WELCOME TO THE SOUTH TYNE TRAIL

THIS 22³⁄₄ MILE (36.5 KM) WALKING AND CYCLINGROUTE is set in the North Pennine hills. From wild moorland with the wind in your hair, toriverside meadows with the sun on your face, it is ajourney of great contrasts.

THE ROUTE flows with the river, from The Sourcedownstream to Haltwhistle where transport links aregood. Walkers or cyclists may choose to reversethis direction.

EASY GOING ACCESS, suitable forpushchairs and wheelchairs, isavailable on much of theroute between Alston andHaltwhistle (see map).

ROUTE DESCRIPTIONis in blue beside the map.

Tynehead

ASHGILLFORCE

WindshawBridge

LeadgateHowburn

Bleagate

AnnatWalls

ALSTONSTATION

GARRIGILL

ALSTON

B6277WaterfallCottage

LowNest

Georgeand

Dragon

YHA

Dorthgillwaterfall

permitted path

South Tyne Trail

South Tyne Trail

Pennine Way

Penn

ine

Way

River South

Tyne

Nattrass

Gill

cycle route

cycle

route

SouthTyne Tra

il

South Tyne Trail

cycle route

At Dorthgill Falls, the moorland streamdrops suddenly into the South Tyne Valley. This is an idyllic spot, with the waterfallframed by a cluster of pines.

In spring and summer the wildflowersare stunning: purple lousewort andorchids abound, yellow splashes ofpimpernel and tormentil, then,lower down, jewels of mountainpansy and bird’s-eye primrose.The insect-eating butterwortlurks in the damp spots. If you are walking inwinter – come back again!

The heavy metals that contaminate this areanaturally, as well as in the spoil-heaps, have anunexpected benefit - they cause a sparse grasssward that allows less aggressive species ofmetal-tolerant flowers to come in. The heavymetal areas and the alternating bands oflimestone create conditions that make theupper South Tyne Valley outstanding for itssheer numbers and diversity of wildflowers.

The cluster of derelict buildings and earthworksin the valley bottom is Sir John’s Mine. Thismine was worked until 1941, bringing out ironsulphide, marcasite and other minerals from

The Great Sulphur Vein.

Like many other places, Ash Gill had mines. Close to AshgillForce you can see a mine entrance, or ‘level’, remains of storagebays and a water race but these are disappearing rapidly due tothoughtless dismantling.

In the river bed, close to thefootbridge, cockle fossils may beseen like white horse shoestrotting over the dark limestone.

At the foot of Ash Gill, the SouthTyne is running in a deep, rockygorge. Take a careful look over:this is a magical, shady world offerns, channels and rock pools.Most of the river’s journey fromhere to Garrigill is in thisnetherworld. Occasionally itcomes up for air, then dropsback down again.

Take care, especially withchildren, close to the edgewhere the ground may be slippery.

At Windshaw Bridge, there is a good view of the gorgedownstream as the river drops into one of its surprise pools. In no time at all the river-bed can disappear from the gentleshallows into potholes 3m deep. The awesome power of thewinter river can be guessed by the height of the flotsam on the branches.

Garrigill is a good watering hole.Close to the bridge, the lean andthirsty can find the only cast ironstreet spout that the water companyforgot to cut off. Toilets areopposite the spout and there is achildren’s play ground to the rear.The village shop is a small generalstore cum post office which servestea and coffee to take out. In summerthe George and Dragon (tel: 01434381293) serves food and drink mostlunch times and evenings (closedTuesday lunchtime). Children anddogs are welcome.

The track leading past Tynehead is the old pre-turnpike roadfrom Alston to Middleton. Until the early 19th century, most ofthe roads from Alston were in very poor condition and manywere pack-horse routes only. The pack-horse drivers, or ‘jaggermen’, had control over much of the economy of the area andwere regarded by some as extortionists, forcing prices up.Because of this and the impracticability of hauling lead out bypack-horse, the lead companies commissioned the eminentengineer, John MacAdam, to design and build new carriageroads. Some of the original routes are now evocative greentracks across the moors, haunted by the jingling bells of thepack-horses.

