Route: Allen Banks and Staward Gorge
Area: Northumberland
Date of walk: 8th August 2019
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 5.3 miles
Ascent: 500 feet
Weather: Mostly sunny
Allen Banks and Staward Gorge make up the largest area of ancient semi-natural woodland in Northumberland. This wilderness garden was created by Susan Davidson who lived at nearby Ridley Hall in the 19th century. The area is now managed by the National Trust and the Forestry Commission, who are working together to preserve it for future generations
There are various trails which can be explored, all of them starting from the Allen Bank car park at Ridley where a walking map is available. We set off with no particular route in mind, save that we wanted to follow the woodland path by the banks of the River Allen. We knew that we’d have to retrace our steps at some point, as the opportunity for circular routes here is limited
We set off along the waymarked trail through the woods, at first above the river and then alongside it. We crossed the footbridge at Plankey Mill and continued our walk along the other bank of the river. As we followed the path back into the woods a couple of roe deer surprised us by bounding past at close quarters, but they vanished before I could raise the camera
We’d been hoping to climb up to Staward Peel for the ‘great views’ which are promised from the ruins of this medieval gatehouse and pele tower. However a temporary path closure due to forestry operations was in force, which hadn’t been indicated until this late point in the walk. The tower was only 5 minutes away, and this was a rather frustrating end to the walk. Banishing thoughts of trespass, which were tempting I must confess, we retraced our steps back through the gorge to the start. We had no regrets, as it had been an enjoyable walk in beautiful surroundings
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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The start of the walk as we pass through the picnic area next to the National Trust car park
The initial section of the walk has good views out to the surrounding countryside
The views disappear as the path enters Allen Banks wood and descends gradually into Staward Gorge
A tapestry of green looking up into the canopy
The River Allen...
Looking along Staward Gorge
We continue along the lovely path through the woodland...
Near Plankey Mill we cross a footbridge over Farnalees Burn...
...and just beyond it, another (recently built) bridge over the River Allen
Looking along the River Allen from the bridge
We pass by Plankey Mill
A lovely section through the field beyond the old mill...
Looking back
We re-enter the woodland...
Forestry operations below Staward Peel, and these thwart our plan to visit this viewpoint
End of the road, and this will be the case for the next 2 months or so
Further progress along the gorge and the River Allen is possible by following an alternative path beside the river, but a visit to Staward Peel itself would involve a long detour
It was no hardship to retrace our steps through such beautiful surroundings
