10.2 miles
Explorer Map No 307, - Consett & Derwent Reservoir
This walk is quite strenuous, and is definitely for the moderately
experienced walker.
Although the first two or three miles, and the latter four miles
or so, are straightforward the walk up to Long Hill and then down
to Rookhope is over Open Access Land where there is no footpath.
In places the ground is very uneven, and there is plenty of walking
through tussock grass with several boggy patches.
The way up to, and down from, Long Hill requires use of a compass
and should only be made in good visibility.
Having said that, there are some stupendous views to be had. If
the weather is fine and the visibility is good, the journey will
be well rewarded.
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 available 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 the Dales Centre in Stanhope at NY99569 39277.
(Although the car park is free, there is a notice saying that parking
is limited to 4 hours. On enquiry, there is as yet no penalty for
overstaying this limit).
Walk West along the road to Alston. When the Stanhope Beck is crossed,
just near Stanhope Old Hall, there is a footpath North that runs beside
the beck on the West Bank. Follow this footpath North (on the West
bank of the beck all the way) until you come to the farm of Shield
Hurst.
Turn right along the road, through the gate and continue along the
track in a Northerly / North Westerly direction for about half a mile.
Where a track branches right through the plantation, follow this track
North.
Immediately you leave the plantation, take the shooters' track that
leads in a North Westerly direction.
Continue along this track until you come to an old railway carriage
on your right (used as an animal shelter).
Almost opposite this carriage is a grassy track that heads in a Westerly
direction. DO NOT take this track, but instead set a course for a
path of about 240 degrees, - heading for the centre of a line of grouse
butts (if on course, you will pass Butt No 9). Continue ahead, over
heather clad moor, on the same bearing. Ahead you will see the very
gentle, but long, shape of Long Hill.
Although Long Hill is definitely a summit, it is quite indistinct
in many ways and there is no cairn.
There is a small pond at the top, and this might be considered the
summit.
From the top of Long Hill, set a course of 280 degrees in the direction
of Rookhope.
Continue downhill over VERY rough and uneven ground, heading for a
stone wall. When you reach the stone wall, follow it until you come
to a pair of gates in a corner.
At this point, turn round and follow the wall through a gate, with
the wall on your right. The grassy path soon turns into a farm track
which takes you down to the hamlet of Stotfield Burn.
Now head South along the road.
Where the road forks, take the left hand minor road.
Follow this road all the way back to Stanhope.
Although there is very little traffic on this road, you still need
to be observant and take care.