An early start for us in 2016, two days in and we were up to our knees in Tynedale mud!

The flood waters had receded a little in the New Year and Corbridge residents were thankfully safe until the next deluge. Our walk headed out of the top of the village rather than along the river, as our Christmas walk had done, and our boots remained fairly dry for the first mile or so. We have done this walk a few times in the last couple of years and with good reason – it’s a cracker. Starting out in the market square, it ambles up Cow Lane before dipping underneath the busy A69 via back lanes and footpaths.

After that, it got a bit claggy underfoot as we crossed a couple of pastures before plunging into the woodland that skirts the slopes beneath Aydon Castle. There’s a good footpath here that snakes between the beech and sycamore trees, crossing the Cor Burn via a wooden footbridge before climbing up to the castle. This makes a good spot for a rest and lunch as there is a good stretch of flat-topped, seat level stone wall beside the castle entrance. At this time of year it is closed and quiet.

After lunch we took a slippery, hairpin bend around the castle and down again to the Cor Burn before climbing out of the steep little valley to cross another pasture that leads to beautiful Aydon Village. If you’re lucky you’ll spy a couple of Gloucester Old Spot pigs rummaging in the woodland before you head out of the village. After crossing two more fields we were faced with the worst part of the walk – crossing the A69. It’s always a hairy moment as those cars don’t half whizz along and leave little time for a quick 10 yard sprint to the central reservation. Having survived the ordeal we returned safely to Corbridge via the sleepy little hamlet of Thornbrough.