Walk Report

A late September walk entitled Viscount Ridley's Ferret, aka The Roy Nellist Flatlands Walk was fashioned pre covid, though held in abeyance. Twenty eager souls and Poppy, ventured from Stannington, initially westward, along field boundaries and small hamlets, on a mild day. After visiting the Kirkley Obelisk, Gilly regaled the history of the structure, erected in 1788 to commemorate the centenary of Glorious Revolution and its significance to the suppression of Catholicism and the establishment of the Protestant faith. We were then, ably directed by Jim to his former place of employment and the delightful walled garden of Kirkley Hall College. Lunch was enjoyed on the lawns of the former Ogle family mansion which certainly included windfall in the shape of the Kirkley coxes apples. The route continued past Berwick Hill Low House, with a stepping stone crossing over the River Pont, with Poppy performing terrific agility, later, matched by Gilly, on escaping from the marauding herd of White Park Cattle as we crossed the Blagdon Estate. Old waggonways were followed as we skirted the MOD rifle range at Prestwick Carr, bordered too by a nature reserve. we eventually emerged by Carr Grange Farm and visited Brenkley Hill Trig Pillar, 82 metres above sea level, though warranting a coat of paint. We continued through the recently reclaimed fields where surface mining has been undertaken, viewing new fencing and recently planted hedgerows, research suggests the Ridley Estate only benefited from “wayleave payments” with the mined coal owned by the Crown. Having journeyed through the Blagdon Estate, we arrived at the A1 to cross the River Blyth and return to Stannington and our start point from the Ridley Arms. A great day was had, enjoyed by all. Thanks to the two Paul's for staging the walk and Roy for his initial planning; the derivation of the walk title has been lost in the midst of time, following an earlier fevered exchange of messages, at the time of the reccee. It is not inconceivable that Viscount Ridley kept ferrets, however, not necessarily down his trouser leg ! ( Peter Ford)

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