In the dene again

 In the dene with the Greens. February 1st

Another Sunday walk with the Greens, another rainy day too.

We met at the Earsdon Garden Centre for morning coffee. The centre is sandwiched between the road from Holywell to Earsdon and a short stretch of old road. We parked in a layby on the short stretch of the old road. 

The walk  is easy to follow but if you need a map: OS Explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne

             It's not a carpark but I have cropped the photo. I hope my efforts are appreciated.

Once booted and suited in the light rain we set off back on the road to Holywell, crossed the Seaton Burn, crossed the road, turned left , went down the steps, crossed the footbridge and we were on the south side of Seaton Burn in Holywell Dene.

The path was very muddy, there are several short climbs and descents but most of them have wooden walled steps to aid the aged. Parts of the dene are used as a cycle track too, beware.

A swollen Seaton Burn and a stepped climb.

When we reached the dismantled railway we turned left, crossed the burn and, just before the old bridge went back into the dene, on the north bank.

Reaching a footbridge we crossed again and climbed to the road that goes to Hartley.

                   Bridge on the old railway, turn right back into the dene.

We crossed the road, passed the Delaval Arms pub and headed down to the cliffs, which are dangerous, the sign says.

                     St.Mary's lighthouse

We followed the cliff top path to Seaton Sluice at which point we made use of a row of benches for a Herbie. (No sharing on Greens walks, they'll learn) We had a grand view of the stack known as Charley's Garden.

                             Charley's Garden, no longer tended.

For the first time in days the sun came out, it was warm enough to remove top layers. Continuing past the King's Arms on the path above the harbour we then took the steps down to the water's edge, crossed the stream on the footbridge and headed up the north side of the burn.

                     The Seaton Sluice mermaid and the cut. The cut was made to provide a dock for the loading of coal and the unloading of ballast. The sluice which was built to hold back water and release it to scour the harbour has gone.

We followed the footpath for a while, passing but not seeing the Starlight Castle.

Starlight Castle is behind the trees. In the 18th century, so the story goes, one of the Delavals needed extra accommodation for a lady friend. He made a bet that he could have a castle built in twenty four hours. Having accumulated the materials his worker did the job and he won the bet. The mini castle is now a ruin.

We reached another old railway track and walked a mile south west to the bird hide at Holywell pond.

                                  Holywell Pond. Sadly the hide has been vandalised.

Soon we were back in Holywell, back down the steps by the bridge but this time turned right and followed a path round the edges of fields to Holywell Grange Farm. Beyond the farm we turned left and walked a track back to the cars.

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The walk is under 9 miles, easy going but muddy in winter.

Railways and a battle

Railways and a battle.January 30th

It seems to have been raining for the last two weeks. No flooding in the North East but the ground is so wet we cancelled our proposed walk across country from Scots Gap and opted for a day out on relatively firm tracks from Wylam.

Wylam can claim to be the birthplace of railways. George Stephenson, William Hedley from nearby Newburn built Puffing Billy in 1813, two years before George Stepenson produced Blucher (which should have an umlaut on the u). But George went on to greater things, including the Liverpool to Manchester line. They were both financed by the Blackett family.

Wylam is west of Newcastle, follow the A69, turn off at the signpost for the village and head down towards the station. There is a car park on the left as you approach the River Tyne, and it's  free.

The map is covered by OS explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne

The Coffee Tree on the main street welcomes walkers and several yummy mummies this morning too.

Car park down by the river on the north bank. Free!

The car park is next to the dismantled railway line which used to join the Newcastle to Carlisle track a few miles to the west so we set off east on a good solid base towards George Stephenson's Cottage. Tyhe track is on the Tyne and Wear Heritage Way.

This is where George sat and watched his mum's kettle boil. (That was James Watt really)

Not far from the cottage, which is occasionally open to the public, we went through a gate into Close House Golf Course. Not many golfers out today in the rain. The path goes close to the Close House Club House before heading up a road  to the edge of Heddon on the Wall.

                                             Nice bench in Close House.

