Walking in the Allendales

by:Keven Shevels
This full colour guide describes nine walks exploring the history and landscape of the East and West Allendale valleys in Northumberland's North Pennines. Rising in the North Pennines, on the Durham/Northumberland border, two rivers, the East and West Allen, flow northwards to join and then, ultimately, enter the River South Tyne. Here, within sight of the high Pennines, these rivers have created two rugged little valleys that for centuries were part of the 'lead dales', the North Pennines Orefield that dominated the world's lead industry.

Here the landscape has a different look and feel to it than the other more popular walking areas of Northumberland such as the Cheviot Hills or Hadrian's Wall. Travelling from the high moors to the wooded valleys, join the author as, in this series of walks, he explores both the landscape and the heritage of these two dales and discovers what makes them so special.

Each walk chapter begins with a short description of the route plus practical data including distance, ascent, terrain, time, start point with grid reference, OS Explorer map sheet number and suitability for dogs. The route descriptions are clear and comprehensive with grid references given for major navigation points. Each walk has also been assigned a Ferguson Grading System rating and the book gives details of this system and how to interpret the grades. The book includes an informative introduction to the area and is illustrated with colour photographs. Copious notes on features of interest are provided in coloured panels. There are fairly simple outline sketch maps and we would recommend carrying the relevant OS Explorer maps and a compass on these walks. The sheet numbers required to cover all the walks in this book are OL31 and OL43.

The walk locations are:
Burntridge Moor and the Rowley Burn - 10.6 miles
The West Allen Valley - 5.7 miles
Allenheads Circular - 5.8 miles
Mohope - 6.1 miles
Rebel Hill and Greenrigg Moor - 7.4 miles
The River East Allen and Allen Smelt Mill - 5.7 miles
Wellhope and the Coalcleugh mines - 5.6 miles
The Chimneys and Brownley Hill - 7.4 miles
Killhope Law - 4.8 miles

ISBN 9781905444618 Pages 112 (2015) 148mm x 210mm