Pick up the Trail again at the north end of the village. Out ofsight from the Trail, close to the footbridge at river-bed level, isTyne Bottom Mine. This is a subterranean SSSI, noted for a rangeof mineral deposits, particularly ‘erythrite’.

To the south of Bleagate is Cross Fell, the highest point in thePennines at 893m (2,930ft). Across the fellside to the west is theHartside Road - one of MacAdam’s great achievements -creating a steady, winding gradient for about seven miles fromthe foot to Hartside summit. Its sweeping bends, engineered toease the climb for horse-drawn wagons, now draw motorcyclistsand touring motorists from afar. The name Hartside, hints at itsdeer-hunting past. Until the13th century, this was the royalplayground of Scottish monarchs who held title to the Manor of Alston Moor.

Low Nest, the long house close to the Trail, is built on the remainsof an old fortified farmhouse, or ‘bastle’, built for defence againstraiders in the years of warfare and unrest between England andScotland. The original walls are 4ft thick.

Between Natrass Gill and Alston the South Tyne levels out, startsto meander a little and dumps an odd few million tonnes ofboulders and gravel en route. Look through the trees towardsthe river. Here is yet another SSSI, Tyne Shingle Banks, whereshingle movements are being studied using lichen growth as an indicator.

Just before Alston you reach Firs Wood. Like others in thevalley, this wood was devastated by Dutch elm disease inthe 1980s and is now growing up once more with a younggeneration of replacements.

Alston is something of a North Pennines metropolis. It is anattractive small town, with cobbled streets and is said to bethe Highest Market Town in England. It is many years sinceit had a market but the Market Cross remains, despitedetermined efforts at demolition by runaway vehicles.

This is a good place to break your journey. The South TyneTrail continues from Alston Railway Station where there is acar park and picnic area close to the river. The Trail thenruns adjacent to the heritage railway line and follows thetrack nearly to Haltwhistle. The route from the stationnorthwards is easy walking and delightful valley scenery,wild flowers, railway heritage and two attractive pubs makeit an enjoyable walk. The contrast with the high moors ofThe Source is striking. This is the gentle part of the uplands,although winter temperatures and fearsome spates are partof the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the valley.

A - B WALKERS AND CYCLISTS

The waymarked track follows the infant South Tyne. You willbe surprised how quickly thistrickle grows into a rushing, rockystream. Keep your eyes open formining remains. At B there is amodern cattle shed and an oldlead smelt mill – its flue runsunderground close to Allen’sCleugh.

D - E WALKERS

Follow path close to river, then

cross Windshaw Bridge and follow

the short stone track to the road.

C - D WALKERS

The route joins the publicfootpath at Sir John’s Mine. Followthe waymarkers past Tyneheadthen along valley bottom to AshGill. Excellent for wildflowers inspring and early summer.

B - G CYCLISTS

Follow tarmac road straight onthen continue on road throughGarrigill and Leadgate to Alston

D WALKERS

Short diversion to the dramatic Ash Gill waterfalls. From AshgillForce the water tumbles overseveral smaller falls en route to theSouth Tyne Valley.

B - C WALKERS

Turn right off the track at the Milland follow the waymarkers andcurve to the left towards the valley.This is a permitted path generouslydonated for use by the landowner.YOU ARE IN SHEEP COUNTRY. Dogs must be kept on leads.Path passes Dorthgill Waterfall(beware of steep drop).

B

CD

E

F

G

Rare spring gentiansare protected in areserve close to thesource of the Tyne

black grouse

early purpleorchid

bird’s-eyeprimrose

mountainpansy

South Tyne valley in autumn Tyne Bridge Militia

George and Dragon, Garrigill

South Tyne gorge, Windshaw

ALSTON is excellent for

cafes, pubs, shops and

accommodation which

includes a youth hostel.

F - G WALKERS

Follow the well-marked PennineWay to Alston. The Trail enters acharming pastoral ‘Dales’landscape, deceptive to think thathere it is over 300m (1000ft) high.

E - F WALKERS

Follow road north through Garrigill village.

Where the road swings leftuphill take the signposted

Pennine Way.

