Wooler - Glendale & Gateway

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Spy Mission around Wooler Glendale & Gateway, with Agents helping stop Ivor Grudge from ruining the annual Glendale Show by disabling the church clock, following scattered clues around Wooler to crack the code and deactivate his device before the town's festivities are ruined.

The mission covers approximately 1.5 miles and should take around 2 hours to complete. You'll start at The Cheviot Centre, home to the Tourist Information Centre, by the car park entrance, then investigate Wooler's streets, church-side clues, High Street and historic corners before looping back to the mission start point just ahead of you at the end.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The route is mostly paved, but there are stretches where the pavement ends and you have to walk along roads for short distances; there are also steep slopes and steps. Take great care where the pavement ends, and cross roads carefully as you continue the operation.

Getting There

By car: Start your mission at The Cheviot Centre, home to the Tourist Information Centre, by the car park entrance (NE71 6BL), using ///rams.releasing.overt. Park the Aston Allegro at Padgepool Place car park (NE71 6BL), using ///rams.releasing.overt; your first two clues are here.

By public transport: Make your way to The Cheviot Centre, home to the Tourist Information Centre, by the car park entrance, to begin the mission. The circular route brings you back to the same start point once Ivor Grudge's scheme has been dealt with.

Need the Loo?

Public toilets are in the Bus Station car park, which you pass between Clues 17-18 - a handy comfort stop before the final phase of the operation.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Agents can join this outdoor operation, with a couple of restrictions. 🐾

Clue 09 is in an area of restricted access for dogs, and there is also a place on the route where no dogs are allowed in, so plan how your team will handle those moments. The route also includes stretches where the pavement ends, short sections along roads, steps, steep slopes and careful road crossings, so keep canine recruits close throughout.

Food & Drink Stops

Code-cracking is hungry work, Agents. Food and drinks can be picked up after Clue 10, and the route also passes The Anchor pub. There may also be a place to purchase sausages on High Street, if your squad needs extra operational fuel.

Want to Make a Day of It?

St Mary's Church

St Mary's Church has topped Wooler's skyline since 1765 and is especially famous for its remarkable stained glass window, which has dazzled generations of visitors. It is a strong extra stop for Agents who like their missions with a little architecture, history and sparkle.

Tower Hill

At the top of Tower Hill there is a memorial with the names of those who fell in both world wars, along with an information board about the hill. The viewpoint is reached by a short climb and steps, and dogs are not allowed in this area, so factor that into your tactical plans.

The Cheviot Centre

Your mission begins at The Cheviot Centre, a building that once served as the Glendale Workhouse for Wooler and the surrounding area. Life here was tough and tinged with stigma, with families separated into different wings and only allowed a brief reunion for one hour on Sunday afternoons - a sobering slice of local history before the spycraft begins.

Wooler Youth Hostel

The route also passes Wooler Youth Hostel, a building dating back to 1942, built to house the ladies of the Women's Land Army. They were paid 50p for a 50 hour week in all weathers, and the building had 60 beds and was quite basic - useful intel on a very different kind of wartime operation.