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Corbridge to Aydon Castle Walks
 Corbridge
to Aydon Castle
What at first sight appears to be a somewhat contrived route, bearing
in mind the motorway crossing and the road sections, turns out to
be a very pleasant walk over a mixture of pretty deneside paths
and easily accessible farm tracks.
Start at the junction of Milkwell Lane and Aydon Road at the
North East corner of Corbridge (the B6321). At the junction go
up Didridge Lane. It is not named but has a No Through Road sign
at the entrance. The climb is very gradual, and a bench appears
on the left. Unless you are even less fit than me this is likely
to be a little too soon to be deserved. Across the fields to the
left can be seen two old Bottle Kilns. These are said to be the
last of their kind surviving in the North East and are now protected
as a scheduled ancient monument (whatever that is).
The tarmac soon gives way to a pleasant bridleway and after a
couple of bends leads up to the A69. Unfortunately, getting over
the bypass means we have to parallel the road in both directions.
Across the bypass the path continues only 50 yards away.
On regaining the line of the original track on the north side
of the road, the fenced pathway leads up to a gate - the first
of many. The field soon leads to another gate in the wall on the
right. Behind this the track curves across the sloping pasture
to a finger of woodland which is the start of our entrance into
Aydon Dene. Down into the woods on good paths, perhaps a little
muddy in places but pleasant, secluded, and picturesque. After
crossing a small footbridge the path starts to climb up to the
side of the castle where entry to the grounds is by a gate at
the south west corner.
Aydon Castle is protected by English Heritage and was built in
1296. From the front of the castle, follow the lane to a wooded
corner, where a stile in the right leads into the woods and down
to a small footbridge. The path now makes its way up the deneside
to a stile into farmland. Wire fencing (of the barbed variety)
may force you along the two sides of the field. A couple of marker
posts help you find the direction and lead you into a lane between
the fields. This leads to the very pretty Aydon Village.
Turn right here, and, around the bend, turn right again on the
main road. Follow this back towards Corbridge, over the motorway,
and down the Aydon Road back to the starting point.
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