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| Walk No.3 - From Ovingham to Ovington - page 1 of 3 | |
Walking for Pleasure
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| A short circular walk of very easy going through some pasture land, then
along the banks of the Tyne, with an opportunity to look around the ancient village of
Ovingham. In poor weather the paths may be muddy so good walking footwear is recommended. | Walk No.3 Ovingham to Ovington Time: 1 to 1½ hours Distance: 3 miles (approx) Map: OS Pathfinder 548 |
| It is recommended to start this walk on the south side of the river in the car park at Tyne Riverside Country Park at Low Prudhoe (1). Ovingham is an ancient village and car parking is severely limited. At the Country Park there is a Visitor Centre and toilet facilities are available. | 
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| From the Country Park cross the river by the Ovingham Bridge, built by the Ovingham Bridge Company and opened as a toll bridge in 1883. It was released from toll in 1945 and later a footbridge was erected alongside the main bridge. | |
| On entering the village turn left at the road junction and follow the narrow road between the church of St. Mary the Virgin and the village hall (2). Caution; no pavement. The church is well worth a visit, if time permits. The square tower is Saxon (c.1050) and the large corner stones in the low part of the west end come from the Roman Wall. The rest of the building dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. Thomas Bewick, the famous Northumbrian engraver and Mabel Stephenson, the mother of George Stephenson, the great locomotive pioneer, are buried in the churchyard. The Old Vicarage is now a private house and in the gardens are flood-marks recording the depth of the waters in the floods of 1771 and 1815 which caused great damage and loss of life in the area. | |
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