I walked this route from Whickham to Blaydon on February 19th. Not much to add to the previous review. I was glad to be starting in Whickham though as I could walk down the steep hill...

Philip Le Marquand

Stay on the left hand side and follow the path which in a couple of places can be followed away from the road itself (pic 1). Opposite the rugby club, use the central refuge to cross the road then stay on the right hand side past the entrance to Derwent Country Park (pic 3). At the traffic lights at the top of the hill, cross safely on to the left side of the road as you head into the urban village of Whickham....

Andy Redfern

There is a cycle path and road that could be used to get from Rowlands Gill to Blaydon, but this route is in keeping with Slow Ways spirit and takes in some less frequently walked paths. The route follows the busy A694 north east out of the village, but then joins the Sustrans Route 14 cycle path which follows the line of the valley all the way to the River Tyne. The route then zig-zags right off the track and then cuts back left over the track you have just left and then climbs steeply back to the A694. The path climbs out of the small estate along the back of the houses and then at the crossroad of paths turn right and follow the field boundary....

Andy Redfern

I would recommend following the river a little more to stay on a better surface as this route takes you through a very muddy field and through a gap in a hedge into a car park....

pamico

However, it is poorly mapped at start and end, Komoot app was able to suggest proper alternatives that don't include climbing a steep hill with no footpath!...

Marion Frankland

This is an incomplete walking review as I didn’t have time to walk the section on the Blaydon side of the river but I did drive past it as I wondered if there was a footpath over the bridge, which there is. The path in and out of the Dene, as well as the walk down to the river requires walking up or down a hill. After the Dene, heading towards Blaydon, the route is a footpath next to a very busy road. Once over the bridge you walk alongside an industrial estate along a busy road. Coming off the bridge there is a clear gap where you walk through to get to the river path....

Wellswalks