10.0 miles
Explorer Map No 304, - Darlington and Richmond
A ramble through some delightful countryside and Yorkshire villages,
where the walker can also spend some time exploring Ancient British
fortifications and Roman ruins.
The walk makes use of field footpaths and minor roads.
There are no hills of any consequence, so that the walk can be
regarded as a 10 mile "flat circular".
There are several stiles which may prove slightly difficult.
Navigationally, it helps to have a 1 : 25,000 OS map to hand,
as the footpath waymarks are not always all that clear.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the
above link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Some new mapping software is now availabe which you may want to try, - QUO mapping. You can download the software for free from the link below, complete with demonstration maps. Having installed QUO, you can import and export Memory Map overlays. Thus YOU DON'T NEED Memory Map to use any of the overlays provided on the Grey Panthers website, - just use QUO!!
Start from Piercebridge village green (NZ20990 15655).
Cross the River Tees by the road bridge and continue past the George
Inn. On your left is a signpost indicating the footpath to the Roman
bridge remains.
After examining the Roman bridge, retrace your steps past the George
Inn to find the footpath on the South bank of the River Tees on the
opposite side of the road.
The footpath heads West for a few yards, and at the fork take the
footpath that leads you almost due South over fields. Follow the fence
line.
When you meet a minor road, turn right and walk past Cliffe Hall to
take the signposted footpath on the left. Follow this field footpath
to Allan's Grange Farm (watch for waymarks) and then Westwards until
you come to a farm lane.
Turn left down this lane until you come to a minor road. Here turn
right and continue into Eppleby.
Continue through Eppleby until you see the sign for Mill Farm on your
left. Here take the field footpath almost due South to Forcett (this
section of the walk is helped by having a 1 : 25,000 OS map to hand).
When you meet the minor road in Forcett, turn left and follow the
road past Stanwick Camp (an Ancient British earthwork) until you come
to the footpath on your right that takes you across fields to St.
John's Church, Stanwick.
Just before this church, the field is VERY boggy and needs some care
in crossing.
Cross the bridge past the church, and take the field footpath beside
the Mary Wild Beck.
Continue Eastwards on Field footpaths to Aldbrough St. John.
In the village, head North Eastwards up the road, until you come to
a signposted footpath on your left which skirts a cottage garden.
Follow this field footpath Northwards all the way back to Piercebridge.
(NOTE : There has been a footpath diversion North of Carlton Green.
Watch for the waymarks, and use the 1 : 25,000 OS map to check on
field patterns.)