Rothbury after the rain

Rothbury after the rain. October 11th.

On Tuesday and Wednesday there was enough rain to cause some local flooding and guarantee most paths would be muddy. Hoping for relatively dry tracks we are off to Rothbury for a day. 

The walk is covered by two maps:OS OL42 Kielder Water and OS Explorer 332 Alnwick.

A team of six: Janice, Margaret, Brian, John H, Dave and me.

Weather forecast? Dry. strong winds from the north, so cold.

The car park on the south side of the River Coquet. Roomy, and free and it has a pot hole

We left the car park and headed across the footbridge and went to the Newcastle House for breakfast. Taking a table for six we were informed by the waitress that it was reserved for a group of elderly ladies  who would not be happy if we were there. Terrified we moved. The ladies appeared, very chatty, one had some fine photographs of the previous nights Northern Lights. Some taken near Cramlington, all very clear, and no threats!

                    All Saints Church, Rothbury. Built in 1850 on the site of an ancient church, some bits remaining.

Fuelled we left, walking a short distance up the main street before turning off, passing behind the rows of cottages built by Armstrong for his workers.

                  Flats built by Lord Armstrong for his workers

Just beyond the flats we went through a gate and crossed a field to Hillside Road, turned right and followed the footpath to the woods. So far the walk had been a steady climb.

In the wood we turned left and took the forest trail as it wandered through the trees, passing an important looking radio mast.

             Simonside and Rothbury.

We stopped for a chat with a man who told us about the squirrels  in the area and in Cragside, red squirrels of course.

Leaving the woodland we walked on one of the carriage ways before turning off and heading for a wall (about 3.5 miles) The gate in the wall is the top of the grassy path that goes downhill and morphs into Physic Lane above the village of Thropton.

                                 Thropton

We crossed the river, crossed the road and took the footpath along the burn to the footbridge across the Coquet. (4.5 miles)

The stonework on the end of the bridge seemed a dry and fairly comfortable place for  a Herbie so we settled down out of the wind.

                  Footbridge and Herbie. (Cookies, scones, apple pies, almond slices and, of course, sweet and savoury from Mrs A)

From the bridge the path crosses fields towards Great Tosson. Considering the rain that had fallen recently the track was remarkably dry.

Reaching a road we headed into the hamlet, passing the Tosson Lime Kiln on the way.

                               Tosson Lime Kiln. There is a picnic area at the top.

Shortly after passing Tosson Tower we went through a gate on the right to start the long steady climb up the hillside.

14th Century Tosson Tower, or what remains of it.

The forest track continued uphill for the best part of a mile before levelling off, turning into a forest road and reaching a forest car park.

One of the county's prettiest car parks.

Turning right on the road we came after a few hundred yards, a gate on the left. Not really a right of way and locked, we climbed it, crossed a field and joined a footpath at Whitton Hillhead, feeling a little guilty. Walking a solid farm track we soon came to Dr. Sharp's Folly:

And soon after we were back in the car park. On the way home we stopped at the Shoulder of Mutton in Longhorsley but the real ale was limited so after one we went on to the Ridley Arms in Stannington.

             Contains OS data, copyright. Crown Copyright and database right 2024

The walk is 10 miles, two climbs and wonderful views.

Four go off to Lindisfarne

 Four go off to Lindisfarne. September 27th

Holy Island, also known as Lindisfarne, is a small island off the coast of Northumberland. Famed for the foundation of a monastery in 635AD by St Aidan and for being the home of St. Cuthbert. It is accessible at low tide by either driving across the causeway or walking the muddy Pilgrims' way. It is advisable to check crossing times before you go or you will become an item on local TV news as your car is flooded and you sit it out in the refuge.

The refuge is almost centre, the cars appear to be underwater, the poles mark the Pilgrims'Way

The day after our walk, seven people needed help as they crossed on the Pilgrims Way, be warned, read the signs.

There are four of us out today, Brian, John  H, me and Dave. Dave is an archaeologist and promises to show us new trenches and piles of stones.                                                                       A map is not essential but the island is covered by OS Explorer 340 Holy Island and Bamburgh.

There is a large carpark just as you reach the village. £8.50  for 5 hours, £10  for 24. Less for shorter stays.

                Top. quiet morning in the car park. Bottom; busy at 3.30pm

Before setting off to walk we had breakfast in the 1st Class Food and Post Office, served by a chatty Makem. (Person from Sunderland) Much discussion of football and a good bacon sandwich.

Fed and watered we wandered off, led by Dave to an archaeological site behind the ruins of the Priory.

                   Ruins of the Priory. Aidan set up on Holy Island in 635 AD. His monastery was ruined by Vikings, nobody is sure exactly what and where it was but in 1093 the Bishop of Durham ordered the building of the Priory, now also a ruin.

Site of one of the digs, Looking for foundations of the original?

From the dig we walked to the modern Observation tower which gives a full 360 view of the coast, the sea and Bamburgh Castle. It also looks out on a small island which was the site of Cuthbert's personal hermitage. When the tide is out you can walk across to it.

                    St Cuthbert's little island from the Observation Tower.

Back down from the tower we walked the short distance to the harbour jetty, stopping as Dave pointed out to us the ruins of Osborne Fort.

Osborne Fort, built in 1670 to keep us safe from the marauding Dutch.

Off around the small harbour, several fishing boats tied up, there had been a warning from the Met Office advising fishermen to stay at home because of the strong north wind. Good advice, it was very windy and cold.

                                 Lobster pots

Upturned boats used as storage.

There is a well worn path to the castle, it is run by the National Trust. But having been before we headed to Gertrude Jekyll's small walled garden.

Lindisfarne Castle, built in 1549 and used until 1819. Now a National Trust property.

Late September is not the best time to visit a garden, not many flowers in bloom but it is very peaceful.

Back to the castle and to the Lime Kilns to the south of it.

                         Top of the kiln. Layers of limestone and coal poured in

               Lime Kilns, some of the best in the county. Built in 1860 for cooking lime for fertiliser. The lime stone was quarried on the island, coal was shipped in. Closed about 1900

                                  Kiln interior.

Having explored the kilns we headed north on the coast path, stopping at the bird hide for a Herbie. Apple pies, almond slices and cookies. Mrs A had sent sweet and savoury offerings too.

Lunch over we stayed heading north to the White Pyramid at Emmanuel Head.

It is a Daymark. Built between 1801 and 1810 it acts as a warning to ships to keep off the rocks. Built by Trinity House it is one of the earliest Daymarks in Britain. 

From the pyramid we followed a narrow footpath through the dunes across the island, battling the wind at times. Turning south we  then crossed the island road, walking on the coast, watching sea birds and seals  before heading back to the village, the car park and the Ridley Arms in Stannington. Shuggy Boat Blonde, a good session beer.

Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2024

Very easy going and a shortish 6 miles