Gadgie Walks

The Physician's manor and the Duke's Folly.

(Northumberland) February 25th.
Today's walk has been done several times before but it was chosen because we hoped that after all the recent rain and storms the tracks would be relatively mud free. A reduced team, five macho males only;:

me, Dave, John H., Brian and Ian.

The walk starts, and finishes in Lesbury; A1 north, turn east at Alnwick and follow signs. There is some limited parking near the church. Lesbury gets its name from " laece-burg" OE for "leechburg" a leech being a physician.

The map to use is OS Explorer 332 Alnwick and Amble

Parking outside the church of St. Mary, Lesbury. 13th Century origins with additions in 17th, 18th and 19th Cs.

Once booted up (no breakfast today!) we set off west along the village road before turning right at the first roundabout and walking along a busy road north west. No pavement on parts too. (Sidewalk for you Americans).

Once under the railway bridge we turned right up a lane past the old station cottages. A train passed.

Azuma train heading north to Edinburgh on the main east coast line.

Beyond the cottages we turned left through a marked gate into a field with a fine flock of sheep. The footpath reached a farm track (mile 2) which we followed for a short distance before leaving it for a grassy cross field track to Dunsheugh Farm.

Friendly but not keen on being photographed without his agent.

Just beyond the farm, having taken a short cut by climbing a fence rather than using the track, we reached Ratheugh Crag with its Observatory.

Built by the first Duke of Northumberland in the 18th century on a high spot giving fine views over the sea and over his estates to the west. Marked on OS maps as Observatory. (Mile 3)

A footpath round the building was overgrown with brambles and blocked with trees blown over by recent storms finally reached a field. Crossing it we came to a road.

Mrs Whitehead, one of my junior school teachers always maintained the roots of a tree were as large as the tree itself. She knew all about yurts, she might have misunderstood "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Said it meant don't tell lies!) but she was wrong about the trees. Victim of Arwen or Dudley or Eunice or Franklin.

We turned left on the road then at the cross road turned right and walked to Peppermoor farm. From here the signed footpath crosses a field before entering a narrow footpath alongside a disused quarry. The footpath comes out at the entrance to Longhoughton Quarry which has only recently reopened and is marked as a small pond on the OS map. It was a pond two years ago. (mile 4)

Longhoughton quarry.

A short distance down the road we spotted the fingerpost that pointed the way along a path on the side of the quarry, across fields, under the railway and to the village of Longhoughton. Just beyond the Running Fox cafe there are a couple of benches which made a great place to have a Herbie.

Herbie time in Longhouton' Blackcurrant and apple pies, almond slices, flapjacks and Mrs A sent savoury and sweet cake (chocolate)

Moving on we followed the road beyond the Running Fox down to the beach at Low Stead (mile 6) where we turned south and walked along the good track through the village of Boulmer.

Art work on farm walls near Boulmer.

Beyond Boulmer we took to the beach, the sand was quite firm fortunately. Towards Fluke Hole (mile 9) we climbed up to the golf course at Foxton Hall, passed several houses and the clubhouse before reaching a road. Straight over and downhill towards the meandering river Aln.

River Aln and Lesbury.

The path crosses fields, goes close to the river and eventually reaches Lesbury. Changed we headed for the Ridley Arms at Stannington which had enough Timothy Taylor's Landlord for one each before the barrel was emptied. Lindisfarne by way of compensation.