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
30. High Force Hike
Date: 31/07/2021
Meeting Point: Bowlees Visitor Centre, Newbiggin, Barnard Castle, DL12 0XE
One of our favourite Big Smile Walks, we leave Bowlees visitor centre and follow the mighty River Tees past two of the region’s most distinctive and picturesque waterfalls. First, we pick up the Pennine Way footpath at Low Force, beside the broad and rocky waterfall as it gushes over a layer of hard dolerite rock. Then we continue on to the spectacular High Force - one of the country’s most dramatic waterfalls - watching as the water roars over the top, dropping some twenty metres to the plunge pool below.
We continue upriver following the Tees as it meanders through the valley. We stay low before rising up over the fells then dropping down between the river and Noon Hill. Then we head towards Holwick, before looping back to Low Force and finally returning to Bowlees. This stage is part gentle river walk and part fell walk over rugged terrain. It is challenging in places but well worth it. A real gem of a stage.
Distance: 20 km (12.43 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★★☆