HPB Lucker Hall: Lucker and The Warren Burn

 Elevation profile

This walk enables bondholders to explore the immediate vicinity of Lucker Hall. The walk follows the Waren Burn on its way north to the hamlet of Bradford. The sight and sound of high-speed trains are never far away as the walk goes both under and over the main East Coast railway line.

Arable fields and grazing pasture land for sheep provide the principal feature of the rolling landscape. Unfortunately, however, the footpaths around Lucker have fallen into disuse and field edges have become overgrown over the years. Walking poles might be useful for some sections of this walk. Nevertheless, with the help of bondholders walking these ancient paths, we hope that these public rights of way can be renewed once more. Alternatively, some people may just enjoy a gentle stroll up and down the quiet minor road beyond the Apple Core.

PLEASE REFER TO THE WRITTEN INSRUCTIONS FOR THIS WALK AS THE MAP DIRECTIONS MAY NOT BE ACCURATE (DUE TO THE TERRAIN)

1. From Lucker Hall turn right, follow the road past St Hilda’s Church. You then get your first glimpse of the Waren Burn over the sides of the bridge. Turn left immediately after The Schoolhouse and walk up the hill and through the gap in the houses into the field. Bear left and continue along the field edge with the burn below you. At the end of the field go over the stile in the left hand corner. Continue through the trees, taking care as the path gets closer to the burn.



2. You soon approach the railway embankment where you go through the underpass. Go through the gate and bear left. There are a number of faint paths ahead. However, you need to follow the burn for about 300m. At the third major bend in the river, look out for a clear gap in the fence across to your right. The gap is about 20m to the right of a solitary hawthorn bush. Bear right and walk across the rough pasture ground to this gap. Cross the small overgrown plank bridge. Continue ahead in the same direction to cross a stile in the top left-hand corner of the field.

3. Cross the road and go over the stile signposted, “Bradford ¾; Spindlestone 1½”. The condition of the next section may vary according to the season and the state of cultivation. However, with the hedge on your left, make your way ahead as best as you can along the edge of two fields which are separated by a waymarked gate. Go through the stone gateway in the left-hand corner of the second field.


4. Turn right and then immediately left onto a lane. Walk down the lane past the properties of the small hamlet of Bradford. The remainder of the walk is now on quiet minor roads. Cross the substantial bridge over the Waren Burn. The land rises quite steeply and passes Bradford House.

5. At a junction turn left. Follow the normally very quiet narrow road but remain aware of possible vehicles. After about ¼ mile, the road crosses a bridge over the Newlands Burn which is soon to join the Waren Burn. After a further ¼ mile a bridge takes the road over the railway line. On your left, in the distance, close to the railway line, you may be able to see Station Cottages -a reminder that Lucker once had its own station until it closed to passengers in 1953. Bondholders would have found that useful!

6. The road reaches a crossroads where you turn left as signposted, “Lucker ½”. Now continue straight ahead back to Lucker Hall, being particularly careful as you join the B1341 at a sharp corner.