A NEW walk across 90 acres of countryside and past castle ruins has been created.

Cousins Michael and John Davison teamed up with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to open farmland around Bishop Middleham, near Sedgefield, to walkers.

The network of paths take in the ruins of Middleham Castle, built in 1099 by Bishop Ranalf Slambard.

It was home to the Bishops of Durham until about 1381 and during the eleventh century it was a base for Bishop Beck's army.

The castle lies within Town End Farm, at Bishop Middleham, run by the Davisons, whose family have farmed the land since the 1850s.

Michael said: "It's a fascinating site and even before we signed up to Defra's Countryside Stewardship Scheme earlier this year we agreed with the parish council to put up signs along the public footpath explaining a little bit about the history of the castle. The new agreement has extended that and allows people access all around the ruins."

Hedgerows will be restored to create field margins and native bird and wildlife populations will be supported.

Other new footpaths, bridle ways and cycle ways are detailed at www.country walks.defra.gov.uk