After the storms

 Walking in the rain round Corbridge (Northumberland) February 2oth.

Last week the UK was hit by two vicious storms; Dudley and Eunice. The latter was due to arrive with snow and strong wind so we wimpy gadgies chose to stay at home. However, on Sunday I joined the Gosforth Greens for a walk based on Corbridge. There were seven of us.

Corbridge is a pretty little town on the River Tyne, the sort of place that gets mentioned in The Times "quite reasonable places to live in the North" articles in the Sunday supplements. 

There had been a Roman fort in the area, Corstopitum, which sounds like the cry of a Roman maiden.  The ruins are still well worth a visit, the fort that is, not the maiden

Easy to find A69 west, turn off at the Corbridge roundabout, drive through the town, cross the river and park for free on the right.Covered by two maps: OS OL 43 Hadrian's Wall and OS Explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne.

The walk was intended to be a figure of eight, starting at the Corbridge car park, staying on the south side of the Tyne, crossing through the car park and circulating the town.

Corbridge car park. In the background are the cricket and rugby clubs.

Crossing the road, but not the bridge,we took the footpath on the bank of the River Tyne. Not surprisingly the river was fairly full and the water was fast flowing. The path was close to the water in places so I took great care not to slide in, wouldn't have stood a chance.

Just beyond Tynedale Park rugby ground we crossed the railway line (Carlisle to Newcastle) and climbed a steep set of steps  up to Farnley Grange (Mile 1). Turning right we walked a short way along the road before turning left and heading along the delightfully named Ladycutters Lane to West Fell (Mile2).

                    February Fairmaids on the banks of the Tyne.

We left the lane and crossed fields and a road until we came to a plantation, crossed another road and followed a steep and very muddy path downhill to Dyvels Water. (Pronounced Deevels I was told by a passing walker.) At this point the heavens opened, as the weather forecast had promised.

                              Glorious mud, downhill too

           Definitely a bridge over troubled water. Built and erected in 2020 to replace an old one. (Mile 3)

Once across the bridge we headed uphill, entered fields and headed north to Dilston on the River Tyne Trail. Passing close to the old mill and several attractive cottages we reached the railway line again.

Once over the line we followed the Tyne Trail to the confluence of Dyvels Water and the Tyne and walked  round Dilston Haughs on a raised track which is a flood defence, Back at the car park, seven very wet walkers decided to cut the walk short and do the other half on a hot dry day in June.

                               Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2022.

The shortened version of our walk was five wet miles with a couple of short steep climbs.