Walk 2469 - printer friendly version

Great Allotment & God's Bridge Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 10.2 miles / 16.6 km

Ascent - 920 feet / 279 metres

Grade - moderate

Start - OS grid reference NY996135
Lat 54.5167990 + Long -2.0076905
Postcode DL12 9HU (approx. location only)

Walk from Bowes in County Durham exploring open moorland and the Greta Valley. The route uses sections of the Pennine Way including the main path and the Bowes Loop. Bowes is an interesting village with the remains of 12th century Bowes Castle and a Roman Fort.

The walk starts from the car park opposite Bowes Village Hall (grid ref. NY996135). After parking walk to the nearby roundabout and turn left up The Street, signed no access to A66. Nearing the edge of the village the road bends right, crosses the A66 and continues ahead. You are now following the Pennine Way (Bowes Loop). The road passes allotments on the right and starts to climb steadily. Keep ahead at the next junction. And continue across open moorland. The next landmark are the signs prohibiting access the former site of RAF Bowes Moor which was used to store chemical weapons during World War II.

As the road descends, turn left at a fingerpost across a wall stile (grid ref. NY978148). Follow the path across fields to reach the access drive for West Stoney Keld and turn right. Go straight across the first junction and follow a clear track which leads to Levy Pool Farm (grid ref. NY968154). Pass to the left of the buildings, cross a footbridge over Deepdale Beck and turn right. The path initially runs beside the Beck but soon arcs left and starts to climb. The grassy path continues (roughly north) across the moor to reach a clear track after a kilometre (grid ref. NY968164). There is a get on your right.

Turn left, leaving the Bowes Loop, and follow what is initially a clear track across the Great Allotment. The track soon becomes a grassy path with sections of soft ground to negotiate. After 2.5 kilometres of walking, you reach gate in a wall (grid ref. NY942160). Go through the gate and turn left to join the main route of the Pennine Way. The path descends with a wall on your left into Sled Dale. Cross a footbridge and join the rising path on the other side. Keep to the right of a barn, cross a track, and keep to the rising path signed Pennine Way. The onward route crosses open moorland with a few cairns dotted along the path. After crossing Ravock Castle (hill)the path descends soon crossing a wet area to reach a wall corner. Follow the path beside the wall on your left to reach a cottage. Turn sharp right and use the underpass to cross the A66 (grid ref. NY954128).

Once out of the underpass turn left and then right along a track past a house to God's Bridge over the River Greta. Once across the river, turn left through a get to join an excellent riverside path with the Greta on your left. After 600 metres you reach a path junction. Fork left and continue along the clear path as it runs beside the river eventually re-joining the Pennine Way (Bowes Loop) again (grid ref. NY968128). Continue east along the Pennine Way. The path turns right in front of West Charity Farm to follow the farm's access drive. Continue past Lady Myres Farm (on your right). Just past the farm the Pennine Way leaves the track to the left and continues to a footbridge over the Greta (grid ref. NY984131).

Once across the bridge turn right briefly along the riverbank. You soon veer left to join a walled track that passes the buildings at Swinholme. Just after the track bends left, turn right onto a field path which runs behind the houses of Bowes on your left. Just after passing the remains of Bowes Castle, the route turns left along a walled lane with the parish church on your right. Reaching the main street through Bowes, turn right and return to the parking area.

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