and flowers, including ox-eye daisy, orchids, buttercup, yellow rattle, greater burnet, ragged robin, wood cranesbill and melancholy thistle. It provides a home for an assortment of insects such as bumblebees, hoverflies, beetles, damselflies, butterflies and moths, not to mention the slugs and snails, shrews and voles hidden from prying eyes! Best time to visit the hay meadow is from May to July.
The North Tyne Valley with its large forests is home to the red squirrel. Look out for them scampering up the trees, they are often easier to see when there are no leaves on the trees in winter.
Birds to look out for include heron, dipper and grey wagtail along the Tarset Burn. Buzzard and kestrel can often be seen high up in the clouds.
Global average : 3.33/5
Number of opinions : 1
Description quality : 3/5
Routemap quality : 3/5
Walk interest : 4/5
Global average : 3.33 / 5
Date of walk
: 27/02/20
Description quality
: Average
Routemap quality
: Average
Walk interest
: Good
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