🥾 Walking route
Blanchland Geotrail
Northumberland
- 📏 5.4 km · 3.3 mi
- ⛰ +186 m
- ⏱ 1 hr 30 min
- 🐕 On lead
Walk stats
- Distance5.4 km · 3.3 mi
- Elevation+186 m
- Duration1 hr 30 min
- DifficultyModerate
- Route typeCircular
- TerrainMoorland tracks, field paths and quiet lanes; one sustained climb
- Best seasonLate spring to early autumn
- DogsDogs welcome on leads near livestock
About this walk
The Blanchland Geotrail is a 5.4 km circular walk that loops out from the honey-stoned village of Blanchland on the Northumberland-Durham border. Starting near the church of St Mary the Virgin, the route climbs steadily onto the moorland fringe, gaining around 186 m of ascent as it takes in relics of the area's lead-mining past.
The path leads up to the ruined Shildon engine house, a striking industrial landmark set against open fell, before threading back down through pasture and woodland. You'll cross streams including Shildon Burn and Horden Sike, and pass features such as Bridge End, Rope Barn and the edge of Pennypie Fell as the trail curves round to the hamlet of Baybridge on the River Derwent.
From Baybridge a gentle riverside stretch brings you back to Blanchland in around an hour and a half. It's a compact but varied outing, mixing moorland views, industrial heritage and one of Northumberland's prettiest villages at the finish.
Route map
Route line drawn from OpenStreetMap footpath data. Numbered markers are waypoints on the route; amber star markers are points of interest a short detour away.
Waypoints along the route
3 waypoints along the way
- 1
St Mary the Virgin
- 2
Shildon engine house
- 3
Baybridge
Worth a short detour
Points of interest just off the route, look for the amber markers on the map.
Shildon Burn
~293 m off the route
Horden Sike
~401 m off the route
Bridge End
~256 m off the route
Rope Barn
~327 m off the route
Pennypie Fell
~356 m off the route
Route & waypoint data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).