Blanchland Northumberland Dog Walk

Walk Stats

Overview

Blanchland is surely one of the prettiest villages in the north of England. That’s quite a claim, I admit, but visit when the sun’s shining and its historic buildings seem almost to glow, then you’ll see what I mean. Monks first established a religious community here in the 12th century and the village is today conserved as part of a charity established in the 18th century by the Bishop of Durham.   

Starting and ending with a leisurely amble through the village, this walk also enjoys a stroll along the tree-lined banks of the River Derwent and then climbs into woods just over the border in County Durham. Returning via quiet lanes, walkers are treated to glimpses of the heather moorland and the wide, open views that are typical of the North Pennines.       

The Walk

Leave the car park, turn right along the lane and go straight over at the junction, passing through the archway ahead. Follow the road down towards the River Derwent. Just before the bridge – with public toilets down a lane to the left – turn right and then go through the gap in the wall on the left, signposted Baybridge.

Cut across the grassy area and cross a small footbridge to join the riverside path. The route picks its way along the wooded riverbank, with exposed tree roots in places. After going through a wall gap, it continues upstream. In a few hundred yards, nearing a gate across the path, bear left through another wall gap and cross a section of boardwalk to reach the road.   

Turn left, crossing the road bridge to leave Northumberland and enter County Durham. As another road goes right, keep straight on, climbing more steeply. At a brief easing in the gradient, turn right at a public footpath sign, passing beside a pair of gates to enter Deborah Plantation.

The broad track contours the hillside high above Bolt’s Burn. As soon as it begins descending, bear left at a waymarker post – now following a narrower path. This easy-going route continues along the woodland edge. Reaching a waymarked path junction at the base of a steep embankment, turn left. A short ascent leads to a minor road, along which you turn left.

The chimney on the hillside above was part of the lead mines that once contributed significantly to the area’s economy.

Go left again on reaching a T-junction – signposted Blanchland – and then, having enjoyed some great views over the surrounding countryside, take the next turning on the right. This lovely lane later passes the farm buildings at Allenshields and then bends sharp left, continuing the descent back into the Derwent valley. Turn left at a T-junction, dropping to cross the road bridge over the River Derwent and re-enter Blanchland.



It’s a lovely little village, full of honey-coloured cottages and other beautiful buildings, so I’d recommend lots of dawdling on your way back to the car park. Blanchland was established in 1165 when a Premonstratensian abbey was founded here. The monks were known as the ‘white canons’ because their robes were made from undyed sheep’s fleeces – hence the village name, meaning ‘white land’. Many of the buildings which exist in the village today were built using stones from the original abbey.

The village was bought by the Bishop of Durham, Nathaniel Lord Crewe, in 1708. When he died in 1721, it became part of a charitable trust established by his will. To this day, it remains the centrepiece of the estate owned and conserved by that trust, the Lord Crewe Charity.

Vivienne Crow has written several guides to Northumberland, including Walking in Northumberland and 15 Short Walks Northumberland, both published by Cicerone.

Share your walk #LloydDogWalks on Facebook or Instagram

Browse all walks