1. Raby Castle
Meeting Point: Raby Castle
We begin the Big Smile in the magnificent grounds of Raby Castle. We follow a broad path through the grassy landscape where Red and Fallow Deer herds live wild. We pass the impressively maintained medieval castle, built between 1367 and 1390 by John Neville, the 3rd Baron Neville de Raby.
We wander through Ladywood and then up towards Raby Home Farm and then Shotton enjoying the beautiful countryside home to some superb flora and fauna.
Eventually, we leave the Raby estate and find ourselves heading over Cockfield fell, common land pock marked with evidence of human habitation including flint arrowheads dating back to 8000BC.
We skirt around Cockfield itself and back through the estate to finish back at Raby Castle in a wonderful start to the Big Smile Walks.
Distance: 20 km ( 12.47 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆
Sponsored By: The Ramside Hall Hotel
1. Raby Castle
Meeting Point: Raby Castle
We begin the Big Smile in the magnificent grounds of Raby Castle. We follow a broad path through the grassy landscape where Red and Fallow Deer herds live wild. We pass the impressively maintained medieval castle, built between 1367 and 1390 by John Neville, the 3rd Baron Neville de Raby.
We wander through Ladywood and then up towards Raby Home Farm and then Shotton enjoying the beautiful countryside home to some superb flora and fauna.
Eventually, we leave the Raby estate and find ourselves heading over Cockfield fell, common land pock marked with evidence of human habitation including flint arrowheads dating back to 8000BC.
We skirt around Cockfield itself and back through the estate to finish back at Raby Castle in a wonderful start to the Big Smile Walks.
Distance: 20 km ( 12.47 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆
Sponsored By: The Ramside Hall Hotel
27. Exploring Edmundbyers
Date: 27/07/2021
Meeting Point: Millshield Picnic Area, Consett, DH8 9PT
This is a fantastic stage of The Big Smile that follows the shoreline of Derwent Reservoir around Pow Hill, and then over meadows to the village of Edmondbyers.
From Edmondbyers, we head towards the moors, climbing to the top of Stoterly Hill, and across the moor towards Muggleswick, passing through the old church yard. Heading back to the reservoir, we pick up the path to Millshield by the dam tower.
The walk takes us through the beautiful Derwent Valley, an area of outstanding natural beauty with lots to see. Keep a look out around the reservoir, as you might spot ospreys fishing for rainbow trout, or perhaps one of Pow Hill’s red squirrels - or even an adder basking in the sun.
A relatively gentle walk around the reservoir, with some uphill sections and moorland walking making it challenging yet thoroughly enjoyable.
Distance: 21.7 km (13.48 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