Stanley Burn Walk, commonly known to the locals as The Seven Bridges is a pleasant (but sometimes muddy) walk in Prudhoe, beautiful setting, following the meander of the burn, crossing the bridges. To reach this walk you go past Durham Riding, off road parking at stated parking co-ords and follow the public footpath sign. Follow my Cache numbering and you'll have no problems as they are all placed along the public foothpaths. There are other entry points but for the purpose of this little circular i'd start at the given co-ords for number 1.
Theres lots of wildlife in the woodland, I hope you'll see some. Part of the walk you will see a rocky bit of path over the stream and a wall of rock known as the The Grand Canyon and the east branch of Stanley Burn is regarded as the border between Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.
The woodlands and neighbouring Prudhoe Hospital have great history, the Hospital began life as the seat of the Liddell coal-mining family, built as Prudhoe Hall for £19,199 in 1870. In 1913, the Northern Counties Joint Poor Law Committee acquired it and opened it as Prudhoe Hall Colony in1914 for ‘less abled-minded’ people as they were referred to then. The site was steadily expanded until, in 1948, it became part of the new National Health Service as Prudhoe Hospital. By the 70s, it was the fifth-largest mental hospital in the country, with nearly 1,000 staff and 1,500 patient beds. Four hundred children were based in the Children’s Village. Downsizing began in the 1980s and most of the buildings are now empty since final closure in 2005. Today the site is being redeveloped for housing Humbles Wood and ongoing plans to redevelop the site further but retaining the Hall, its walled kitchen garden and greenhouses, which have listed building status. Ferndene Children and Young peoples Inpatient service now houses the top part of the hospital grounds.
I remember walking these woods when young, cutting through the hospital grounds, walking the streams, crossing & counting the bridges and I still love this walk today. I hope you enjoy it!