Reivers Way, Day 2

The Reivers Way

Day 2 (Corbridge to Allendale, 17.5 miles)

After a huge breakfast at Fellcroft, we set off under promising skies—lots of cloud, but no immediate threat of rain. We had no trouble wayfinding through Dipton Wood and beyond Devil’s Water, which provided a lovely stretch of walking through Tynedale accompanied by the constant sound of running water, and beautiful mature beech trees carpeted with wild garlic. In the early afternoon, we reached a sequence of farms south of Embley that proved difficult to negotiate; even though the right of way through the farms is marked on the map, the actual field boundaries did not correspond to those shown on the map, nor were there any public footpath signs (especially near New House and Longlee). We experienced only one brief rain shower over Hexhamshire Common, where we missed a turning (near a black wooden hut) along the long stretch of marked bridleway. The bridleway we had been following was a wide track for several miles (probably built for grouse hunters), but it suddenly veered off into a virtually nonexistent path. Fortunately a compass bearing pointed out our error and it was soon corrected. The route ended with a long, gradual descent into Allendale, providing lovely views toward Acton Moor. We stayed at the friendly Hare & Hounds. Unfortunately they were not serving evening meals until June, and we unwisely chose the King’s Head, where the service was cheerful but the food quite dreadful! A better choice may have been the Allendale Inn, but if was “chef’s night off.”

Tove Brown sees us off from her excellent B&B