GARRIGILL VILLAGEhas toilets, village shop with Post

Office, B & Bs, pub, village green

and public telephone.

footpaths, quiet roads and cyclewayssections with easy going access

A

disused level Tynehead

The North Pennines are a designated Area of Outstanding NaturalBeauty (AONB) but this landscape is special not just for its naturalfeatures: it has been a hotbed of mining industry for centuries -indeed the track you stand on was probably a mine road. Up or down the road you will see the greening wrinkles ofmineral spoil or decaying gantries of timber - silent now, butsymbols of this area’s life-blood until the 20th century. Manyminers farmed too and sculpted these hills and dales withendless miles of walls, or ‘dykes’, using skills perfected onunderground passages.

The Source to Alston9¹⁄₂ miles 15.5 km approx.

On the hill above The Source is arocky limestone plain. Here therain percolates down into limestonecaverns before trickling to itsbirthplace. Until 2002, The Sourcewas marked only by an old fencepost and was easily missed. Themassive sculpture by Gilbert Wardshould remedy that. Look tallthrough the slot in the stone andyou can see the birth of the SouthTyne as it flows from the labyrinths.Raise your eyes with respect – theCelts believed that the eye of ariver was the eye of God.

Far from the Tyne’s scaffold ofbridges, this is a wild and lonelylandscape. In spring, the hauntingcall of curlew and golden ploverechoes round this stony street. Many other birds own thesemoors - merlin, peregrine, black grouse and dunlin are but someof the notable species that are conserved here in theMoorhouse Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The area alsohas international designations for geological and botanicalimportance as well as for birds.

The Source by Gilbert Ward

Just look at the road bridge! The engineer had a sense of souland vision. Unfortunately, he had less luck in the practicaldepartment, as the bridge collapsed in the final stages ofconstruction and had to berebuilt around 1920.

Tynehead meadows are ariot of yellow in the spring:

early on come thekingcups and buttercupsthen the rare globeflowers can be seen.Later come the purple

meadow cranesbill and many othermeadow flowers.

Following the river, it is easy to see the alternating bands oflimestone, sandstone and shale, formed over the millennia, thattypify the area. These bands, laid down when the whole areawas covered by a tropical ocean, helped shape the landscape.Their erosion caused captivating waterfalls and scarp-sloped hills.Can you imagine how it looked when the whole area wascovered by a tropical ocean? Keep a sharp eye and you may seethe fossils of tropical crinoids (sea lilies) or giant cockles in thelimestone bands.

Near Waterfall Cottage the London Lead Company had a treenursery (the mining companies produced their own wood). Youcan see typical species which were planted for timber

production: Norway spruce, Scots pine andEuropean larch.

At Ash Gill, turn up the valley to seeAshgill Force - a stunning waterfall. In autumn or winter you may see this fallin its full glory, hurling millions of tonnes ofpeat-brown water over its crest. In summer, you can more easily walkbehind the sheet of water and bemesmerised by the dancing faeries.

‘Force’ is a common wordfor waterfall in the NorthPennines: it comes fromthe Norse ‘fors’.

bugleFalls at Ashgill

Hill House

HoleHouse

Sir John’s Mine

Mill

curlews

Pcattle grid

Walkingin the

A warm welcome to all walkers and cyclistsexploring the Pennine hills and dales. We hope

your journey leaves you pleasantly tired butspiritually refreshed!

To enjoy your visit please respect this workinglandscape and the Pennine weather.

�Use gates and stiles to cross fences, hedges and walls�Fasten all gates that you open�Take your litter home�Keep your dogs under close control especially

where there are sheep�Take care around mine workings�Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office c Crown copyright.Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. East Cumbria Countryside Project 100005056 2004

SCALE0 kilometres 1km

0 miles 1mile

BlackburnBridge

P

walkorcyclefromThe Source via Alston to Haltwhistle

Allen’s Cleugh

KEYSOUTH TYNE TRAIL

footpathcycle trail

OTHER RIGHTS OF WAY

public footpathspublic bridlewaysPennine Way

telephone parking P

£2 wat

erpr

oof p

aper

golden plovers

THESOURCE

GETTING TO

THE SOURCE

From Alston take theroad through Garrigill.Continue south foranother two miles untilthe tarmac finishes at acattle-grid soon afterHill House Farm.Motorists must leavetheir cars here. Please park with careso as not to obstructfarm traffic. The higher track is abridleway. You mayfollow it on foot, cycleor horse. Another twomiles bring you toThe Source (see panel 1)

this leaflet has been produced by:

