Monday, 22 September 2025

Tyne Green with the Greens

Tyne Green with the Greens. September 21st

A Sunday walk with the Greens, another collection of happy older strollers. Starting from the Tyne Green Country Park in Hexham, climbing out of the valley, then back down again and walking along the riverside.

Take the A69, turn off for Hexham and immediately over the bridge across the Tyne turn right. Plenty of free parking, plenty of things for children to play on, room to kick a football, and toilets.

The map that covers the walk is OS OL43 Hadrian's Wall, not essential.

Not a contender.

Leaving the car park we headed west on the path between the railway (Newcastle to Carlisle) and the river Tyne. After a bit less than half a mile an underpass saved the problem of crossing the line and we then followed a footpath that climbed steadily out of the valley, passing Shaws Farm and reaching a road.

Onwards and upwards

Look carefully, it's a rabbit. honest.

After walking some distance on the road we turned right then left, throgh woodland and at mile 2 turned left again, but still climbing. At Highside we took a path south, passing the alpaca field.

Not an alpaca in sight.

Empty homes for alpacas, as Dave would say, "You can't call me Al."

Some consolation for their non appearance.

At Lowgate we headed south and headed downhill too, passing through Hethergate Boutique Caravan site where we used to lunch, but no longer, the seats have gone.

Walking downhill on a stony farm track, watching nearly every step, we came to the ford at Coastley. The stream was full, fortunately there was a footbridge.

Maybe not too deep, but probably over the boots.

After a short climb we followed a narrow path on a contour line. At mile 4 we stopped for lunch. (Not a Herbie, the Greens don't do sharing.) Great view over the Tyne valley.

Looking over the Tyne, shame about the factory. It makes chip board.

We sat on a grassy bank. Yesterday it rained, all day, and quite heavily at times but the ground was still hard and dry after the long dry summer.

Lunch over we headed downhill, walked through some woodland and came to the A69. It's a busy road, not dualled in this section and needs care in crossing.

Once across we took the track down to the river side and followed it all the way back to the car park.

At one point we came to the meeting of the North and South Tyne rivers. On the north bank of the south Tyne there is a path to the confluence and on the same side there is a path from Acomb. We just looked at it, very full after yesterday's down pour.

On the way home we called in at the Fox and Hounds in Wylam for a change TTL and alcohol free Guinness.

Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and data base right 2025

The wall is about 8 miles, some steady but easy climbing.

Monday, 15 September 2025

Craster again

Craster again. September 12th.

Back to normal Friday activities after the great St. Cuthbert's Way we are off on a favourite coastal walk from Sea Houses Farm, a couple of miles south of Craster.

A1 North, turn off just beyond Alnwick for Denwick and follow signs for Howick. There is limited but free parking on the road side near Sea Houses Farm.

A map is not essential but the walk is covered by: OS Explorer 332 Holy Island and 340 Alnwick.

Not a winner.

We headed south along the farm track for just over a mile to Sugar Sands, the small bay where the Howick Burn enters the sea.

Sugar Sands.

We then turned through 180 degrees almost and walked the coastal path (King Charles III/ English Coastal Path the two miles back to the village of Craster.

Built as a bathing house for the ladies of Howick Hall. Now a holiday let.

Usually alive with nesting birds, very quiet today.

In Craster we headed for the Piper's Pitch cafe next to the closed information centre.toilets and large car park in the quarry. Fed and watered we moved on, not on the path next to the sea but on one above the Heughs, found by heading towards the harbour but turning left, walking up a hill through a small number of houses.

Eventually we reached Dunstanburgh Castle.

Dunstanburgh ruin.

And beyond it:

Yes it is.

After walking through the dunes for a while we headed down to the beach and walked round Embleton Bay to Low Newton by the Sea where we sat on benches in the square for a Herbie.

Embleton Bay

Low Newton by the Sea and a hand. Herbie time; two cakes, apple pies and savoury from Mrs A who had provided one of the cakes.

