Wannie Line walk

North East

Disused railway embankment covered with grass, with path running along the top towards fence and copse of trees — The Wannie Line walk, Northumberland | © Charlotte Hawley

This pleasant 10km circular walk passes through eight of the fifteen farms that make up the vast Wallington estate. The route follows sections of the now abandoned Wannie and Rothbury railway lines that once bustled with trains transporting goods, livestock and passengers. As you journey through a variety of habitats including farmland, woodland, hedgerows and streams, keep an eye out for birds, wildflowers and fungi that have reclaimed this once industrial landscape.

Near to

Wallington

Start point

The car park behind the National Trust Office at Scot's Gap, grid ref: NZ037864

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 6.3 (km: 10.08)

Duration2 hours to 4 hours

Dog friendly***

*Largely level route with some gentle gradients. Uneven ground in places. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Paths are predominantly earth and grass, so can get muddy in places. Some fields are accessed via gates and there are sections with steps. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs must be on leads due to livestock and ground nesting birds.

Address
Car park behind the National Trust office at Scots Gap, nr Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 4EG
Directions via Google Maps
By road
A1 north to Newcastle then 20 miles (32km) north-west on the A696 (airport/Ponteland road). Turn off on the B6342 signposted Cambo, drive past Wallington, then turn right outside Cambo onto the B6343.
A1 south to Morpeth, through Morpeth on the A192 then 12 miles (19.3km) west on the B6343.
Total stages: 13
Total stages: 13
Start point
The car park behind the National Trust Office at Scot's Gap, grid ref: NZ037864
Stage 1
The walk begins at the back of the National Trust Offices. At the back of the car park, facing the field, turn right and then left, along a path between two fields. Turn right down some steps onto the Wannie Line. Walk along the line until it splits. Here you need to take the right-hand fork onto the Rothbury Line.
The railway lines
Two railways crossed the Wallington Estate: from Scot's Gap Station one headed north towards Rothbury, the other heading east to Reedsmouth. Both lines were rural in nature and services were sparse. Sir Walter Trevelyan, owner of Wallington (1846-79), was the driving force behind the building of the railway. He saw that new revenue would come to the estate by supplying the ever increasing demands of Tyneside, revenue that could be spent on his house and staff and on making improvements to the estate.
Stage 2
Once on the Rothbury Line carry on walking, passing over five bridges.
The Rothbury Line
The line between Scots Gap and Rothbury opened on Tuesday 1 November 1870. It took seven years to build the 13-mile (21km) track. Passenger traffic was never heavy, with only three daily trains between Morpeth and Rothbury. Freight traffic was mainly agricultural, with one daily freight working in each direction and additional trains to collieries and quarries. The outbreak of the Second World War brought a reduced service with only two trains per day. The passenger service was finally withdrawn on 15 September 1952.
Stage 3
Before the Line crosses the Delf Burn look out for a waymarker on your left, which takes you down off the line. Head right, across the corner of the field (please be aware of livestock in this field), and through a kissing gate. Continue on the path that follows alongside the burn.
Train crash
In 1875, a tragic accident occurred at this stage of the trail. A train of six passenger wagons and eight empty limestone trucks was derailed and crashed down the embankment. Four people were killed, including the guard and a mason from Shafto, one of a team which had just finished rebuilding Rothley Lake House. Several of his workmates were injured, including three members of the Robinson family of Scot's Gap, one of whom, Robert, was never able to work again.
Stage 4
Follow the path and waymarkers through the Delf Burn plantation, keeping the burn to your right. Exit the plantation through a kissing gate into a cattle field. Head diagonally right, across the corner of the field and though a small gate in the line of beech trees.
Stage 5
Once through the gate, cross directly over the field to the fence line opposite. Turn left and keep to the fence line, turning right and then left, until you reach a field gate on your right. Go through the field gate, straight across the field and through a kissing gate onto a green lane.
Stage 6
Once on the green lane, walk straight ahead, past the farm. Continue past an old stone farm building and down the hill towards the road. Cross over the road and into the field ahead.
Stage 7
Walk down through the farm fields, with the boundary on your right. At the far end, turn left down the field edge until you reach the farm track.
Stage 8
Turn right onto the track and follow it across the stream and past the cottage on your left.
Stage 9
Directly after the cottage turn left off the track into another field. Walk with the wood on your left and cross over a little bridge. Carry on in this line, uphill across the field, looking out for a gate and a waymarker. Turn right immediately and walk along the field edge and cross a small bridge. Continue along the field edges with the hedge line on your right.
Stage 10
Go through a kissing gate into a block of woodland and exit through another gate at the far side. You will see Chesters Farm on your right. Carry on in this direction, down another field, crossing over a bridge and going through a kissing gate. Follow the field edge before entering another woodland block. Once through this block you can see the Wannie Line ahead. Cross the field and go over a bridge towards the kissing gate up onto the line.
Stage 11
Once on the line turn left through the belt of trees. Continue to follow the railway line until you reach the road. Cross straight over the road and back up onto the line at the other side.
Stage 12
Continue along the line. You will climb some steps and cross another road at Rugley Walls before descending back onto the line.
Stage 13
Keep following the Wannie Line and you will end up back where the two railway lines join. Retrace your steps back to the car park at Scot’s Gap.
End point
The car park behind the National Trust Office at Scot's Gap, grid ref: NZ037864
Trail map
Wallington's Wannie Line trail map May 2024 | © GIS
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wallington@nationaltrust.org.uk

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