WALK 6
MEDBURN to HIGHLANDER INN on A696
linear walk 6 miles
BW = bridle way SO = straight on
FP = foot path TR = turn right
SP = sign post TL = turn left
FB = foot bridge
Medburn is reached from the Stamfordham Road, B6324, to the south of Darras Hall estate. It is possible to start at Eachwick or Dalton for a shorter walk. Friends or partners need to be cajoled into dropping off walkers at the starting point and then arranging to join up later for refreshments at the Highlander Inn. Allow about 3 hours.
START opposite the telephone kiosk in Medburn and take the track signed for South Dissington and Eachwick Moor. Walk over a cattle grid and in front of the next one take the L hand metal gate Dissington Old Hall is on the R and in the small field in front are some stone remains. A pseudo-Roman torso and altar are dated C17. Keep on the track to the next dwelling where there is a stile L in front of the cottage. TR on track through the farm buildings and follow the arrows on a telegraph pole. TR in front of the last shed and go downhill. Ignore arrows L and continue SO over a burn and TL. Pass into the next field and TR keeping the hedge on R. Cross stile at next field and bear R cutting off the corner and heading for a stile and gate. TL and continue to the next field boundary where a plank bridge crosses a stream. Follow arrows SO and cross stiles eventually reaching a road. This is the small hamlet of Eachwick. TL and about 100 yards on there is a SP right by a house. Through the trees on the L is Eachwick Hall. A large private residence it is a mainly a C18 house with later additions.
Walk SO until the end of a stone wall then bear L to corner of field. From here it is possible to look R and across the fields see Dissington Hall built for Edward Collingwood and started in 1794. It was part of a very large estate which was dispersed in the C20. The Hall is used as a venue for conferences and weddings. Continue SO to the corner of a wood and descend steeply on stone steps to cross a stream on a concrete bridge. The former Dalton Mill is L. Follow the arrows and directions till the road is reached through a kissing gate. TR and along the road and look for a SP on the right pointing to a FP on the left to Silverhill which goes between Hawthorne Cottage and The Old School. A stile gives onto a path beside tall conifers and continues SO into the fields. Bear slightly R in the second field to the corner stile and then with the hedge on R make towards the red-brick house, Silverhill. Cross the road and pick up the FP for Milbourne. This goes alongside a large cultivated field to a ladder stile and then slightly uphill towards the top of a tree seen on the horizon. Go through a red metal gate on the right. There is a wide grassy verge on the next field and the arrows should be followed to come out on the road at High House. TR on road and immediately L alongside a house into the grounds behind. These are the grounds of Milbourne Hall. Go through the gate and follow the track until the large octagonal stable block is reached and come off the track L, past the abandoned pig sties and through the undergrowth to a ladder stile in the fence. Milbourne Hall was built with beautiful golden sandstone from the Belsay quarries for Ralph Bates in 1807. From the ladder stile bear R across the pasture for the next stile and follow arrows to a plank bridge at the next field boundary. Milbourne Church is seen on the right and the path crosses the field behind it and exits onto the road. There is a gate in the wall of the church yard for those who wish to have a look round. The Milbourne Millennium Oak is planted opposite the entrance to the church. It is a chapel-of-ease to Ponteland church and was built in 1869, a gift of Miss Bates of Milbourne Hall.
There were six oak trees planted by the Parish Council for the Millennium in different locations within the parish. As well as this one in Milbourne there is one at Kirkley Hall and another on Duns Green opposite the Fire Station. This latter one suffered from the attention of vandals and had to be replaced in 2003. There is
