Haydon Bridge to Threepwood Walk

Start at the centre of Haydon Bridge, on the south side of the river Tyne. From the shops near the old roadbridge, which is now used purely as a footpath, walk along the main street towards the junction with the A69. Just past a group of new town houses a short lane, Whittis Road, leads off to the right. Almost immediately a path leaves the lane to the left into Gees Wood and down to a footbridge over the burn. The path then climbs uphill to follow the boundary between the fields on the left and the old woodland on the right which covers both sides of this attractive and quite popular little dell. All too soon, Gees Wood ends and the path stops at the main road, the A696. Take a left turn here and after a few hundred yards at the junction with the A69 a sign post can be seen on the right hand side of the junction.

Follow the direction of the signpost into the first of three fields. A stile in the top left corner of each of the first two is followed in the third field by an entrance into Elrington Wood on the left. Follow the well worn track down the slope, over the footbridge, through the deciduous woodland, and then very gradually climbing up towards Elrington we arrive at a field corner with a stile hiding behind some bushes on the right.

Go over the stile into the field, keeping the wall on the right. Ahead a gate gives access into the next field, but we are now on the other side of the field boundary and several feet below it. Very soon, the farm lane between Elrington and Dinnetly appears. Follow it to the right, crossing over a very old stone bridge. The bridge can be quite difficult to notice since it appears rather like two old stone walls. After the bridge the track splits into three. Take the left fork and go on towards the village at Dinnetly.

A stile into the field ahead followed by a sharp turn to the right helps avoid the private land around the cottage. Go down to the bottom right of the field where a gate leads into Dinnetly wood. Go into the wood and bear left, heading down to an old rickety plank bridge. Up the other side and suddenly right in front of you is Threepwood Hall.

Turn left here and walk along the lane. Leaving Threepwood behind you, after about 500 yards you will see a public footpath sign on the right which directs you to Haydon Bridge, 1 mile. Entrance to the field is through a gap stile, very common in the Dales where they are known, unkindly, as the Fat Man's Agony. If you are a fat man or woman perhaps now would be the time to turn back, since the wall also looks like a bit of a challenge.

From the stile follow the left side of the field, over another stile and into a new plantation. Bear right for a short distance and enter the woods on your left through a gate. The path is easily followed and leads into the dene via a field and two more stiles. Take care along the dene side path, because the drop is considerable.

Go down to a footbridge and up against the A686 which you should follow to the right. Soon a road to the left leads to Haydon Bridge. This road can be followed back to the village centre.