Isaac's Tea Trail

37-mile way-marked wilderness walk

Mainly within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this trail is named after Isaac Holden, a lead miner, who, when faced with illness and the loss of work due to mine closure, became a door-to-door tea seller.

He also converted to Methodism and fuelled by his beliefs he combined tea selling with raising money for the poor and needy and supported many projects for the community, including a wellhead in Allendale Town Market Place.

The trail starts at Isaac's Well (1849, Grade II listed) and goes over to Nenthead and Alston and returns by Ninebanks. Parts are remote and more challenging, so walking boots and appropriate clothing are essential; as is awareness that there can be sudden changes in the weather!  Isaac's hearse house has now been restored as a walkers' shelter.

For full details of the trail, including maps, visit www.northumberlandlife.org/teatrail or download a pdf guide here