Hexham to Dukesfield Mill - Way of Light

Start : Hexham Abbey (NE46 3NB) Grid ref. NY 935 640

(S) From Hexham Abbey, cross the road to the Market Place and turn right down St Mary's Chare. At the end of the road, turn left onto Battle Hill and then right onto Eastgate (South).

(1) Continue along the B6396 until you reach a road junction on your right, take this road, Dipton Mill Road, (South-West). This will be a steady climb uphill out of Hexham for around 600 m.

(2) You will pass a farm on the left with a large barn and two white houses on the right, after the last house, look for the finger post through the hedgerow. Go through the gate ensuring you close it behind you and continue walking South keeping the hedgerow on your right. The path swings left (South-East) around a clump of trees and through a hedgerow. Then head to the right (South-West) corner of the next field and cross the stile to emerge on Yarridge Road.

(3) Cross Yarridge Road, cross the stile and continue walking South across the fields keeping the hedgerow on your right. When you reach the large tree, there will be a house surrounded by trees (Queen's Letch) on your right. Here you need to bear right to keep the hedgerow/ditch on your left. As you continue to walk South you will reach a wooded area, keep this on your left for a time until the path enters the trees, cross the stream, still heading South and then cross the stream again when you reach Hole House.

(4) Still walking South, the stream will be on your left. This will run into West Dipton Burn. Cross the burn and turn rleft keeping the burn on your left. The burn will eventually take a sharp left, continue straight ahead here away from the burn. The path will turn sharply to the right after about 50m and then turn sharply left again, it can be a steep muddy climb up to the stile on Hill Road.

(5) Once on Hill Road turn left and walk to the junction.

(6) At the junction turn right, go past the buildings and begin another long climb passing Newbiggin Home Farm on your right.

(7) When you reach a small settlement on your left (Ordley Village), look for the fingerpost pointing between the gardens. If the way is overgrown, walk a little further and take the road on the left. As you emerge from between the 2 houses, cross the road and take the track opposite. When the track bends to the left for a second time, look for a path on your right which will take you South. After a short time you will see Devil's Water on your left.

(8) The path swings left, cross Devil's Water over Pethfoot Bridge and then turn right again. Devil's Water will now be on your right. Cross Heron's Burn which flows into Devil's Water and continue to follow the path Southwards. The path will swing right and then left and exit onto a road by Dukesfield Mill (private propery) (E).

Start : Hexham Abbey (NE46 3NB) Grid ref. NY 935 640

Transport: There is a small layby at Dukesfield Mill. There are many car parks in Hexham itself.

There are no buses which serve the area so it may be necessary to take a taxi. Advanced Taxis and Ecotaxis are based in Hexham

Facilities: There is nothing for the duration of the walk which passes through open fields. There are public toilets, cafes, restaurants and bars in Hexham at the end of the walk.

Terrain: This walk is in Northumberland and most of it is across open countryside. This can be very exposed and the weather is extremely changeable. Please ensure suitable clothing and footwear and be prepared for quick changes in the weather.

Accessibility: This section is across farmland which can be very muddy during wet weather. There are also a number of gates, narrow footbridges and stiles along the route.

Accommodation: There are many hotels in Hexham itself including a Travelodge. There are also a number of camp sites in the area.

• Hexham Abbey - there has been a religous site here for 1300 years. The abbey church is well worth visiting along with the Big Story which tells the history of the site.
• Old Gaol Museum, Hexham - learn about the lawless times of the Reivers.
• Queen's Hall, Hexham - tourist information, theatre, art gallery can all be found here.
• Take a walk along the River Tyne.
• Visit Hadrian's Wall sites. The wall stretched from the North Sea to Cumbria and many sections have been preserved including turrets and forts.