The Grey Panthers
12 November 2003, - Chopwell Woods & the Derwent Valley Walkway


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9.16 miles.
Explorer Maps No 307- Consett & Derwent Reservoir

This walk starts from the centre of Chopwell Woods, just outside Rowlands Gill and Gateshead. There is a visitor car park, and several waymarked routes in these woods.
Our route starts with the "red route", but once the River Derwent is reached the footpath to Lintzford and the Derwent Valley walkway are used.
All walking is easy, and poses no particular problem.
In the autumn, the colours proved to be spectaular.


Memory Map
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)


The start of the walk is from the visitor Car Park in Chopwell Woods, NZ1369558393.
Follow the "red route" East from the car park, until you reach the River Derwent at NZ1435657363.
At this point, take the footpath South East to Lintzford Mill.
Continue in a South Easterly direction until you reach the Derwent Valley walkway, the old railway track bed. Join the walkway and head North East to the Derwent Bridge at NZ1660757901.
Here retrace your steps for a few yards, before taking the footpath into Scaife's Wood.
(Caution : Soon after entering the wood, a large number of discarded beer tins and alcohol bottles indicated that there was a bit of a "party scene" here. No problem when we passed through, but it may not be so at other times).
Follow the footpath to where the map shows it to leave the wood. at NZ164575. At this point there is a plantation rather than the open field as shown on the map. However, the footpath heading in a South Westerly direction is fairly clear, and can be followed without any difficulty back to the Derwent Valley Walkway at NZ154571.
Continue along the walkway until the footpath into Byerside Woods is reached (NZ1278755965).
Here head in a North Westerly direction, crossing the main road, to reach the Derwentcote Steel Works (ancient monument).
From the Derwentcote Steel Works, take the footpath to Blackhall Mill, and then, - via Armondale Farm, to Chopwell Woods.
Once in Chopwell Woods (NZ1231357126), head North to the old railway track bed, then East to the visitor car park.




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