Rested we set off again, taking the path behind the square, passing the bird hide on the Low Newton Pond, walking through the holiday chalets and carefully crossing the golf course to Dunstan Steads. From the farm we walked the concrete strip to Dunstan Square, crossed a field and took the road into Dunstan.

And a lime Kiln!

A footpath by the bus shelter takes walkers across a field to the road, turn right, then at the first junction turn left, pass Craster Towers, turn right up to Craster South Farm and cross fields to the car park at Howick Hall.

The last stretch is the road back to Sea Houses. Then home.

Contains OS date, copyright. Crown copy right and database right 2025.

The walk is about 11 easy going miles, great sea views and maybe a pod of dolphins.

A beached whale at Low Newton

St. Cuthbert’s Way

St. Cuthbert’s Way. September 5th to 10th

St. Cuthbert’s Way is a long distance path from Melrose in Scotland to Holy Island off the Northumberland coast.

St. Cuthbert began the monastic life in Melrose and later moved to Holy Island, Lindisfarne. His body was removed from Holy Island after the Vikings raided in 793 and taken, eventually, to the site of what is now Durham Cathedral. His remains remain there.

Our walk has been organised by Shepherd Walks of Rothbury. The company has arranged our accommodation, provided us with information on the route and have kindly offered to take us from their offices in Rothbury to the start in Melrose.

Harvey's maps have a coated. waterproof map of the trail and it is also available as a gpx if you search.

Day 1, September 5th.

We drove to Rothbury and left our cars with Shepherds Walks. The company then had our baggage delivered to the night’s accommodation and had us delivered by taxi to Melrose, the start (or end) of St Cuthbert’s Way.

We arrived in Melrose about midday, had lunch in a cafe and finally set off for the first day’s walk.

Unable to spot what may be an official starting point we chose the information board in the town centre as the beginning, set our GPS devices and strode off.

The longest journey starts with a single step. Confucius, or confused.

This walk is one of the best for markers, making it easy to follow. The Scottish ones look better than the English ones.

We have a sign.

Leaving the board we walked down the street then a short distance up another before we spotted the first sign for St. Cuthbert's Way. Down a back alley then up 130 wooden steps set into the hill side.

Once in the country we took the path between two of the Eildon Hills. Eildon Hill North has a Roman Signal station, Eildon Mid Hill has a cairn which some visited while the rest of us sat on the grass.

Two miles later we came to the village of Bowden which has a Pant well.

Pant Well.

At Bowden we turned east, walking a mixture of woodland and field until we came to the River Tweed, walked the bank and soon arrived at St. Boswells, home for the night.

At this point my camera died and could not be revived with a new battery. I've taken some on my phone and been sent some by the others but I’m not sure exactly where each is, bear with me.

We stayed at The Buccleugh Arms which had a large sign explaining how to pronounce it: BUCK LOO

Distance 7 miles Running total 7 miles

Day 2 September 6th

Leaving St. Boswells we walked a lovely, wooded riverside path following the Tweed for about three miles before taking the old Roman road of Deere Street. (Named for the ancient Britons tribe Deria according to our archaeologist.

Apparently part of a water system for the local big house. The proles used the river!

On our way we passed the site of the 1545 Battle of Ancrum Moor, a victory for Scotland in one of the many scraps with England. In the battle, the fair maid Lilliard lost both legs but bravely fought on on her stumps.

Leaving Deere Street we turned south east and soon reached the next night' accommodation, The Royal Hotel in Jedburgh.

Very friendly hotel in Jedburgh, run by a South African, or was he Australian?

Dinner in an Italian restaurant just across the road.

Distance 13 miles Running total 20 miles.

