1. Raby Castle
Meeting Point: Raby Castle
We begin the Big Smile in the magnificent grounds of Raby Castle. We follow a broad path through the grassy landscape where Red and Fallow Deer herds live wild. We pass the impressively maintained medieval castle, built between 1367 and 1390 by John Neville, the 3rd Baron Neville de Raby.
We wander through Ladywood and then up towards Raby Home Farm and then Shotton enjoying the beautiful countryside home to some superb flora and fauna.
Eventually, we leave the Raby estate and find ourselves heading over Cockfield fell, common land pock marked with evidence of human habitation including flint arrowheads dating back to 8000BC.
We skirt around Cockfield itself and back through the estate to finish back at Raby Castle in a wonderful start to the Big Smile Walks.
Distance: 20 km ( 12.47 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆
Sponsored By: The Ramside Hall Hotel
1. Raby Castle
Meeting Point: Raby Castle
We begin the Big Smile in the magnificent grounds of Raby Castle. We follow a broad path through the grassy landscape where Red and Fallow Deer herds live wild. We pass the impressively maintained medieval castle, built between 1367 and 1390 by John Neville, the 3rd Baron Neville de Raby.
We wander through Ladywood and then up towards Raby Home Farm and then Shotton enjoying the beautiful countryside home to some superb flora and fauna.
Eventually, we leave the Raby estate and find ourselves heading over Cockfield fell, common land pock marked with evidence of human habitation including flint arrowheads dating back to 8000BC.
We skirt around Cockfield itself and back through the estate to finish back at Raby Castle in a wonderful start to the Big Smile Walks.
Distance: 20 km ( 12.47 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆
Sponsored By: The Ramside Hall Hotel
32. The Border Reiver Trail
Date: 03/08/2021
Meeting Point: Matthew's Linn Car Park, Kielder Water, NE48 1HL
The walk begins by the reservoir, and follows the Lewis Burn inland along the dappled fringes of the forest until we reach The Forks - the confluence between the Lewis and Akenshaw Burns. From here, we follow the Akenshaw Burn and pick up Bloody Bush Road as we enter the forest.
Eventually, we come onto open ground and head to the summit of Larriston Fells before looping back into the forest below Buck Fell. We pick up Bloody Bush Road again and retrace our steps back to Kielder Water.
An enjoyable walk of streams, hills and woodland as we cross the border and enter Scotland, enjoying the peace and quiet of the forest whilst abandoning the lakeside mosquitoes.
Distance: 23.2 km (14.42 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