East Cumbria Countryside Project in partnership withNorthumberland County Council

We would like to acknowledgethe support given by:

Mr and Mrs Carrick, Maureen Sayer the late Peter BuchananSouth TynedaleRailway Preservation SocietySustransHexham Ramblers Association

photographs by:Val Corbett, Simon Danby and ECCP

funding from:

c 2004East Cumbria Countryside ProjectWarwick Mill, Warwick Bridge,

Carlisle, CA4 8RR tel: 01228 561601eccp@carlisle-city.gov.uk

2 4

3 5

6

7

8 9

1

Ashgill Force

kingcups

globeflowers

**

O

y g

We hope that you have enjoyed your walk, following thisinfant river as it grows through this special landscape.Have a safe journey home.We welcome your comments.

Gilderdale

viaduct

KirkhaughRailway Station

KirkhaughChurch

RandalholmeFarm

Coanwood

FeatherstoneBridge

FeatherstoneRowfoot

FeatherstoneCastle

BellisterCastle

ParkVillage

levelcrossing

SLAGGYFORD

LAMBLEY

A689

A689

B8321

A686

BarhaughHall

Lintley

Knarsdale

Burnstones

Eals WhitwhamFarm

Kirkstyle Inn

Williamston

Wallace Arms

Maiden Way

Pennine Way

South Tyne Trail

South TyneTr

ail a

ndra

ilway

Pennine Way

River South Tyne

viaduct

FeatherstonePark station

A69

Carlis

le

A69

Hexh

am

STATION

HALTWHISTLESouth Tyne cy

clero

ute

Alston to Haltwhistle13 miles 21 kms

Alston Station is towards thenorth end of the town. Itclosed as a ‘proper’ railway in1976 but re-opened as a‘heritage’ railway in 1983,extending by stages to itscurrent terminus at Kirkhaugh.The South Tyne Trail runsadjacent to this line and followsthe railway track nearly toHaltwhistle (the last half mile hasbeen cut by the Haltwhistle by-pass).

During the heady excitement ofthe New Railway Age in theearly 19th century, the mineralwealth of Alston Moor was seenas an important prize for therailway companies. Severalschemes were proposed,

including one to link the South Tyne Valley with Weardale viaNenthead and a 2¹⁄₂ mile tunnel at Killhope. Reality eventuallyprevailed and the outcome was the Haltwhistle to AlstonRailway. This was opened for goods and passenger use in1852. Even this was an ambitious engineering achievementwith numerous bridges, nine viaducts and substantial gradientsraising the line 150m (500 ft) in 13 miles.Sadly for the developers, the mineral bubble was deflating bythe time the railway was built and it never realised its fullpotential. A hundred years later, the writing was on the wallwith colliery closures heralding the final line closure in 1976.

The heritage railway developed bythe South Tynedale RailwayPreservation Society arose from theashes in 1983. With impressivevolunteer effort, they have extendedthe line to Kirkhaugh. Day walkerscan combine walking with a one-way trip on the train. Details areavailable from the station.

Just before the level crossing, the old lime loading dock can beseen on the opposite side. Beyond the crossing, lime wasbrought down from the quarry and lime works on the hillside,via a steep tramway which ran through a tunnel under theroad. These features can be still be seen, although the limequarry is now a reclaimed rubbish tip.

Just over a mile out of Alston, Randalholme Farm can be seenon the opposite side of the river. Randalhome is a medievalpeel-tower – part of the legacy of the long and dangerousyears of warfare and troubles that blighted the Bordercountry and further afield.

At Gilderdale Viaduct, the metal sculpture tellsus that this is also the bridge betweenCumberland and Northumberland. This lovely dale is home to red squirrels.

Just north of here, the grassy ramparts of the Roman Whitley Castle can be seen on the hillside to the left. WhitleyCastle lies on the route of the Maiden Way. This strategicRoman road ran from Bewcastle in north Cumbria, across hostileterrain of bogs, moors and felltops on to Kirkby Thore, nearAppleby. It is believed that the Romans had an interest in thelead mines of Alston Moor but the Maiden Way also cut throughthe heart of the territory of Briganteum. The Brigantes were apowerful native people who populated this upland area and theRomans would have been keen to exert control over them.

