This is a handsome and planned estate village with a large green, a pond and a village green, plus a couple of proper English country pubs, the Bay Horse and the Swinburne Arms. The church may be Victorian but most of the village is stone-built and 18th century. The name Stamfordham is Old English for `homestead by the stony ford'. It was once part-owned by Balliol College, Oxford.

2. Stamfordham		Back to
Mrs Viv Fitzpatrick		Church House, Stamfordham, Northumberland NE18 0PB
Tel		01661 886 736
Mob		07889 312 623
Email		bedandbreakfast@stamfordham.fsbusiness.co.uk
Rooms		3 twin
B&B		£27.50-£35
Packed Lunch		£5
Distance from Reivers		On route

Pub adjacent. Pretty village green, old village pubs. 17th-c ivory painted stone house of great character on south side of green. Private residence, good breakfast, welcoming hosts.

		The Bay Horse, Stamfordham, Northumberland, NE18 0PB
Tel		01661 886 244
Fax		01661 886 940
Web		www.stamfordham-bay.co.uk
Rooms		5S/T/D, 1F.
B&B		£27.50-£40 (F £75 and sleeps 5)
Packed lunch		£4
Evening meal		£5-£15
VisitBritain		4Stars, 4Diamonds

Formerly a fortified farm, this inn dates from 1590. Serves good, locally-sourced food and fine ales and offers 21st century comfort in the heart of the village, overlooking the historic green.

Head out of the village keeping the Bay Horse on your left, passing through the hamlet of Fenwick. You will soon be in Matfen, another immaculate estate village. Here take the right turn signed for Ryal and Capheaton, followed by a right-angled lett turn just out of the village. It's a couple of km until Click `em in Farm where you first bear lett then right, up to Ryal.

Just behond Ryal South Farm there is a track off to the right: if you fancy the off-road option, take it up to Hallington New House, where it becomes a road again leading to the cross-roads outside Hallington. Turn right. You can, of course, ignore the off-raod section, and continue to Hallington along the road.

One km outside Hallington there is another off-road option to the lett, taking you across a rough farm track and over the reservoir. Be warned - the track can get pretty muddy. This takes you via Little Swinburn and back onto the main route just before Colt Reservoir.

Atter crossing lett onto the A68 and immediately right, you will soon pass the edge of Birtley. Off to the lett is Wark. You will soon come to a junction, with Heugh off to the lett. Take the right fork, head to Buteland and lett onto the minor road, and so steeply down to Redesmouth.