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
8. The Cheviot Challenge
Date: 30/06/2021
Meeting Point: Harthope Burn, Wooler, NE71 6RG
This classic Cheviot Fell walk begins near Langleeford. We climb to the top of Scald Hill and continue ascending until we reach the highest point of the walk: the Cheviot itself, at 800 metres.
From here, we drop down onto Scotsman’s Cairn, and head round to Comb Fell, before concluding this loop via Hedgehope Hill and Long Crags. We descend by Housey Crags, crossing the New Burn to arrive back at our starting point.
This may be one of the shorter Big Smile Walks, but it is a true hill walk as our journey takes us over several named fells. The ground is often heavy and challenging, even in the summer months, but it is a fantastic walk with stunning scenery, and is well worth the effort.
Distance: 16.6 km (10.31 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★★☆
Sponsored By: