Leave the car park and go right past the library. Bend left past the ambulance station, then fork right towards the River Wansbeck. Approaching a bridge, turn left onto a riverside path. Around a bend, emerge past Tommy's Field allotments onto the main road (A197). Cross to a large lay-by, behind which a stepped path climbs into Bluebell Wood. Keep ahead past a junction, then fork right. Later, at a crosspath, go right and back to the main road.

On the far side, a path, signed ‘Bothal’, descends into a lushly wooded valley through which flows the River Wansbeck. There follows a delightful, undulating walk for some 2.25 miles (3.6km), eventually ending by a former mill. Walk to the lane beyond, and turn right across the river.

After climbing from the valley, the lane continues above the wood. Where it later bends sharply left at Shadfen Cottage, go ahead over a stile into a field corner, and carry on at the edge of successive fields beside the right-hand boundary. Eventually, the way passes right of a deep excavation, once an opencast coal mine, before falling towards a stile into woodland. Drop through the trees to a bridge over a stream.

Regaining the fields above the far bank, follow a path ahead between the cultivation. Towards the far side, sidestep through the left hedge and walk out to a lane by Park House. Keep ahead for 120yds (110m) before passing through a gap in the right hedge, signed ‘Whorral Bank’. Walk away at the field edge, leaving in the corner onto the adjacent tack. Follow it left over a railway bridge.

Keep going over the field beyond to a stile, there dropping left across a rough pasture back into woodland. Soon joined by a track, continue to a junction by the river and turn left upstream. Emerging into a field, follow the perimeter left and then right to a cottage. The ongoing track shortly returns to the river. 

Cross and follow your outward route back to town. Continue beyond the car park and over a junction to the Chantry. Turn left immediately beyond to a footbridge across the river. Keep ahead into Castle Square, walking a little further before turning into Carlisle Park. Swing right with the main drive past Ha' Hill, dropping to the river beyond. Head upstream past Elliot Bridge, eventually leaving the park at Oldgate Bridge. Walk over the bridge and keep ahead past the clock tower through the town centre back to the car park.