New Year, Old Walk

 New Year, Old Walk. January 3rd 2025

Happy New Year to all, let's hope it's a good one.

The first walk of the year is, as usual, the coastal stroll from Blyth to North Shields. The walk is covered by OS Explorer 325 Morpeth and Blyth and OS Explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne but as long  as you keep the sea on your left they are not needed.

We met at Ciccarelli's cafe/restaurant/fish and chip shop for breakfast, all twelve of us, probably a record turnout, enough for a cricket team and two umpires when we were joined by another gadgie at Whitley Bay.

                    Great place (and plaice). Bacon sandwich was excellent.

Once fed off we went, heading south. Some walked on the beach, some walked on the Eve Black cycle/walkers track through the dunes, but we all passed the Blyth Battery, left from WW2 when the port was a submarine base.

Blyth Battery. It is open to visitors some days and also for groups on request.

We met up again at Seaton Sluice. The sluice itself, now gone, was designed to scour the harbour. In the 18th century a cut was excavated, complete with locks, to form a wet dock used for the export of coal, salt and glassware. 

                 The cut at Seaton Sluice. The King's Arms pub is on the right, 18th century. The building on the left was a watch tower.

We followed the footpath just to the right of the King's Arms, rounded what was called "Collywobble Bay" in our house and reached the causeway to St. Mary's island, admiring the refurbished lighthouse from the land.

                   St. Mary's. Gift shop and, on the far side, a small colony of seals.

We walked a short distance up the road before going down on to the beach, joining many others out for a stroll on a cold but clear day, with little wind too. Climbing back to the promenade we settled down for a Herbie near mile 5. Cookies, stollen, two varieties of ginger biscuits, cheese scones and cheese biscuits.  I had taken two Greggs sausage rolls but could only manage one, not surprisingly.

                                        Herbie time

Moving on, staying on the promenade, we reached the famous Spanish City.

before I came to the north east the Spanish City was an entertainment centre. Closed for some years it has now reopened as a  restaurant.

The promenade follows the coast beyond Whitley bay to the old village of Cullercoats.

Marine research lab for Newcastle University.

Back down on to the Long Sands and back up again to the road. We passed the castle and priory and headed down to see Collingwood.

              Tynemouth Castle, the priory is behind.

          The priory has 7th century origins but was sacked by the Danes in the 9th. The castle dates to 1095.

At the bottom of the hill a footpath took us up to the Collingwood Statue.

             Admiral Lord Collingwood. He took over at Trafalgar when Nelson was shot. Local boy, went to Newcastle Royal Grammar School.

From the statue we went down to the promenade and made our way to North Shields and the Low Light pub. Unfortunately the pub was so busy with people enjoying their famous pies and beer there was no room so we headed uphill to the Tynemouth Lodge which had room and a fine variety of hand pumped beers.

               The Tynemouth Lodge, selling beer for centuries.

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This walk is a little over 9 miles, easy going on hard surfaces or sand.

             Bauxite silos in Blyth. The bauxite was taken to the Alcan Smelter, now gone

                          Art on Blyth quayside

                                    First sighting of Antarctica land in 1819

                       Back lane lighthouse in Blyth

                          Seaton Sluice gas light. Originally powered by gas from a nearby pit

                   Charlie's Garden, Collywobble Bay. 

The Green's Christmas Walk

 The Green's Christmas walk. December 15th.

The Greens are a friendly group of walkers that some of us gadgies have attached ourselves to. Walks every other Sunday, similar to gadgie walks and they usually end in a pub.

The Christmas walk is an annual event, usually a walk round the town of  Morpeth and a feast in the Tap and Spile. A map is not necessary but should you wish to follow the walk closely use OS Explorer 325 Morpeth and Blyth.

We met, about twenty of us, in the car park between the bus station, Home Bargains and the shopping centre. It is free but requires a time of arrival card.

Having assembled and appointed a leader and back marker, just like being at school, off we went.

Down the hill of the main street, across the road, past Wetherspoons (old cinema) and over the river Wansbeck.

Once over the river (and checked) we turned left and followed the river bank for a while before crossing again to the north side.

Leaving the riverside we crossed a road and entered Bluebell Wood which is well worth visiting in spring for the carpet of, amazingly, bluebells, but British not Spanish.

                                  Spot the difference.

             Walking through Bluebell Woods

Once ou of the wood we walked round the perimeter of the hospital, down a road passing King Edward VI School, (known as KEVI) and almost into town.

Turning right down the nicely named Beggars Lane we crossed a stream, turned left, crossed the river and followed footpaths through open land to the next bit of wooded land. A series of steep steps took us to the remains of Morpeth Castle. All that is left is the gatehouse and some bits of wall remain from the 14th century stronghold. The gatehouse is run by the Landmark Trust who restored it. My wife and I had lunch there in summer with friends who had taken it for a short holiday. Magnificent view from the roof of Morrisons supermarket, and the rest of the town.

         Walls are vertical, I was not.

Having admired the gatehouse we walked to the next roundabout, crossed the road, passed the station and at a safe crossing went over the railway.

East coast main line from London to Edinburgh and beyond.

The last part of the walk was down a lane which eventually morphed into a road. Passing the back of Morrisons Supermarket we were soon back at the cars. 

As requested we changed our boots for something lighter like  trainers and headed for the Tap and Spile pub nearby.

The pub had provided a fine buffet, far above the standards of the gadgie Herbie Spot. Not only was there ham, salmon, chips, sausages, sausage rolls, olives, crisps, bread and a cheese board to delight but vegetarians, vegans and gluten free were all provided for. And they had Timothy Taylor's Landlord on draught. Happiness is a Green walk.