Day 3, September 7th

Leaving Jedburgh, which has a beautiful Abbey, we walked a mixture of woodland and arable land, including the first stile of the trip! After about 10 miles of easy going we stopped at Morebattles for tea and sugar blasts before the next section. Break over we had a short walk on a road before starting a long steady climb to Wideopen Hill. After a few steps on the steep path it started to rain. A great pity because we reached the top of Wideopen Hill, the highest point on the walk and the halfway mark. The views would have been well worth the climb but the low cloud and heavy rain didn't encourage us so on we went. The rain stopped but a trudge through a field of cabbages kept legs wet. After 17 miles we reached Kirk Yetholm and were welcomed in at the Old Mill BnB.

Tyhe Old Mill, Kirk Yetholm

Possibly one of the nicest Bnbs in the country it had been an old mill, dilapidated and run down but the owner had beautifully rebuilt it. Using oak from trees lost in Storm Arwen, timber salvaged from old houses and some invisible steel work he had created several luxurious rooms and a large dining room. And there was drying equipment.

Dinner in The Border Hotel, last stop on the Pennine Way, longest walk in England/Scotland.

The end of the Pennine Way at the Border Hotel Kirk Yetholm. The end of lots of pairs of boots too.

Distance 17 miles Running total 37 miles

Day 4 September 8th

Leaving the comforts of the Old Mill we were soon on our way on a familiar route having often walked the Cheviots from Kirk Yet Holm. Passing the house once known as the Gypsy King's Palace because of the number of travellers who lived in Kirk Yetholm we headed uphill.

Somewhere between Coldsmouth Hill and White Law we crossed the border into England.

Crossing the border. For foreign readers there is no border office, you don't need a passport, you just cross. A bit like parts of Europe really.

Going downhill we reached Hethpool, a hamlet at the entrance to College Valley and noted for having once been the home of Admiral Lord Collingwood. Nelson's number two at Trafalgar. His wife planted oak trees in the area.

We stopped for lunch, sitting in the sun before setting off for a steep climb between Yeavering Bell and the Tors. The word Yeavering has something to do with goats and there are three semi wild herds in the area, but they were all hiding today.

General view of the Cheviots above, sign below. Seems to be the one used in England.

After several miles of easy moorland we reached Wooler and headed for the Tankerville Arms for the night.

Distance 14 miles Running total 54 miles

Day 5 September 9th

Leaving the Tankerville Arms we headed uphill to join an easy going track across moorland until, after 8 miles we reached St. Cuthbert's Cave.

St Cuthbert's Cave. Tradition has it that after the Vikings destroyed the monastery on Holy Island St. Cuthbert's Body was taken and carried by a group of monks until eventually they laid him to rest in what is now Durham Cathedral. Originally a small church was built but in the 11th century the present magnificent church was started. It took forty years to build the main body of the cathedral, the towers were added later. St. Cuthbert is behind the great altar.

Leaving th cave after lunch we walked another four miles of woodland to the village of Fenwick. Here, as arranged we were picked up by taxi and taken a few miles to the village of Lowick where we stayed in the White Swan.

Distance 13.5 miles Running Total 67.5 miles

Day 6 September 10th.

Back to Fenwick and the last challenge. Two miles from the start we came to the causeway that crosses to Holy Island. The causeway is narrow and only open when the tide is out. But to complete St. Cuthbert's Way we had chosen to walk across the mud flats. The walk is well marked with poles, (Dave said there were 87) it is muddy, occasionally slippy and parts are covered in some form of grass. We did it barefoot, like good pilgrims should. It is about two miles long and the worst bit is the section covered with shells, some of which are sharp side up.

Rebooting on the island we had time for coffee before we were taken back to Rothbury and our cars. We went to the Ridley Arms to celebrate, eating and drinking.

Crossing to Holy Island, also known as Lindisfarne.

If you want to cross to the island by road or mud, check the crossing times very carefully. The tide can come in very quickly and you may have to resort to one of the refuges. On the causeway you may well lose your car and you will become a sad story on the local TV news.