Before the effects of climate change, winters in the NorthPennines could be impressive! In the severe winter of 1947, thesnow-plough train had to give up the ghost at Kirkhaugh. Thefireman set off on foot back to Alston, but must have had anawful struggle in the storm. The driver had prevailed upon thehospitality of Kirkhaugh resident Mr Renwick and stayed thenight. At that time there were no telephones at Kirkhaugh,never mind mobile phones.

At Slaggyford, theTrail passes by thestation at the topend of the village. The village itself is adelightful smallsettlement, scatteredaround its green.Unfortunately thereare no facilities forwalkers, but wellworth a stop and a rest.

We now share the route with the Pennine Cycleway, developedby Sustrans, the cycle charity. After about one and a half miles,you cross Burnstones Viaduct across the main road. Weary,hungry or thirsty walkers will find solace less than half a miledown the road. The Kirkstyle Inn (tel: 01434 381559), servesfood and drink most lunch times and evenings (closed Tuesdaylunchtime). Children and dogs are welcome. Access to theroad is a short way beyond the viaduct. Double back onyourself down the main road then take first left after the viaduct.

The Trail passes through Whitwham Farm, which is in theCountryside Stewardship Scheme established to encouragefarming in a way that supports the environment. On thisfarm waders e.g. curlew, lapwing and redshank havebenefited from habitat protection. Sadly, these speciesare declining due to land drainage and improvement.The RSPB has been running a waders project to raiseawareness with community art schemes. Look out forwooden wader sculptures that were created incollaboration with Coanwood Primary School.

North of Whitwham, the magnificent Lambley Viaduct comesinto view with its soaring arches framing the tree-lined river.The viaduct suffered a period of planned neglect prior to therailway closure in 1976. After closure, further damage wascaused by contractors removing the lines when diggers andbulldozers were operating on the viaduct. Parapet masonrywas dislodged at this stage and the bridge became very unsafe.After much lobbying, the viaduct was repaired by British Railand then transferred to the North Pennines Heritage Trust forsafekeeping in 1996.

Please note: you cannot walk directly on to the viaduct (route details on map see L - M).

The view from the viaduct is definitely worth the climb. It takesnerve to peer over the parapet: the height and drop is awesome.The water glints far below and the valley woodland stretchesaway in both directions. In autumn, the colours are marvellous;in winter, the river can be raging and the wind up top can bebiting. Take special care with children.

The wooded embankment north of the viaduct gives way toattractive cottages and open fields. The remains of massiveiron-framed buffers lie at the old Coanwood Station. Thisstation served a cokeworks and a number of collieries untiloutput ended around 1940. Take care crossing the fastcurve of the road at Coanwood Bank. Coanwood car parkis a good access point for visitors to Lambley Viaduct or forbreaking the route.

The Wallace Arms (tel:01434 321872) is but astone’s throw up the roadfrom Featherstone ParkStation. This traditional pubserves food and real ales

most lunch times andevenings. Children arewelcome but dogs are notallowed inside.

Featherstone Castle was built on to an existing 13th century peel-tower. During WW2, a German POW camp was establishedthere. This was used as an assessment and re-education centreand was a community in its own right with streets, gardens,theatre, art gallery and lecture rooms. The prisoners producedtheir own newsletter, “Die Zeit am Tyne” (The Times on theTyne) and interacted with the local community.

cycle route

P

P

J

K

K

LM

N

O

Q

P

R

The Trail passes through woodland of self-seeded birches - usually the first to colonisethe well-drained ballast of the railway - nowwell established and graceful in their delicatefinery. Close to Park Village, veteran oaks andlarches stand proud. Rabbits are strenuouslyreclaiming the embankment and roe deer can beseen if you are lucky. The original road bridgespans the line but just beyond, walkers climb tomeet the Park Village by-pass on the level.

Near Haltwhistle, the railway embankmentdisappears where the largest earthwork on theline has given way to the A69 Haltwhistle by-pass.The railway finally enters Haltwhistle by crossingthe South Tyne on Alston Arches, as the bridgeis called.

