Last updated 15:19, Thursday, 03 April 2008

THESE routes, devised by the Tynedale Health Walks Project, offer extensive views from the hillsides to the north of Corbridge.

Take time out, either at the start or end of the walk, to look round St Oswald’s Church. It is named after the Northumbrian king, who in 634AD defeated the invading army led by Cadwallon, of North Wales, at the Battle of Heavenfield.

Heavenfield short walk

From Heavenfield lay-by cross the main road with care and take the minor road south, with the cottage on your right.

The road goes through a gate and uphill to reach a second gate. Follow the road round to the right passing through a third gate to point 3 on the map where it bears left again to Fallowfield Farm.

After a cattle grid at the farm, turn left at point 4 before the first barn on the left, along the track signed “Salmonswell”.

After passing two more gates, at point 5 follow a path that goes left through a third gate. At the left-hand corner of the wood, pass through a gate and follow the path along the edge of the plantation.

Go through another gate, turn half-left and follow the path to the right of a wire fence. Note the boggy area down to your left with the rocky Written Crag above; sandstone from this area of Fallowfield Fell was quarried by Roman soldiers to build Hadrian’s Wall.

Where the path divides at the marker post, take the left fork towards the stile, over the wire fence. Go left and uphill at the next marker, and at the following post, at the hilltop, follow the arrow across the field, where the path becomes a wider track on obviously shallow soil across the limestone plateau.

Go through the gate towards the minor road and at the rock platform turn right downhill and back along the road to Heavenfield lay-by. You can round off your walk with a visit to St Oswald’s Church and/or to the tea-room 400 metres along Hadrian’s Wall path.

Heavenfield long walk

1, At Heavenfield lay-by go through the gate and head half-left towards a ruined wall corner, following Hadrian’s Wall Path left for about half-a-mile over a ladder stile, then downhill across three more stiles towards Planetrees and the Military Road.

2, Take care as the path crosses the road. You have the option of turning right to take in a preserved section of Hadrian’s Wall 100 metres away, but your route is signed to “Fallowfield” towards a rocky hillside.

Follow the waymarked path across various stiles, and a minor road, taking care over the boggy area crossed by stepping stones, eventually going uphill to the left of the crags. Look out for marker posts, alpaca sometimes grazing in adjacent fields and some further extensive boggy areas after wet weather. Generally follow the line of overhead cables until you go through a gate turning left along the track that leads from Crag House.

3, Once past a cattle grid go straight on as you join a road to Fallowfield Farm ahead, enjoying extensive views to the south and west.

4, After another grid at the farm, turn left before the first barn on the left along the track signed “Salmonswell”.

5, After passing two gates, ignore the path leading left through a further gate (which would take you on the short walk back to Heavenfield) and go straight on and slightly downhill, through a metal gate. Bear left on the bridleway across a field, through a gate in a wall and downhill to a derelict building beside the wood.

6, Go through the wooden gate into the wood, which can be muddy at this point. Turn left at the marker post, on the slightly uphill path through the dene of the Red Burn, where you will see evidence of old mine workings. Take care where the path narrows, cross the burn by the wooden railings and wind your way up, crossing another bridge and tunnel. Pass a cottage with its pleasant garden on the right.

7, Turn left past Codlaw Dene Farm following the road uphill to the junction at Codlaw Hill Farm.

8, After the white cottage, go through a metal gate and turn left on the road signed to Chollerford. Then follow the road, which goes past Fir Trees and back to the Military Road.

9, Turn left at the main road and after 150 metres, rejoin Hadrian’s Wall Path at St Oswald’s Hill Head Farm, perhaps stopping for refreshments at the tea-room. From here it is just 400 metres back to Heavenfield lay-by – and a chance to visit the historic St Oswald’s Church to round off your outing.