Robin and I ventured south of the Tyne for this February walk, parking in a layby near Broomley Pit House before walking down the minor road towards the junction near the Acorn Hill conifer plantation, where we turned left towards Healey.
Our first port of call of note was the Church of St John, which was thankfully open and has an unusual window in the west end. http://moorland-group.org.uk/the-moorland-group/healey/ Accessed from the south facing porch, the interior of St. John’s is a single nave, with an apse at the eastern end. There are several memorial windows attributed to the local landowners, the Warde-Aldams, the latest two were commissioned as a memorial to Julian & Virginia Warde-Aldam by local landowner, and churchwarden Jamie Warde-Aldam (a relation of the Quaker Robert Ormston who built the church).
After signing the visitors book, we exited the church, admired the former vicarage, and then made our way down the lane past Corf Gate, Healey Hall and turned left at Lane Head. Avoiding the vehicles using this busier road, we walked past Hill Top House before dropping down towards the Reaston Burn, turning off just before the road crossed the stream up a good gravelled track through West Riggend Plantation.
This led to Healey Mill, and its associated buildings, with the well preserved head race, a good view of which was afforded by the (probably) diverted footpath across the other bank of the Reaston Burn. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1370275?section=official-list-entry We emerged onto the Broomy Hill farm road and then turned off a little while later along a bridleway adjacent to Esperley Sike. There were some wonderful old oak trees alongside this track as we descended to cross the Reaston Burn again either via a footbridge or a ford.
We then climbed out of the valley, up a steeply wooded track, to emerge onto a green lane bounded by stone walls heading for a minor road, which we crossed before contouring on Eastwoodhouse Fell, and on to the wooded Hemmels Fell. This track led us through the conifers towards the High Plains Equestrian Centre https://www.high-plains.co.uk/ a very extensive, horsey farm. We followed the farm road out, crossed over a field with sheep and came out onto a minor road near Broomley Pit house, and thence back to the car. A smashing 7 mile walk with superb views and interesting features.
Footloose walks 