On the coast again

 On the coast again. November 21st

Today's walk was meant to be in the hills of North Durham but poor conditions, namely a scattering of snow and freezing rain, persuaded us to avoid narrow country roads and head for the milder Northumberland coast.

Driving to Widdrington we then caught the X18 bus to Warkworth and headed south, mostly on the coastal path now named for Charles III.

A map is not essential but the walk is covered by OS Explorer 332 Alnwick and OS Explorer 325 Morpeth. Keep the sea on your left, simple rule.

Well that was the plan. The bus did not arrive. After a brief discussion on an alternative walk we made use of two of the three cars available and drove to Amble, planning  to walk back to Widdrington from there, use the remaining car to retrieve the ones left in Amble. Well to take the two drivers to get their cars.

             I cropped this car park picture to cut out the rubbish bin, just visible on the right edge though.

We started off walking round the cemetery wall and joined the coastal path dedicated to the king. After a few hundred yards on the path we headed down to the beach, the sand was firm and, unlike the footpath through the dunes there were no slippery ice patches.

We left the beach at mile 2 and took the slightly muddy footpath to the visitor centre in Hauxley Nature Reserve for a late breakfast. So late the bacon sandwiches were no longer available.

                                

Coquet Island. Nature Reserve and once weekend retreat for St. Cuthbert.                                                              Back on the beach for a while before heading for the visitor centre at Druridge Bay reserve (milke 5) where we made use of a bench for the day's Herbie. (Apple pies, cookies, ginger cake and, of course, sweet and savoury from Mrs A)

Thye visitor centre at Druridge Bay Reserve has a good cafe . Views across the lake too.

After lunch we were back on the sandy beach all the way to mile six. here we took the road behind the dunes. At mile seven on previous occasions we have left the road and crossed the fields, passing the ruined chapel marked on the map but we considered that route would be very soggy today so continued on the road to the entrance to the Druridge Bay area, turned right and walked the road back to Widdrington.

The cars were retrieved, some of us enjoyed TTL and some enjoyed tea in the Widdrington Arms.

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The walk is just under nine miles, easy going but a bit icy in places today. Take a stick!

Back to the Coquet

 Back to the Coquet, November 14th

A walk we did earlier this year, and why not. 

Starting and finishing in Rothbury the walk goes through Pondicherry, Thropton and Tosson, following fields and forest trails.

There is a large car park south of the River Coquet in Rothbury and it's  free.

The maps needed are: OS OL 42 Kielder Forest and OS Explorer 332 Alnwick and Ambl

      

                                                            Car park and Coquet.

After breakfast in the Newcastle Arms we set off west along Rothbury's wide main street and took the right fork towards the hamlet of Pondicherry. (mile 1) Although this hamlet is first mentioned in 1765 I can't find any definite link between it and the French colony of the same name in India. It could,apparently, be just a local name. 

Beyond it the track crosses several fields, is a straight line and has some proper stiles.

Compare and contrast as they used to ask in GCE *English Language exams.

We passed the empty Alpaca field and an ancient fort, possibly stone age but as Dave wasn't with us nobody could be sure and he couldn't have his alpaca joke.

We reached Physic Lane, a name that has always intrigued, turned left and headed ownhill to Thropton.

Crossing the Wreigh Burn by the footbridge alongside the road bridge we crossed the road too and followed the burn to the River Coquet.

  River Coquet. Referred to in the 8th century as" Coccuueda" Bede  names it "Cocuedi fluminus" which possibly means Red River.

Once across we headed over soggy fields  to a road, turned right then left, passing the Tosson Lime Kiln.

                    Tosson Lime Kiln. There is a picnic spot at the top and a view inside the kiln. But not today.

Passing through Great Tosson, a hamlet, we paused to admire the Tosson Tower, or at least its ruins.

