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.

Fried  bacon sandwich at the Muddy Boots* cafe

(Northumberland) February 11th

Back to familiar places. Today's walk starts at the Muddy Boots Cafe in Ingram. Easy to find : A1 North A697 turn left at signpost for Ingram. After four miles turn left down the lane past the church and park in front of the cafe which also has a small museum dedicated to life in the valley. 

Almost a full house: Harry, Brian, Margaret,  John H., John C., Ian, John L. and me.

The maps to use are: OS  OL 16 Cheviot Hills and OS Explorer 332 Alnwick and Amble.

              The little museum of Breamish Valley Life in the cafe

                          Car park at the cafe

             Muddy Boots. It used to be the information centre  but that side was closed in county cuts years ago. Great cafe though.

And off we went. Leaving the car park we walked back up the lane past St. Michael's and all Angels church, some bits of which are 11th Century but most of it 19th C. 

            Most of the plantations had evidence of the damage done by storms recently

                                                         We walked past Ingram farm and took the finger posted path on the left towards  Turf Knowe (mile 1) passing several settlements of interest to archaeologists, plus a hardly visible fort close to mile 2. Turning west and standing clear of a friendly farmer in his tractor we headed for Chesters, an abandoned farm house which was used as an outdoor centre too. There is a steep descent before Chesters and a difficult bit through a storm damaged wood but we made it safely.

                        Approaching Chesters.

                             Chesters, doesn't looked too abandoned, perhaps it,s still used.

At Chesters we turned south across moorland full of Lauder grass (qv). A mild mannered dispute at one place where there was a fork in the paths was eventually solved and we continued on our way, meeting three other walkers, quite unusual on our trips in the Cheviots.

The path wanders through Riddles Plantation and soon a Herbie was called. 

Sitting in the sun on a cold but sunny day: Apple pies, flapjacks, chocolate biscuits, sweet and sour from Mrs A. (About mile 5)

Lunch over we crossed the field to a track and at a junction turned left and joined a straight farm road to Prendwick.

Like many farms Prendwick has had to diversify and there are several pupose built holiday chalets close to the farm.

Why not holiday in a chalet in beautiful Northumberland.

The path goes through the farmyard, (Friendly Farmers) and not far down the lane a finger post on the left points the way to Ingram.

               February Fairmaids at Prendwick.

The footpath heads northwest over moorland, (miles 7,8,9) gently climbing to start and after a level section on the tops heads easily downhill back to the cafe at Ingram.

Using my mini electric razor as Garmin GPS devices have been christened, we walked for 4 hours and stood around or lunched for 1.

On the way home we stopped at the Shoulder of Mutton in Longhorsely for rehydration. Timothy Taylor's Landlord, tea and coffee.

Across the road from the pub with a plaque. It commemorates Emily Davidson, the suffragette who was killed by the king's horse in June 1913. She is buried in Morpeth. She left the cottage on the start of her fatal journey.

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

The walk is about 9.5 miles, mostly easy going. Panoramic views of the Cheviots.

*Now called Ingram cafe, I preferred Muddy Boots!

                       Ridge and furrow fields, Iron age or Romano British near Ingram

                  

                               Typical Northumberland Views

                           Prendwick Farm

                                          More damage, with February Fairmaids

                                       Well ear Prendwick

                            St. Michael and all Angels

                       Emily Davidson cottage, Longhorsely

Walk from Riding Mill

 A Walk from Riding Mill. (Northumberland) February 4th.

God's little acre, aka Yorkshire, was cut up into three Ridings, meaning a third. The name Riding Mill comes from Old English "ryding" meaning a clearing. So it's a mill on cleared land. Easy to find, head west on the A69, at the Corbridge roundabout turn left down the A68 and at the next roundabout take the road to Riding Mill. Just beyond the Wellington pub turn right and there is parking at the station, and a cafe.

There's a team of  eight out today: Harry, Brian, Margaret,  John C. John H., Dave, Ian and me. The maps to use are OS Explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne and OS Explorer 307 Consett and Derwent reservoir.

              Not a prize winner but convenient  for the station and cafe. (And free)

The cafe only had seats outside, it was early, but we made use of them.

Leaving the station car park we walked back to the village main street, crossed it and walked up yhe steep Millfield Road, a thoroughfare lined with large detached houses. beyond the houses, near Broomhaugh we left tarmac for grass and walked uphill still until we reached a minor road (1.5 miles) where we turned left and then  after a few yards turned right and entered Broomleyfell Plantationm. 

The track is well posted with the traditional yellow arrows and walking south we came to a minor road at Burnt House, (mile 2) turned left and followed the road for a furlong before turning right for Healey.

                    This church is close to Healey. It is vertical really and has a splendid topiary chair

          Healey. For reasons known only to inhabitants of the north east we began to quote adverts for conservatories in broad Geordie accents.

From here we crossed fields and walked through Lingleyfield Plantation (mile 3) to Low Fotherley where we turned left onto the A68. Not a dual carriageway but a busy road with fast moving traffic.

Fortunately we stayed on it for a few hundred yards to Fell House where we happily took to the fields and a narrow road in a straight line walking in a north east direction. Close by was Wheelbirks, an ice cream parlour and restaurant. Very busy but we resisted temptation.

                              Looked very busy.

Reaching the B6309 we crossed and followed the road to Hindley Farm and Hindley Hall.(mile 5)

Hindley Hall, once a special boarding school, say no more.

About half a mile beyond the hamlet of Hindley we turned left down a track through hall Woods but declared a Herbie, settling down on the ground for lunch.

Lunch time: Apple pies, almond slices, flapjacks and sweet and savoury from Mrs A. It was cold and windy on the track. Some developed "runners drip" which is politely called" exercise induced rhinitis" or a drip on the end of your nose. 

Moving on we followed the track west to Broomley which is close to Dere Street Roman road (course of).Beyond Broomley we joined the River Tyne Trail which is sponsored by "Daft as a Brush" a charity that offers help to cancer sufferers. The charity has marked trails on the North and South Tyne and have produced a booklet describing the routes.

                         A deserving charity.

Beyond Shalford Wood we came to the A68 again, still busy. The low sun made it difficult to see oncoming traffic but we crossed safely and followed the path back to Riding Mill.

Changed we headed for the Wellington, the Riding Mill pub, which had several beers on offer and coffee or tea.

                  The Wellington in Riding Mill.

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

The walk is about 9 fairly easy going miles

February Fair maids