At Heddon Banks farm we walked through a small estate before heading downhill on Station Road. There may well have been a station at the bottom once but it has gone. At Heddon Haugh we rejoined the Tyne and Wear Heritage Way/ Hadrian's Wall Path and walked east to the Tyne Riverside Country Park. There is a cafe there and the Keelman's Pub but as the rain was easing off we bravely continued towards Newburn Bridge. Just before reaching the bridge there is a memorial to The Battle of Newburn Ford.

August 28th 1640, during the Second Bishops' War. Outnumbering  the English four to one the victory went to the Scots who then continued to Newcastle, laid siege to the town and left cannon ball marks still seen on St. Andrew's Church.

We crossed the Tyne at Newburn, turned west on the riverside path and found a couple of benches for a Herbie. For what seemed like the first time for several days the rain stopped as we shared apple pies, cookies and sweet and savoury from Mrs A.

                                                                   Newburn Bridge.

The path on the south side of the Tyne is "The Keelmen's Way, named for the men who ferried coal in Keel boats down to larger ships. It goes round the edge of Ryton Golf Course and reaches Wylam after three miles at the railway station. Back across the river, back to the car park and off to the Fox and Hounds for TTL or zero alcohol Guinness for the drivers. And it had started to rain again.

4

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Start and finish at the red dot. Herbie by the river, south bank just after 5 miles.

The walk is a bit under 9 miles.Easy going with one climb out of Close House.

                            

A castle, the coast and a chapel

 A castle, the coast and a chapel. January 23rd

Unusually for Britain it has been a wet week so a shorter walk nearer home has been the suggestion. Walking from the village of Warkworth up the coast to a spot opposite Alnmouth and back through the dunes. Head north on the Northumberland Coastal Route to Warkworth. (A189). There is parking by the river, close to the church, free.                                                                                       

    The map, if needed is OS Explorer 332 Alnwick and Amble

              St Lawrence church, a fine Norman building and the car park by the river.

Dressed in waterproof jackets and over trousers (unusual for me I don't like them) we walked to Bertrams cafe for breakfast and a discussion on the walk and the weather, it was raining but not too heavily.

Having fuelled up on bacon sandwiches or teacakes we set off, going through the bridge tower and crossing the fourteenth century bridge which is now reserved for pedestrians, a modern version spanning the River Coquet is beside it.

  .  The River Coquet and the ancient Bridge Tower and wet gadgies and one gadgette.

Once across the river we also crossed the road and headed up towards the car parks.  Approaching the dunes and the beach we discussed the walk and decided, in spite of the rain, to follow the  long version and headed south towards the river mouth.

Amble and the river mouth, the sea is somewhere out there.

Turning north and thankfully now having the strong wind at our backs we walked on the beach. The sand was firm, we saw two noble dog walkers on a beach that is usually busy. We walked on the beach for three miles, the only tricky bit being Berling Carrs. a stretch of seaweed covered low rocks which are difficult to cross, especially if your knee won't bend. It is possible to go round them by climbing up to the caravan site and once through it rejoining the beach.

At the mouth of the Aln, opposite the village of Alnmouth we scrambled up to the cross which marks the area where the 12century church once stood.

 The site of St. Waleric's church. A storm in 1806 changed the course of the river, and cut off the church which eventually disappeared.

Heading south a few yards we came to the ruined 19th century "lying in chapel" and as the rain had stopped we decided it made a good site for our Herbie.

                   !9th century chapel and Herbie spot. Apple pies, cookies and, of course, sweet and savoury from Mrs A.

Lunch over we followed the King Charles III/England Coast path going south behind the dunes. The dunes offered some shelter from the wind. 

17th century guano shed. Built well away from the village to store imported guano used as fertiliser. The building fell out of use after the storm of 1806.

The path wanders alongside fields and continues by the golf course. Normally we follow a firm path which crosses the course, goes under a footbridge and passes a bell which is rung to warn players that walkers are going through. Today we took a short cut, disappointingly as I like to ring the bell but I was at the back, too late to protest.

Soon we were back at the cars, it started to rain again. Once we were free from waterproofs we decided to return to Bertrams for coffee and cake rather than go to the pub. It was only 3pm.

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The walk is about 8.5 miles, easy going. Sea views and green fields.

                     The last three by kind permission of Harry!