Post by mick on Mar 4, 2015 5:28:21 GMT
This is a lovely walk that can be extended or shortened, depending on the needs of the people that are walking it.
It has several good points and unfortunately a couple of bad points.
The bad points are that there are no toilets and no tea room’s .the nearest being in Rothbury or Alwinton.
The good points it’s well drained, several types of ground from forest tracks, grass, metallic road, and dirt. Very little up or down.
The walk starts at Holystone forest car park, where the forestry commission has set out a few tables which make for an ideal spot to get your gear sorted and a good place for the first cup of coffee.
The commission has also erected a notice board with three colours coded walks on which vary in length; I have walked them all and found them to be extremely well way marked.
However I won’t be doing any of them on this walk.
The walk for today , leave the car park and head into the forest walking along a stone chipping path after about 1/3 of a mile turn right and head into the trees (its well sign posted ) after a short walk you leave the forest and enter a grass field , follow the path until you come to the Ladies well. It is well worth a short look round here. (Will post a link).
From here the walk takes you along a grassy track over Haremoor Law and down a track to Wood Hall farm.
A Bit of useless info for you, there are free range eggs for sale here (works on an honesty box system) in fact you have most likely walked past the chickens that laid the eggs.
The other thing worth a mention is that this farms rears llamas and Alpacas (if you are into that sort of thing)
Right back to the walk turn right at the farm and walk along the road (it is not busy)you have the opportunity after 100 meters to turn right again and take the road straight back to the car park at this point if you are feeling a bit tired .
Or stay on the road cross over the bridge walk past Sharperton, stay on the road until the road turns sharp left& heads uphill.
We leave it here and follow the well way marked footpath along the tree edge into the grass fields, this path gains a small amount of height as it runs along parallel path with the river eventually dropping down and joining the river, we use the footbridge here and cross over, from here a small stroll across the field will bring you back to the road just before the village of Holystone. Stay on this road back to the car park.
AS per normal first photo taken from the car park
Looking forward, the track into the forest
Side view
Have just left the forest track and heading towards the ladies well (there are a few exposed roots on this section so a bit of care is required.
If you are really luck you might spot a couple of deer (just make these two out as the camera flash catches in there eyes.
First sight of the Ladies well (see link at bottom)
Closer
My better half
The well
The water is fed from a natural spring and supplies the village of holystone with crystal clear drinking water. (More useless info for you)
Are now crossing the fields towards Wood Hall farm. The path is so simple to follow I have let Yvonne have the g.p.s (she is easily pleased sometimes)
The locals
Looking back. I have to point out that I did this walk after some of the heaviest rain fall that we have had just to make sure that the route is still walk able.( I walk all the starter routes at least 3 times a year just to make sure there are no suppresses.
Have now crossed the river and walking along the grass track looking across to holystone woods
Now dropping down towards the footbridge. (This is the only down hill section on this walk)
Walking back toward the car you will past St.Mungos well (photo was taken from another trip in the winter).
When we did this walk it was a dull grey day, but in the warmer months the woods are alive with colour .especially when the bluebells/snowdrops are out.
link:-
www.rothbury.co.uk/around/holystone.htm
It has several good points and unfortunately a couple of bad points.
The bad points are that there are no toilets and no tea room’s .the nearest being in Rothbury or Alwinton.
The good points it’s well drained, several types of ground from forest tracks, grass, metallic road, and dirt. Very little up or down.
The walk starts at Holystone forest car park, where the forestry commission has set out a few tables which make for an ideal spot to get your gear sorted and a good place for the first cup of coffee.
The commission has also erected a notice board with three colours coded walks on which vary in length; I have walked them all and found them to be extremely well way marked.
However I won’t be doing any of them on this walk.
The walk for today , leave the car park and head into the forest walking along a stone chipping path after about 1/3 of a mile turn right and head into the trees (its well sign posted ) after a short walk you leave the forest and enter a grass field , follow the path until you come to the Ladies well. It is well worth a short look round here. (Will post a link).
From here the walk takes you along a grassy track over Haremoor Law and down a track to Wood Hall farm.
A Bit of useless info for you, there are free range eggs for sale here (works on an honesty box system) in fact you have most likely walked past the chickens that laid the eggs.
The other thing worth a mention is that this farms rears llamas and Alpacas (if you are into that sort of thing)
Right back to the walk turn right at the farm and walk along the road (it is not busy)you have the opportunity after 100 meters to turn right again and take the road straight back to the car park at this point if you are feeling a bit tired .
Or stay on the road cross over the bridge walk past Sharperton, stay on the road until the road turns sharp left& heads uphill.
We leave it here and follow the well way marked footpath along the tree edge into the grass fields, this path gains a small amount of height as it runs along parallel path with the river eventually dropping down and joining the river, we use the footbridge here and cross over, from here a small stroll across the field will bring you back to the road just before the village of Holystone. Stay on this road back to the car park.
AS per normal first photo taken from the car park
Looking forward, the track into the forest
Side view
Have just left the forest track and heading towards the ladies well (there are a few exposed roots on this section so a bit of care is required.
If you are really luck you might spot a couple of deer (just make these two out as the camera flash catches in there eyes.
First sight of the Ladies well (see link at bottom)
Closer
My better half
The well
The water is fed from a natural spring and supplies the village of holystone with crystal clear drinking water. (More useless info for you)
Are now crossing the fields towards Wood Hall farm. The path is so simple to follow I have let Yvonne have the g.p.s (she is easily pleased sometimes)
The locals
Looking back. I have to point out that I did this walk after some of the heaviest rain fall that we have had just to make sure that the route is still walk able.( I walk all the starter routes at least 3 times a year just to make sure there are no suppresses.
Have now crossed the river and walking along the grass track looking across to holystone woods
Now dropping down towards the footbridge. (This is the only down hill section on this walk)
Walking back toward the car you will past St.Mungos well (photo was taken from another trip in the winter).
When we did this walk it was a dull grey day, but in the warmer months the woods are alive with colour .especially when the bluebells/snowdrops are out.
link:-
www.rothbury.co.uk/around/holystone.htm