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College Edge & Cuthbert's Currick from Edmundbyers

North Pennines Walk

Region - North Pennines

County/Area - Durham

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 8.0 miles / 13 km    Ascent - 700 feet / 212 metres

Time - 4 hours 40 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer 307Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer 307Digital Map1:25kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - College Edge & Cuthbert's Currick from Edmundbyers
Click image to see photo description.

This County Durham walk explores the higher land to the north of the valley containing the Burnhope Burn to the west of the village of Edmundbyers. The most convenient place to start is the small parking area on the north side of the B6278 at the western end of Edmundbyers village (grid ref. NZ013497).

Go through the gate onto track by the parking area. Continue along this track in a westerly direction with the wall to your immediate left and the slopes of Limerick Edge to your right to reach Swandale (grid ref. NZ005491). Cross the stream and head steeply uphill to the right past some ruined buildings. At the wall corner (grid ref. NZ002492), bear left and follow a clear track beside the wall on your left. Stay on this track along College Edge to reach ruined Pedam's Oak farm (grid ref. NY987483) where you pass to the left of the barn into the yard.

Exit the farm yard through double gates and stay on a clear moorland track to the next Objective, the ruins at Belmont. This section of easy walking provides excellent views down into the Burnhope Burn valley to your left. From Belmont, the track continues westwards. Reaching a wall corner (grid ref. NY967474) and a junction of tracks, turn right and walk up to a road (grid ref. NY963475).

Turn right off the road and take the track which initially heads north before veering east. Leave the track at a small cairn and follow a narrow path to reach a gate (grid ref. NY970480). The route continues across the moor to another gate (grid ref. NY978474) and continues to just south of Cuthberts Currick from where great views to the north can be enjoyed.

The onward route follows the track to cross a stream a Swandale Head (grid ref. NY997496). The track continues alongside a walled enclosure on your left, fords Black Burn and then descends to the B6306 on the north side of Edmundbyers. Reaching this road, turn right and bear right off the B6306 down Church Lane. Follow this side road downhill to the B6278. Turn right and follow this road back to the start.

Other walks nearby

Walk 3315 Warlaw Pike & Birkside Fell from Blanchlandmoderate8.0 miles
Walk 3722 Buckshott Fell & Sikehead Mineseasy/mod6.5 miles
Walk 2815 Pennypie and Blanchland from Baybridgeeasy/mod3.8 miles
Walk 2382 Smiddy Shaw Reservoir Circulareasy/mod6.2 miles
Walk 1942 Watson's Pike & Hexhamshire Commoneasy/mod6.0 miles
Walk 1948 Tunstall Reservoireasy/mod7.3 miles
Walk 3634 Catterick Moss & Bollihope Carrsmoderate5.6 miles
Walk 1955 Sunnyside Edge from Wolsinghameasy/mod7.5 miles
Walk 2393 Weardale Circular from Westgateeasy/mod6.4 miles
Walk 1659 Race Head & Sedling Rake from Wearhead easy/mod6.0 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Walking in the North Pennines

Walking in the North PenninesThis guidebook describes 50 day walks across the North Pennines, England's remotest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty taking in parts of Cumbria, County Durham and Northumberland. Most of the routes are circular and they range from 5 to 14 miles, with something to suit all abilities. Route descriptions are accompanied by 1:50K OS mapping.
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Great Mountain Days in the Pennines

Great Mountain Days in the PenninesAn inspirational guidebook to 50 classic walks on the rolling Pennine landscape. The graded routes, between 6 and 13 miles in length, cover classic Pennine fells and moorland such as Whernside, Ilkley Moor and Pendle Hill; exploring the North and South Pennines, Yorkshire Dales, Howgills and Dark Peak. Many routes are also suited to fell running.
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