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
40. Newcastle Quayside and City
Date: 13/08/2021
Meeting Point: Car Park Staithes Road, Gateshead, NE11 9DR
The heart of Newcastle affords the chance to enjoy a walk that combines both rural and urban scenery.
We begin this stage by the Dunston Staiths, picking up the popular Keelman’s Way footpath on the Gateshead side of the Tyne. Crossing the river at the Swing Bridge, we walk along the Quayside to the Ouseburn, tracking it past old fishing boats and the Ouseburn farm. Here, we turn and head up towards the Heaton and Armstrong Parks, and onward to enjoy the delights of the beautiful Jesmond Dene.
As we near the end of the Dene, we turn back towards the city, crossing the Town Moor - site of the annual Hoppings Fair - and skirt around the Wylam Brewery.
From here, we cut through Exhibition Park and Leazes Park, in the shadow of St James’ Park football stadium, before dropping down to the Quayside and crossing back over to the Gateshead side to return to our starting point.
Distance: 19.2 km (11.93 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Sponsored By: Greggs