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West Woodburn Circular
Visiting :- East Woodburn Bridge, Blakelaw, Linnheads, Whetstone House, East Woodburn.
OS Landranger Sheet 80 Start point NY 893 868
Length 8 miles Moderate walking a 5 hour stroll
How to get there On A68 Corbridge to Jedburgh road. 3 miles south of the Otterburn road.
Start:- Park in layby on the Bellingham road 200yds from A68, From the Bay Horse walk north on the A68 for about 50 yards taking the first lane right, before the Post Office.
Follow the lane round a sharp left hand bend towards a housing estate then take the lane to the right and follow it out of the village. Proceed round a right hand bend by Yellow House Farm with Cherry Trees Cottage on your left. There is a junction left but continue to the right.
Continue along the lane and where there are two wooden farm gates on your left opposite Ingram Cottage a signpost showing "Public Bridleway". Go through the second wooden gate and up the field ahead keeping a stone wall to your left. There is a broad gap in the wall ahead.
Follow the faint pathway beyond the gap, veering slightly right toward a stand of pine trees. There is a small black wind turbine on the brow of the hill beyond the trees to use as a marker, you will not miss the roadway ahead. Take the roadway right, down the hill to East Woodburn Bridge. This is not East Woodburn. (The roadway shows on the map as “County Ride” )
Over the River Rede at East Woodburn Bridge turn right. The roadway/track swings upward left and away from the river.
At the brow where a stone wall appears ahead you will see a gateway down to your right. Leave the roadway and passing through the gate take the broad pathway beyond.
This pathway leads down to the bank of the river and the east end of the stepping stones over the Rede from Townhead. The stones can at times be used but they are unreliable and I have chosen to bypass them on this walk.
Beyond the stepping stones take the path across the field and over a stile to a metal railed bridge.
Do not cross the bridge continue on the path to the left, not much used, over a stile and along the bank of the Lisle Burn.The path continues to a ladder stile. Over the stile, take the track right, on the other side of the wall, it is not much used, pass along and through what looks like a courtyard and drop down to the right of some cottage gardens along the bank of the Burn. In the area beyond you will pass an old railway truck.
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You will see a building ahead, climb up the gentle slope to a wide gravelled track, pass to the left of the building over the cattle grid and left at the minor road away from Chairford Bridge.
On the other side of the road after a few yard take the gate (sign - Woodburn Hill) and follow the track. The signpost direction is Knowlesgate.
Just before getting to the farm ahead it's worth a look back to Redesdale and the village of West Woodburn.
The path goes through the gate to the left hand side of the property, Woodburn Hill Farm, and continues straight on through the yard. Beyond follow straight on with the stone wall on your right.
Having got to a right hand corner in the wall, where there is a small wire-fenced enclosure, you will see a Ladder stile ahead. Over the stile and your marker is the chimney of a cottage ahead of you,
A stile leads into the grounds of what has been a deserted building but would appear to be in the process of renovation (note Oct 07. Not much more done ! June 2013). Pass in front of the building to a stile over the fence, slightly right.
Walk on the same line up the field ahead and you will see a stone wall across your path with another joining from the other side at right angles. To the right of this wall joint there is a stone stile. Cross over (woodwork covering a new electric fence wire on the other side makes this a bit akward) and follow up the field keeping the wall to your left.
Harewalls Farm is up to the left.
At the end of what is now a fence enter left into the farm yard and then immediately right to a wooden gate leading into a small wood. The path through the wood (a bit overgrown June 2013) drops down over a stream via small stepping stones and up some steps to emerge at Blakelaw Farm.
The pathway passes in front of the farm and the walk continues along a lane reached through a wooden gate signed Public Bridleway. This lane proceeds to Linnheads House.
Turn right at Linnheads House follow the road down the hill with a reservoir to your left.
Over the bridge at the reservoir follow the lane uphill over a cattle grid, pass the cottages and beyond them at the cattle grid turn right down the grassy track with the huge Beech tree in the field to your right. This is the furthest extent of the walk and the return will be by paths on the other side of the Lisle Burn.
Take the grassy path down to a rusty gate. Take the wooden bridge across the burn, here only a few feet across , and follow the grass track on the other side up the rise to a stone bridge. This bridge is over the track of an abandoned railway.
Do not cross the bridge but take the wide grassy track to the right it soon turns right downhill. You will pass a tree and an old gatepost. Follow this path as it wanders up and left towards the right hand side of a wood enclosed by a stone wall.
Pass the wood, go through a gate then straight ahead to Whetstone House.
The lane you are now on will take you to East Woodburn.
From here the walk continues straight ahead to the A68 then a short drop back to your start in West Woodburn
End October 2007 revision.2 May 2014 If you enjoyed the walk or have any observations that you think might benefit other walkers please leave a message on my website guestbook or email me at