The Grey Panthers
2 May, - Hamsterley Forest & Pawlaw Pike
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12.3miles

Explorer Map OL31, - North Pennines

The walk may be slightly longer than our usual walks, but this is compensated for by the fact that the route is very easy underfoot all the way, - APART from about one mile crossing open moorland.
Given good weather there are superb views to be had, and the pleasure of walking in Hamsterley Forest.
If the weather is poor, it is essential that you use a satellite navigator, or know how to use a compas, when crossing the open moorland. The footpath here is faint at times, or non-existent, and it would be very easy to become lost in poor visibility.

Memory Map
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 5 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!!

Quo logo

Start Point : The parking area by the Grove in Hamsterley Forest (NZ06480 29755).
Note : A fee is payable for cars using Hamsterley Forest, - payable at toll points.
Before the footbridge over the Euden Beck, take the Forestry track that initially follows the beck on the South bank before crossing over and following the beck on the North bank.
Follow this Forestry track for the next three miles or so. Ignore any tracks on the left.
The track takes you to gates and a stile before the Sharnberry Gill, where the track continues, - initially overlooking the Gill but then following the Gill itself.
At the end the track meets a minor road, where there is a parking area.
Turn right and follow the road for about one hundred yards until you come to a footpath sign on your right. The footpath crosses rough heather moorland at a bearing of about 30 degrees. Initially the track is non-existent, but eventually becomes well defined and follows occasional cairns.
Just before Pawlaw Pike, the footpath meets a shooters' track.
Follow this track all the way to the Meeting of the Grains, and then continue to the edge of Hamsterley Forest.
Once in the coundary of Hamsterley Forest, continue for about 200 yards until you come to a track.
Turn right on this track to return to the Grove.