[1] Cross the A68 and go down a track signed Byway. After 1km, turn right along the A689 road for 50m and cross it to a bus stop. Go straight ahead on a footpath across a field and at the next fence cross the stile on the right. Go ahead with a copse on your left and downhill to reach the access track to Low Harperley farm. (A) Low Harperley farm was originally Harperley Hall and dates back to the 16th century. Turn right along this track to reach the A689 road again.
[2] Cross the road and turn left for 50m. Go right over a stile and go diagonally across the field passing a telegraph post. Bear left by a stone wall and go through a farm gate by a tree. Continue through the next field with a hedge on your right. Cross a stile and continue to follow the hedge on your right to reach a gate onto a farm access track. Go straight ahead across this track and through a gate on the left of the farm buildings. Pass a garden on your right and continue straight ahead through the next field. Turn left after the next gate and go downhill with a wood on your left. Cross a stile and turn right round the edge of a field to reach a barn. Cross the stile on your right and follow the path to the North of Bradley Hall. (B) Bradley Hall dates back to the 14th century. A licence to crenellate was given in 1431. The only parts of the old hall remaining are the ruins to the west of the present 18th century building. The site is moated and there are remains of fishponds between the building and the A689. There are supposed to be tunnels running from the Hall.
[3] Bear right to the north west corner of the field crossing a mound and the old moat. Go through a gate and then cross a stile immediately on the right. Turn left along the field edge passing a cottage on your left and 50m later cross a stile on your left. Turn right up a grassy track with a caravan site on your left. After 400m go over a stile next to a facing gate on the right and continue uphill along a wooded track. After 50m, turn right over a stile and go slightly left to the top left hand corner of the field. Go through a kissing gate and go diagonally across the next field to the left of a prominent tree. Go through a gate and keep straight ahead through three fields with the hedge on your left. Turn left onto a track and go up it to Thornley village. (C) Thornley village has mediaeval origins. The church is Victorian.
[4] Turn right on the road by the church and then left up a track opposite the far end of the church. Continue straight ahead up a footpath where the track bears right. On reaching a road turn right and take a footpath on the right side at the end of the road. Bear slightly left up the field at the end of the path and then slightly to the right on a faint track across the next field. Cross a stile into a wood and descend a steep path to cross a stream and ascend the bank on the far side. Go straight ahead up the next field with the fence on your right and continue straight through the wood at the top to reach a road. (To shorten the walk, you could turn right at this point and follow the road back to the A68, and then right along this to the start).
[5] Turn left and on reaching the A68, cross and go over a stile on the far side. Bear right and then left along a fence to reach a stile. Cross and go straight through a plantation and cross a stile on the opposite side. Bear left through a field and cross a stile into a plantation. Go along a path with the plantation on your right and pass a strip of conifers. Go straight ahead with a field on your right.
[6] At the end of the field, turn right over a stile and follow the left hedge line of the field. Cross straight over a horse training track and continue through the next field. Go through (or climb) a gate (tied shut when encountered), and go through a rough plantation. (D) The conifer plantation is the route of the former railway from Crook to Tow law. Continue straight ahead through two fields to reach a road. Turn right back to the start of the walk.