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Hi,
I'm looking to visit Chopwell Woods and noticed that it is close to the Derwent Walk Railway path (NCN 14). Is it possible to jump off the railway path somewhere near Chopwell Woods and minimise travel distance on roads to get there?
Thanks
Yep, there's an off-road track down to the Paper Mill at Lintzford. From there it's directly across the road. Or you can come through Hamsterley Mill and down the road/pavement a little. Paper Mill is the more fun route.
Second the track to Lintzford - think it's cheeky but it's quite blown out and fun.
easy to find above track - assuming your coming from the newcastle direction, after you gone through rowlands gill and over the viaduct, after about 1km the railway path will have a little kink/subtle bend, with a path leading off on the right. it has a wooden post with a red kite on it from memory, follow down till you hit a track and turn right to the mill. go left for a bit and cross road where you see the footpath going through a gate to the woods on the other side of the road 🙂
you will be at the very bottom of the woods - some great biking so worth an explore. the ridge on the right has loads of shorter/steeper trails on it, with more dh orientated stuff in that direction. as you go into the woods just follow the main track you're on going straight all the way up past a few houses to a small road, turn right here and you're at the main car park/start of the powerline trail. more xc orientated stuff past the car park and to the western edge of the woods but would need someone to show you really. enjoy!
an alternative route is to go up from rowlands gill to highfield then victoria garesfield up the track on the link below. you need to cut through houses at highfield, past school/industrial estate and along another track to victoria garesfield where you can get in the woods. probably say the other way is better/nicer/more ridable, but theres a fun little bombhole/drop section by highfield you can play on this way
[url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=416710&y=558714&z=115&sv=416710,558714&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=564&ax=416710&ay=558714&lm=0 ]http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=416710&y=558714&z=115&sv=416710,558714&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=564&ax=416710&ay=558714&lm=0[/url]
Cheers for all the replies, I'll check it out in the next few weeks.
Great stuff, gazc!
yup easy to find the path down across the lintzford road, coming up the track from newcastle, if you go under the station bridge theres a track up to the bridge on the left then drop down the track to the road and the gates to chopwell, its a good little climb up on the way back to...