As you cross the South Tyne, it is surprising to see how bigthe river has grown in just under 23 miles. By the time it gets toNewcastle, in another 40 miles, it is one of Britain’s major rivers.

As you pull into Haltwhistle Station, you have walked 13 milesand 18³⁄₄ chains from Alston Station (according to the originalrailway measurement), or 23 miles from The Source. Haltwhistle’s claim to fame may seem surprising to some visitors:this is the geographical centre of Britain - Yorkshire is far away inThe South!

BOOKING ACCOMMODATION

TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES (TIC) can provide up-to-dateinformation about a range of accommodation in the area:

HALTWHISTLE TIC tel: 01434 322002(Haltwhistle Station) web site: www.hadrianswallcountry.orgALSTON TIC tel: 01434 382244(Alston Town Hall) web site: www.eden.gov.uk

YOUTH HOSTELS (YHA) are located in Alston and close toHaltwhistle at Greenhead and Once Brewed (both approx3¹⁄₂ miles from Haltwhistle). These have restricted opening

out of season but accommodation can be booked in advance:ALSTON tel: 0870 770 5668

GREENHEAD tel: 0870 770 5842ONCE BREWED tel: 0870 770 5980BIRDOSWALD tel: 0870 770 6124 (July - September)YHA web site: www.yha.org.uk

MAPS - ORDNANCE SURVEY

Explorer OL43 Hadrian’s WallExplorer OL31 North Pennines

TRAVEL INFORMATION

TRAVELINE (bus and rail) tel: 0870 608 2608

BUS

685 - Newcastle to Carlisle (Haltwhistle Station)185 (winter) AD 122 (summer) - Hadrian’s Wall Bus (Haltwhistle St.)681 - Haltwhistle to Nenthead via Alston 680 - Halton-Lea-Gate to Nenthead Local bus services operate from Alston and Haltwhistle.Wrights buses may carry cycles in boot if space permits,

Wrights Bros tel: 01434 381200

RAIL

Tyne Valley Line - Newcastle to Carlisle (Haltwhistle Station)Tyne Valley railway will carry two cycles if space permits

South Tynedale Railway - Alston to Kirkhaugh (narrow gauge railway)Alston Station tel: 01434 381696Talking Timetables tel: 01434 382828

web site: www.strps.org.uk

WALKING FESTIVALS

Discover the fells and dales, lush river valleys and wild woodlandsduring spring and early summer. ROOF OF ENGLAND WALKS (early summer)

Annual walking festival held in different locations each year North Pennine AONB Partnership tel: 01388 528801

HALTWHISTLE WALKING FESTIVALS (late spring and late autumn)Family centred walks for all ages and abilities Haltwhistle Partnership tel: 01434 321242

A large print version of this leaflet canbe made available from:East Cumbria Countryside ProjectWarwick Mill, Warwick Bridge, Carlisle CA4 8RR

tel: 01228 561601

HALTWHISTLEThe station has regular train and

bus services towards Carlisle and

Newcastle. The TIC (Tourist

Information Centre) on the

platform can give you details.

The town centre lies across the

roundabout. Here you will find

shops, cafes, pubs and take-aways.

H - J WALKERS

This section makes use of thedisused railway track.

Q - R WALKERS AND CYCLISTS

Drop down on to PlenmellerRoad and head towards by-pass.You are aiming to take the minorroad opposite to the right.Visibility is good but traffic speedsare high. TAKE GREAT CARE

CROSSING. MAKE SURE THAT YOU

CHOOSE A GOOD GAP.

N - Q WALKERS AND CYCLISTS

Follow the disused railway for approx. 12.5 km (7¹⁄² miles) until theend of the line at Plenmeller Road. Note also, access

points at Featherstone Park, Park Village, and theWallace Arms pub.

ALSTON is excellent for

cafes, pubs, shops, good

accommodation which includes

a youth hostel.

M - N WALKERS

The disused track continues to Coanwood Car Park. This is a good access point for visitors to Lambley Viaduct.

