Distance    18.4 Km   11.4  Miles       Ascent   330 m   1080 ft    Ave Moving Speed  2.76 mph     Start  9.35 am     Finish  3.54 pm

Eight of us left the coach at Wrekenton and headed east to find a path heading south which would join the old Bowes Railway.  Both the OS map and Google Earth suggested that this was possible.  Well, it may have been, but there is now a private sign, so we had to retrace our steps having lost about 0.5 Km.  After heading S down a road, we managed to join the RoW running alongside the Bowes Railway.  The route then swung SW joining the Bowes Incline.  This is a long straight path heading down to the Teams Valley.  Although a good path providing easy walking, I must confess that it gets a bit monotonous although there were good views including The Angel of the North.  It seemed most of the club was using this route as we saw, passed or were passed by 3 other groups.  Having passed under the A1 and the main East Coast Railway line, we then crossed the R Teams and a short distance after we found a seat where 5 of the group were able to sit for our coffee stop while 2 of us sat on the grass.  On our way again, we started the climb up towards Kibblesworth.  As we gained height, there were good views to the north and south as well as looking back at the way we had come.   After passing Birkhead Secret Gardens, the path brought us up to the Tanfield Railway.  Initially we headed north from the path to where there were picnic tables but we soon decided that it was too windy so we crossed over the path into Andrews House Station.  As the railway line was in a cutting out of the wind and there were seats on the platform, it was an ideal spot for lunch.  After lunch, we headed in a general SW direction although there were a few twists and turns before we reached Causey Arch Station.  We then crossed Causey Arch, the oldest surviving single arch railway bridge in the world and three of us went down the steps into the valley to view the bridge from below.  It is certainly impressive, 296 years old, 180 ft long and standing at a height of 80 ft.  After viewing the arch we proceeded down Causey Gill with the Causey Burn well below us.  As the Gill leveled out at the southern end, we arrived at East Tanfield Station.  Lesley had seen two girls with cups of coffee and ascertained they bought them at the station so wondered whether it was possible to have another coffee stop.    As we only had about 1 hours walk left and the coach was not leaving for another 2 hr 40 min, I offered the choice of having a longer time in the pub, an extra loop to take up some of the time or a trip into the station cafe.  Needless to say a trip into the station was agreed.  I think I am correct in saying that Lesley has only walked with me twice and both times has managed to buy a coffee.  Well the coffee was fine and the cup cake was delicious, so I was quite happy with the decision.  On our way again, we headed SE down the road before turning east onto  a good path which brought us to Causey Rd.  After crossing the road, another path brought us past a lovely looking house (Mole Hill) and then down to Beamishburn Rd.  After crossing the road, we headed into Carrickshill Wood where we saw a photographer photographing a bride or perhaps it was a shoot for a magazine article or advert.  Either way, as someone with an interest in photography, I was surprised at him taking photographs in a wood at 3.20 pm on a December afternoon in what was obviously poor lighting.  Leaving the wood after missing the path by about 50 m resulting in a slightly difficult descent, Lesley made the most of a swing hanging from a tree.  We turned onto a minor road which took us to Beamish Hall and then we turned north through Coppy and then NW on a decent path and over a field to the Black Horse inn – our destination.  Perhaps the highlight of the day was this last few minutes as we climbed the hill to the pub under the most wonderful colourful sky formed by the setting sun.