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
34. Best of Allendale
Date: 05/08/2021
Meeting Point: Market Place, Allendale Town, Hexham, NE47 9BD
No-one could fail to enjoy this stage of the The Big Smile trek, which begins in Allendale Town and follows the River East Allen as it meanders in a north-easterly direction, before we head uphill and loop around to walk in cool woodland above the West Allen.
We stay high and pick a route across Dryburn and Cryburn moors. From here, we head towards Round Hill, and then drop back down to pick up the East Allen back to Allendale.
The undulating route rises as high as 480 metres, and presents a dales walk through diverse and sometimes challenging countryside. You can expect to see plenty of wildlife and remnants of the local lead mining industry.
Distance: 21.3 km (13.24 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