By bike, this is an easy, virtually flat route, along the meandering road alongside the River Breamish. The route is easy to pick out by road, taking you across the footbridge at Brandon. The road then takes you all the way to Ingram Village. You can park your bikes in the car park, sited on the edge of the road before the village, then walk via the footpath signposted through a small wooded area directly, to the National Park Visitor centre, which is open daily all year but shorter winter hours. The coffee is great, lovely cakes and sandwiches and a marvelous gift shop of local crafts. Even in the low season, it’s a nice place to sit outside and have a picnic, or a flask of coffee.
Coming on foot, you walk along the lane towards Brandon, but way before the footbridge, you take the signed footpath left across the fields towards East Hill , then walk around the base of the hill, and parallel to the road below, towards Ingram. The path takes you through a farm and along the farm track towards the church and visitor centre. For the more energetic among you, you can go via the top of East Hill to enjoy the view from there, before heading off towards Ingram. In the spring East Hill and the fields beyond it are covered in blue bells, creating a blue haze against bright green grass, and in the autumn the brown bracken covers the hill completely. It’s windy at the top, so be prepared!
Another route to Ingram is to walk straight ahead out of Branton towards Fawden, up the road (it’s a cul de sac so rarely has cars) and at the farm turn right up and over the top of East Hill, and down into Ingram that way. If you do this route one way and back around the base of East Hill you have a lovely circular walk, of about 4 miles.
If you have a pram or a wheelchair to push the walk to Fawden and back is perfect, great views, smooth tarmac and barely a soul to be seen.
