8.58 miles.
Explorer Maps Nos 304 & 305- Darlington & Richmond,
Bishop Auckland
A circular walk that can be done
at any time of the year. This walk uses farm tracks, green lanes, and
footpaths. The entire route is well marked and easy to follow, with
one possible exception. Just past Ketton Bridge the Ordnance Survey
shows a footpath crossing the field of wheat, and the footpath signs
also indicate this path as being available. However, at this point it
is just as easy to walk round the edge of the field on a well-surfaced
track, rather than to cross the field on untrodden soil.
The entire walk takes place only a couple of miles from Darlington,
which makes it an ideal "short break" from urban life.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
The start of the walk is from Brafferton village hall, NZ2932521030.
Head East-North-East along High House Lane for about 1 mile, to where
a gate on your right leads to a green lane (NZ3058921715).
Follow this lane for about 1 mile to Newton Ketton(NZ3133920687), and
at the junction turn sharp left along Salters Lane.
Just before Fir Tree Farm, turn sharp right down Catskill Lane and continue
for a couple of miles.
Entering the small bit of woodland, there is a footpath on your right
(NZ32856200081). Follow this footpath to Barmpton village.
At Barmpton, turn right, then take the footpath that follows the River
Skerne to Ketton Bridge.
Follow the footpath due East at Ketton Bridge and follow the waymarks
to Ketton Hall on the footpath to Brafferton village.
Return to Brafferton village by following the footpath signs.