Leaving the coaches at Cobblers Hall on the B6531 on a bright, but frosty morning, six of us continued W along the road for a short distance before turning N to head past the golf club and down to the level crossing over the Newcastle – Carlisle railway line.  After passing the crossing, we headed W along the River Tyne Trail, stopping opposite the “The Meeting of the Waters”, the confluence of the North and South Tyne.  Returning to the trail, we continued westward before crossing the bridge to arrive at Bridge End.   We then made our way NE along the road to St Michael and all angels church which originated from the C11.  We stopped on a seat facing south and enjoyed our morning coffee in the sunshine. 

On our way again, we continued along the minor road up towards High Warden.  Where the track to High Warden turns left off the road, we came across a quite damaged van which had been hit by a vehicle which had come around the bend at speed and had been unable to stop because of the ice.  Continuing up the hill through High Warden, our route took us over the fields to climb up to the iron age fort on Warden Hill.  While the ramparts are quite low, the views of the surrounding countryside were excellent.  We descended the hill through Laverick plantation before a further descent brought us into the edge of Fourstones.  Unfortunately, if you come down, you tend to have to climb up again and so we started the ascent from  Fourstones to Whiney Hill.  A couple of long seats at the road junction beside Whiney Hill was ideal for a lunch stop so once again we sat facing the sun.  

After lunch we headed NNW along the road  then climbed westward along a gravel track to Frankham Fell.   We then turned left into the top of the quarry and while my intention had been to visit a lake in the quarry, “Private signs” leading to the lake meant we had to give that a miss and we headed straight to Prudhamstone House.  At the house, leaving the gravel drive, it was somewhat difficult to find the RoW path thro the garden, but Peter S found it and we left the property finding a out way into a field to the NW.  Crossing this field in a WSW direction we arrived (via a stile) at a minor road which took us past Thornton Tower and Newborough Hall.  Shortly after, we turned W on a footpath, crossed a small stream via a footbridge and after crossing a road and the Newborough Burn by another footbridge, we arrived at St Peter’s Church which was nicely sunlit when we walked around the front.  What then seemed like a very long walk down Church Lane brought us to the B6319 at Allerwash.  We headed ENE along the B6319 for a short distance before turning NNW on a reasonable path alongside the Newborough Burn which brought us into Newborough and the pub.

A good walk, in excellent weather, which gave us good views of the surrounding countryside.