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The walk is about 5.5 miles, easy going.

Apart from the wonky castle and one of the group photographs, credit goes to Andrew. Thanks.

The last gadgie walk of 2024

 The last gadgie walk of 2024. December 20th.

For the last walk of the year, and on almost the shortest day of the year, we are off for a beach and dune walk from Warkworth to the river Aln, opposite the village of Alnmouth. A popular walk, always a pleasure and a good stroll to end the year. Unfortunately, for various reasons, there are only three of us out.

There is parking by the River Coquet in Warkworth, down the main street, turn left at the square full of cars, pass the church and leave your car next to the river. Free.

A map is not essential but the walk is covered by OS Explorer 332 Alnwick and Amble.

                   Parking by the Coquet.

Booted and wrapped against the cold we set off past the village church of St Lawrence and headed for Bernard's cafe for breakfast.

              St Lawrence Church, Warkworth. Almost perfect Norman church

              Warkworth Castle at the top of the street. dates back to 1139

Having eaten we headed off across the new road bridge and turned right up to the car parks near the beach. There is a fairly new footpath in the field next to the road, away from the traffic.

When we reached the dunes we turned right  and walked along the inlet towards the Amble harbour north pier.

                                  Amble harbour.

Turning north we walked on the beach, not surprisingly very quiet today, few dog walkers braving the cold.

Approaching Birling Carrs I took the footpath up to the dunes and followed the path through the caravan site while the others stayed on the beach. Meeting up again we walked the soft sand to the mouth of the River Aln and settled down on a sandy bank opposite the town for a Herbie. ( Stollen, ginger biscuits  iced with Christmas decorations by Jesmond cake company and sweet and savoury from Mrs A.)

                 Uprooted by ereosion

                       Alnmouth from the Herbie Spot

Lunch over we resumed the walk. On previous occasions we have climbed the small hill to the cross that marks the site of the original village church, washed away in the great storm of 1806 and then continued to the Victorian "lying in chapel" but today we took a short cut behind the hill and and joined the St Oswald's Way/ English Coast Path/Northumberland Coast Path.

             Site of the original village church.

We followed the path going through the caravan site, cutting down to a track near the beach and avoiding the path that goes across the golf course but eventually wanders round the edge of it. Reaching the path down from the village we turned right and returned to the cars using the old bridge over the Coquet.

                    The old bridge, 14th century.

On the way home we visited the Ridley Arms in Stannington to sample the Wylam Gold. Highly recommended too.

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The walk is about 9 easy going miles. 

That's the last gadgie walk of the year. Next episode on January 3rd, the annual opener from Blyth to North Shields.

Happy Christmas and a great New Year.

                          The gate on old Warkworth bridge

                    The Alnmout guano shed, abandoned after the 1806 storm

                    Alnmouth Bay

                                      WW2 defences

 

Wylam, Prudhoe and Stanley Burn

 Wylam, Prudhoe and Stanley Burn. December 13th

Sounds like a firm of solicitors.

Wylam village is west of Newcastle, on the north side of the Tyne. Head west on the A69, turn off at the sign post for Wylam and head down towards the free car park close to the bridge.

There are seven of us, breakfast in the Coffee Tree near the church.

              Parking at Wylam. Plenty of space and free!!!

                        The slightly out of focus Tyne at Wylam

Leaving the car park we took the narrow path under the bridge and walked on the river bank, joining a firm track and reaching Hagg Bridge which once carried a railway line on the north side of the river. Once across it joined the line to Carlisle on the south side. 

                             Hagg Bridge

We stayed on the track to Ovingham Bridge where there is a cafe and car park next to Prudhoe station. As the crossing gates were closed we used the footbridge, pausing to watch a rather disappointing freight train pass. On the way we passed "The Spetchells". Artificial mounds created from lime slag used in the manufacture of munitions in WW2.

                   Mural at the cafe at Prudhoe station

                           And the train.

The station is next to the river and as any Geography teacher worth the jacket will tell you, railways follow valleys.

Leaving the Station we walked uphill through Prudhoe, passing the Doctor Syntax pub and the ruins of Prudhoe Castle, built in the 12th century for the Umphravilles.

                                              Castle gate

              Dr Syntax was a horse, not a linguist

Still on an upward path we turned right and, opposite St Mathew's Primary school, took to the fields. 

Eventually we reached the top of the grassy hill and headed down to the farm at Durham Riding.

                             Tree House at Durham Ridings

                                     Durham Ridings

Beyond the farm we turned left and walked a muddy lane to Humble Farm. The neatly arranged stones at the entrance provided a good Herbie Spot. (scones, cherry Bakewells, cookies and, of course, sweet and savoury from Mrs A.)

Full we walked along the road for a short distance before entering fields on the right.

The almost invisible footpath took us to the hard to find entrance to Stanley Burn.

For a mile we followed the narrow track, up and down, crossing footbridges until we reached Stanley Bridge and a road.

We followed the road, passing Prudhoe golf course and then turned left to go round the waste disposal site. Just beyond that we turned right at a finger post, followed a woodland walk until we reached Hagg Bridge. From there it was a short walk back to the cars.

Some went to the Fox and Hounds which has TTL.

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The walk is about 9.5 miles, easy going with a couple of steady climbs

                             A proper doctor!

                        The Spetchells

 

                                  You can call me Al.

                                     Stanley Burn