SOUTH TYNE CYCLE TRAIL

The entire route can be cycled from The Source toHaltwhistle. Mountain bikes are ideal, however moststurdy bikes would be suitable as the only rough part is a2 miles section near The Source.The SOUTH TYNE CYCLE TRAIL includes a stoned bridleway,quiet lanes and off-road specially surfaced disusedrailway tracks. There are two short stretches of ‘A’ road.Villages and towns along the way are ‘geared up’ forrefreshments and some repairs but you are advised tocarry a pump and repair kit. Cycle locks are useful for shortstops while you explore the route or enjoy a pub lunch!J - K, M - N and N - QThese sections of the trail have shared use with walkers.These excellent safe and gentle sections are ideal forfamily days out with ordinary bikes.LAMBLEY VIADUCT: The stunning views mean it’s well wortha detour to the viaduct. Cycle access from NUseful contacts: ALSTON: Henderson’s Garage tel: 01434 381204

(can collect bikes or carry out basic repairs)HALTWHISTLE: Eden’s Lawn Garage tel: 01434 320443

(cycle shop, cycle hire and repairs)This Trail is one of the many benefiting from the hardwork of Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity.

J - K WALKERS AND CYCLISTS

This section of the route is sharedwith the Pennine Cycleway whichruns from Derby to Berwick uponTweed.

K - N CYCLISTS

Turn uphill at Bowden’s Banks tojoin the A689 towards Lambley.Take the minor road through thevillage and rejoin the Trail atCoanwood car park.

ALSTON STATION is at

the bottom (north) of Alston

town. There is an attractive picnic

site set among birch trees at the

station car park, close to the river.

G - Q WALKERS

This is a permitted path

G - H WALKERS

The Trail runs adjacent to thenarrow-gauge railway. DO NOT WALK ON THE LINE

and beware of the steam trains!Kirkhaugh station is the currentend of the line.

G - J CYCLISTS

Take the A686 out of Alston thenturn left on quiet roads pastRandalholme farm, Kirkhaugh Church and Barhaugh Hallto Slaggyford.

P

L - M WALKERS

Take the signposted footpath tothe right off the track. This leadsdown a stepped slope thenunder the viaduct beforeclimbing back up to the viaductvia steps then a steel staircase.

Unfortunately you cannot walk directly on to theviaduct because the adjacent Lambley Station isnow a private residence without through access.

LAMBLEY STATION(private residence)

viaduct

L M

Haltwhistle Signal Box

Alston Level Crossing

Self-set birch near Park village

KEYSOUTH TYNE TRAIL

footpathcycle TrailSouth Tynedale Railway Line

OTHER RIGHTS OF WAY

public footpathspublic bridlewaysPennine Way

telephone parking

Slaggyford Station

Wallace Arms

Footpath to Lambley Viaduct

Lambley ViaductSouth Tyne valley

red squirrel

silver birch

orange tipbutterfly

lapwing

R - S WALKERS AND CYCLISTS

This minor road is a dead-end formotor traffic. Take the first bridgecrossing the South Tyne toHaltwhistle Station.

SCALE

0 kilometres 1km

0 miles 1mile

Take care crossing the fast curve of theroad at Coanwood Bank.

.

YHA

H

Bowden’s Banks

P

S

P

WhitleyCastle

EASY GOING ACCESS AND CAR PARKING

Considerable stretches of the lower part of the route havebeen surfaced to a high standard suitable for easy walking,pushchairs or wheelchairs. Several good access points exist.ALSTON STATION (G): car park with riverside picnic site - ¹⁄₄ mile on awell-surfaced pathSLAGGYFORD (J): no formal car park but space near old station - 3¹⁄₂

miles of well-surfaced trail to Bowden’s Banks (pick-up possible)COANWOOD (N): car park and excellent access point for LambleyViaduct ³⁄₄ mile south (Featherstone Park Station 1 mile north)FEATHERSTONE PARK STATION (O): car park and well-surfaced trailPARK VILLAGE (P): limited parking on verge. Well-surfaced trailPLENMELLER ROAD (Q): limited parking on verge with steepish rampup to well-surfaced trail

11 12 13 1410

disusedstation

K WALKERS

Continue along railway track to L

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of OrdnanceSurvey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office c Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may leadto prosecution or civil proceedings. East Cumbria Countryside Project 100005056 2004

ALSTONSTATION

G

ALSTON

perm

itted

path

permitted path

permitted path

(Roman Road)

y g