                  Tosson Tower, 14th century bastle house

 At a point not far from the tower we went through a gate on the right and started the long steady climb through the plantations on the side of Simonside. Then we came down again. Deciding there was nowhere to sit for lunch at the first car park we continued on a narrow footpath to a spot with a large rock and several tree stumps and declared it Herbie Time. Cherry Bakewells, cookies, cake and sweet  and sweet and savoury from Mrs A.

Lunch over, and a short break as it was getting cold we walked a hundred nyards or so on the road and then took the posted path on the left through a wood before crossing  several fields to Whitton Hillhead. From here we followed the track to Whitton, passing Sharps Folly and finally took the road back to the car park and home.

Dr. Sharp's Folly. Started in 1720 by Dr Thomas Sharp as an observatory and also to provide work for unemployed people in the area it was completed in 1754. The oldest folly in Northumberland.

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The walk is about 8 miles, easy going with one long slope through the plantation. Great views over the valley.

* GCE UK school exam pre 1988.Taken at age 16

A coastal walk

 A coastal walk in Northumberland November 7th.                                    After the ups and downs of last weekend we are off on a coastal walk from Bamburgh to High Newton. 

Drive to High Newton on the A1 north, turn off at Alnwick, for Denwick and head for High Newton on minor roads.

At High Newton catch the 418 bus (1028 am) for Bamburgh, get off and head south.

A map is not essential but OS explorer 332 Holy Island and OS explorer 340 cover the walk.

              A bit of a cheat really because I forgot to take a car park picture. This is from November 2023.

      But this is the bus shelter in High Newton, taken on Saturday. It's better than the shelter near my house which is open to the elements.

The bus arrived on time and let us off on time close to Bamburgh Castle and the cricket field.

Bamburgh Castle on the Whin Sill. A fortified place for ancient Brits, Romans, Saxons and Normans. A bright blue sky too, very warm for early November. The left foreground is the cricket outfield. Not surprisingly this ground made the top ten prettiest village cricket fields in England, according to The Times. Quite right. Over the castle wall is six and out.

 There was a coffee stall close to the castle and after we had partaken we set off on the path close to the cricket pavilion. It headed north then turned to go south on the seaward side of the castle.

The path is King Charles III Coastal Path or the English Coast Path or Northumberland Coast Path. Take your pick, they all follow the same route.

Sometime on the beach, sometime on the dunes, mainly to avoid slippery rocks, and sometime on the road side we headed for Seahouses. (mile 4).

Seahouses is a small coastal resort, famous for fish and chips and the boats which will take you out to the Farne Islands, a nature reserve well known for Puffins and seals.

Sadly the mist had rolled in, the blue sky had vanished and the Farne Islands were well hidden. 

             

                               Statue of a fisherman

                             Seahouses Harbouir.

We walked round the harbour, followed a path by, but not in, a caravan site and reached the golf course.

The footpath across the golf course is well marked, but beware of flying balls. Nearly at the road, on the edge of hole 12, we came across two benches which made a fine Herbie Spot, even though the temperature had fallen. (Mince pies, sweet and savoury from Mrs A)

Lunch over we con tinued south, sometimes on the road side but mostly on the dunes until we reached Beadnell. (Mile 7)

Beadnell is always quiet, especially this time of year as many of the houses are holiday lets. It has a fine set of Lime Kilns and a small harbour.

Approaching Beadnell we saw this hard lady in the North Sea.

Makes me shiver just looking at her!

                          Beadnell Harbour

When I get round to it, this will be star in my Book of Kilns.

From the harbour the route follows the curve of Beadnell Bay and we set off on the sands rather than the footpath. The tide was coming in and at one point sense and sensibility sent us up on to the path, the water was lapping at the sandy cliffs.

The path took us to the delightfully named stream Long Nanny, which we crossed by the footbridge. We agreed we had never seen the water so high.

Bit of a cheat again, these two, Long Nanny and the footbridge were taken a couple of years ago.

Followingpart of St.Oswald's Way we reached Newton Links house and took the road back to High Newton and the car park.

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The walk is about 10.5 miles, easy going. Sea views, plenty of birds and on occasion Dolphins.