Wark was once the capital of North Tynedale and stands on the site of a Norman motte and bailey castle, the remnants of which can be seen as the grassy hill directly opposite Battlesteads Hotel. A castle probably stood here in earlier times as the Anglo-Saxon name of Wark, signifies an earthwork. Stones from the castle and nearby Roman wall have been incorporated in many of the village's buildings.
From Norman times, Tynedale was a 'Liberty' - an area of land so remote from the centre of power it was allowed a degree of independence - often held by the Scottish Kings. Wark and its district were in fact technically part of Scotland until 1296, when it was retaken for England by King Edward I.
Heading down towards Ramshaws Mill |
Leaving the village from the crossroads at the centre of the village we walked east on a minor road until turning left onto a footpath (857771). We followed this path through fields passing Woodley Shield and Ramshaws Mill until reaching a minor road where we turned right.
From here it was a short distance to a T junction where we turned left, still on the road, before taking a footpath to our right. Before reaching Dean Burn we stopped for a tea break.
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We continued walking on this path, crossing Dean Burn then turning left where several paths crossed at Longstrother, continuing past Crossridge until reaching a road. Shortly after turning right on to the road we again turned right onto a track/road then left onto the Pennine Way.
We followed the Pennine Way passing Lowstead, Leadgate, The Ash and Horneystead. Here at Horneystead you can see the remains of a bastle, a defended farmhouse built in the late 16th or early 17th century. It stands in a well-defended position on a rocky crag above the Warks Burn. It is rectangular in shape and has thick stone walls. Only the lower parts of the bastle walls are standing.
Before crossing the footbridge over Warks Burn we stopped for lunch. We continued on the Pennine Way , crossing a footbridge at Warks Burn until leaving the Pennine Way where footpaths crossed at Longlee Rigg (811767). Here we turned left on a straight path where shortly after passing woodland the remains of a settlement can be seen - if you look carefully.
Shortly after passing the woodland we then turned right on a track (826766) and at Pea Hill we turned left onto a footpath to Shielahaugh where we continued east with Golton Burn on our right.
After high Moralee we followed a track to our right until reaching a minor road. Taking a left turn we continued into Low Moralee and then shortly afterwards took a footpath towards a ford in Warksburn Wood.
Before reaching the Wood, Russell went on ahead to investigate whether the ford was crossable but he found it too risky to attempt.
At this point Russell led most of the group back along the footpath then into Wark on the minor passing Latterford on the way, whereas a splinter group - Syd, Ken, John, Mick and Jimmy - took a shortcut across fields, reaching Wark via the riverside footpath.
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