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Walk No.3 - From Ovingham to Ovington - page 2 of 3
	Continue along the road and pass the Bridge End Inn and the 17th century pack-horse bridge which spans the Whittle Burn. The proclamation of the annual Goose Fair is made from this bridge each June. Opposite the bridge there is a waymarker to a path leading after 40 yards to a stile (3). This gives entry to a field, the original site of the Ovingham Goose Fair. Cross the field diagonally to the right to a second stile. Then follow the path to a broad gap in the hedge and continue to the electricity pole near farm buildings. Veer right and climb the hill keeping the hedgerow and chalets to your left. Ahead are the rooftops of Ovington. Just past a second pole, cross the concrete stile in the hedge and continue on the opposite side toward Ovington. Cross another stile, keeping the hedge to your right. Pause here for a while to enjoy the panoramic view of the Tyne Valley.
Leave the field by a stile to reach the road between Ovingham to Ovington (4). Caution; no pavement. Turn left and follow the road downwards until you reach the road to Bywell (5). At this junction follow the waymarked track between wooden chalets and leading to the banks of the Tyne (6).
The chalets are used as holiday homes but in World War II they were used to house evacuees. The local name for the chalets is the 'African Village'. This point on the river was the landing for the Eltringham-Mickley ferry. Its existence is recorded in a painting by Arthur Richardson and in an engraving by Thomas Bewick, whose home was nearby on the south side at Cherryburn. In the 1920-30's the ferry was used by miners to travel to the coal mines on the south side of the river, at a cost of 2d. It was operated by the tenant of the Hare and Hounds Inn which used to stand on the opposite side of the river at Mickley Junction. The ferry ceased operation and the Inn was demolished in 1962.
Take the right fork between chalets, then along the riverside and cross a white footbridge across a small burn. This is a pleasant stroll, passing Alder trees, tall grasses and in between bushes. In the summer months wildlife abounds everywhere. On the opposite bank of the river is the massive retaining wall which was built to carry the Newcasle to Carlisle Railway in the 1830's. In the distance the lofty tower of Prudhoe Castle will be visible above the trees.