Gannin' for a walk from Wark is better than gannin' to work. (Northumberland) November 25th.
In the north east of England the three words above all sound pretty much the same. A translation is as follows: "Going for a walk from Wark is better than going to work." As an alien from Yorkshire/Lancashire it took me some time to understand the locals but now I act as interpreter when needed.
Today's walk, therefore, is from Wark, a village on the North Tyne. A69 west, turn north just beyond Hexham. The map is OS OL 43 Hadrian's Wall.
On the way we stopped at the tea room in Simonburn. Star tea room, lashings of tea as the famous five might have said, served in teapots and with cups and saucers, four flitch bacon sandwich and the friendliest staff. The tea room also serves as a small shop but don't expect to find quinoa on sale! If you are in the area stop and visit. The café/shop also had a small dog which sat near the phone. The phone rang and was answered.
"What would happen if the phone rang and only the dog was there?" asked John.
"He would put it on pause." replied Brian.
Across the road from The Battlesteads Hotel in Wark there is a small parking area, a Yorkshire one.(GR NY 860768) We parked there and the six of us booted and gaitered: John C., John H., Brian, Ray, Dave and me, set off for the walk from Wark.
The car park opposite the Battlesteads, which is being renovated.
The weather forecast had promised us a cold bright day, temperature never exceeding 3C and it was correct. No wind either, a perfect day for a winter walk. Most of the walk was across muddy fields topped with a thin glazing of ice which gave a little extra grip.
Leaving the cars we walked north up the main street of Wark, turned left and kept our eyes open for a finger post that pointed the way across fields towards Woodley Shield. If you follow our walk look out for one of the markers on a telegraph pole, and follow it.
Turn left near this shed.
Looking back at Wark on a cold and frosty morning.
watch out for this marker.
Across the fields we came to Ramshaws Mill. now a very attractive holiday let with interesting art works.
Mill race and signs of the position of the wheel
Ramshaws sheep
From here we continued uphill to High Moralee Farm, along to Pea Hill and then to Catleas. beyond Catleas we crossed a monor road and took the footpath alongside Ravenheugh Crags, passing unnoticed a stone circle, before we arrived at Great Longbrough where we declared a Herbie Spot.
Ravenheugh Crags
Great Longbrough which looked deserted although we heard a dog bark. Short sharings today bas someone forgot his offering but I brought mince pies , John H. brought hobnobs and Dave brought Chocolate cakes.
From here John C. led us across fields to examine a possible Neolithic site with a ceremonial way and some hut circles, Neolithic or bronze age. Hard to tell unless you are an archaeologist.
Ceremonial way and hut circle, who knows?
We returned to Great Longbrough and headed east across fields toFenwick Field, another farm on the walk. Here we turned north and headed for Allgood farm, continued across the fields and a road to Conshield from where the footpath heads downhill to Latterford and a path which finally joins the main road into Wark. Turning left we were soon back at the cars, changed and into the pub which had Rivet Catcher, Magus and Hobgoblin on draught and some very nice coffee too.
This is another good walk, especially on a cold bright day. Much of it in fields but plenty to9 see and the panoramas are superb. To the south, and not far away we could see the line of the Roman Wall and Cross Fell in the distance. To the north the snow covered Cheviot range was visible and occasionally the noise of guns from the army range at Otterburn could be heard.
The Matrix MMXVI ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
steps miles
NAK 25483 10.5
Dave's 3D 26316 12.1
"" USB 25414 12.03
"" NAK 24894 11.78
OUTDOOR GPS 10.9
Etrek 11.0
John C 10.5
Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and data base right 2016
The gallery. Especially for Doris. No great pictures from Harry today, I am just a snapper.
In the north east of England the three words above all sound pretty much the same. A translation is as follows: "Going for a walk from Wark is better than going to work." As an alien from Yorkshire/Lancashire it took me some time to understand the locals but now I act as interpreter when needed.
Today's walk, therefore, is from Wark, a village on the North Tyne. A69 west, turn north just beyond Hexham. The map is OS OL 43 Hadrian's Wall.
On the way we stopped at the tea room in Simonburn. Star tea room, lashings of tea as the famous five might have said, served in teapots and with cups and saucers, four flitch bacon sandwich and the friendliest staff. The tea room also serves as a small shop but don't expect to find quinoa on sale! If you are in the area stop and visit. The café/shop also had a small dog which sat near the phone. The phone rang and was answered.
"What would happen if the phone rang and only the dog was there?" asked John.
"He would put it on pause." replied Brian.
Across the road from The Battlesteads Hotel in Wark there is a small parking area, a Yorkshire one.(GR NY 860768) We parked there and the six of us booted and gaitered: John C., John H., Brian, Ray, Dave and me, set off for the walk from Wark.
The weather forecast had promised us a cold bright day, temperature never exceeding 3C and it was correct. No wind either, a perfect day for a winter walk. Most of the walk was across muddy fields topped with a thin glazing of ice which gave a little extra grip.
Leaving the cars we walked north up the main street of Wark, turned left and kept our eyes open for a finger post that pointed the way across fields towards Woodley Shield. If you follow our walk look out for one of the markers on a telegraph pole, and follow it.
Across the fields we came to Ramshaws Mill. now a very attractive holiday let with interesting art works.
From here we continued uphill to High Moralee Farm, along to Pea Hill and then to Catleas. beyond Catleas we crossed a monor road and took the footpath alongside Ravenheugh Crags, passing unnoticed a stone circle, before we arrived at Great Longbrough where we declared a Herbie Spot.
From here John C. led us across fields to examine a possible Neolithic site with a ceremonial way and some hut circles, Neolithic or bronze age. Hard to tell unless you are an archaeologist.
We returned to Great Longbrough and headed east across fields toFenwick Field, another farm on the walk. Here we turned north and headed for Allgood farm, continued across the fields and a road to Conshield from where the footpath heads downhill to Latterford and a path which finally joins the main road into Wark. Turning left we were soon back at the cars, changed and into the pub which had Rivet Catcher, Magus and Hobgoblin on draught and some very nice coffee too.
This is another good walk, especially on a cold bright day. Much of it in fields but plenty to9 see and the panoramas are superb. To the south, and not far away we could see the line of the Roman Wall and Cross Fell in the distance. To the north the snow covered Cheviot range was visible and occasionally the noise of guns from the army range at Otterburn could be heard.
The Matrix MMXVI ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
steps miles
NAK 25483 10.5
Dave's 3D 26316 12.1
"" USB 25414 12.03
"" NAK 24894 11.78
OUTDOOR GPS 10.9
Etrek 11.0
John C 10.5
Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and data base right 2016
The gallery. Especially for Doris. No great pictures from Harry today, I am just a snapper.
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