Another wet day

Another walk in the rain. February 13th l And how wrong we were.

And it's  Friday.

It has rained for most of the year so a walk on relatively dry paths is the order of the day. We have chosen that old favourite Craster, starting from Seahouses Farm a couple of miles south of the seaside village.

The walk is covered by two maps:

OS explorer 332 Holy Island and OS Explorer 340 Alnwick.

For breakfast we went to The Running Fox at Longhoughton.. Formerly a NAAFI, then the village shop it is now one of the company's welcoming cafes. The bacon sandwich looked top class, but I was strong.

After breakfast we headed for Howick, home of the Grey family, and onwards to the parking area by the Seahouses Farm. (Not to be confused with the fish and chip town of Seahouses.)

                            Parking at Seahouses Farm (Not Seahoses)

As we booted up the clouds broke up, a large bright object appeared in the sky, first time for many a day. 

We headed south on the farm track which, not surprisingly, was very muddy. Reaching the point named Sugar Sands where the Howick Burn enters the sea we turned north on the English Coastal Path/ King Charles III . It was surprisingly mud free, well drained and firm underfoot. 

                  Originally the ladies bathing house for the folks who lived in Howick Hall

In a few weeks this cliff will be alive with nesting sea birds.

At Craster we headed for the Piper's Pitch next to the closed visitor centre,. decided against a second breakfast and, instead of taking the path across fields from the harbour, followed the path behind the Heughs until, at Cushat Stiel we took the popular footpath round the castle.

    Dunstanburgh Castle, it's my castle version of Marmite, love it

                                              Lilburn Tower at Dunstanburgh Castle

Ahead was the curve of Embleton Bay, quite a few people walking, some with their dogs, all glad to get out. We walked a mixture of the dunes above the beach, the sands, the edge of the golf course and a final stretch  of beach to Low Newton by the Sea, where, after 7.5 miles we called a Herbie. (Apple pies, cookies, sweet and savoury from Mrs A, with special commendation for the fruit cake)

The Ship Hotel at Low Newton. Much favoured, and quite rightly, by the Sunday Supplements of the heavier papers.

Lunch over, and, in spite of the winter sun, it was cold, we moved on, back on the beach rather than the path behind the square of houses. We thought it would be very muddy from past experience.

Climbing rickety steps to the little village of summer chalets we crossed the golf course and at Dunstan Steads (mile 9) headed for the farm, turned left and took the concrete strip  to Dunstan Square.

                                     Yes it is a lime kiln

                                Left from WW2. The recent storms have uncovered more WW2 defences.

From Dunstan Square Farm we took the road to the village of Dunstan. Next to the bus shelter and not easily spotted is a footpath which goes across a couple of fields to the road near this.

A borrowed photo, too many leaves for February.

Underneath the arch, up the road and then we turned left having passed the entrance to Craster Towers, we turned right towards Craster South Farm. A couple of muddy fields later we were close to the car park for Howick Hall but took a short cut through the woods, disturbing a single, solitary deer, to the road to the farm. Changed we headed for a favourite watering hole, the Ridley Arms in Stannington. Glad to see it was busy in these days of pub closures.

Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2026.

The walk is 13.5 miles, sea views and country with no climbs. 

It is the longest and best walk of the year so far. Cold, sunny, muddy but worth every aching limb.

                                            Sugar Sands

                                        February Fairmaids

                               Craster visitor centre. Said to be reopening soon

                                             Yes it is!

                              Embleton Bay

                          WW2 bunker, exposed by storms

                            Cuttlefish air sac. There were thosands on the beach

                               More snowdrops
 

The park of the Rising Sun

 The park of the Rising Sun. February 6th

Still  raining, so an urban stroll near home for those who brave the weather. The Rising Sun was once a coal mine and, since it closed, has been transformed into a park complete with grassy area and ponds.

It also has a cafe for breakfast, or any other time, and a muddy car park too but that's not surprising as it's raining again.

This walk, a short one for a wet day is partly urban, partly muddy fields.                                                 Covered by OS Explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne.

 I thought the picnic tables were worth keeping, and the pond in the background.

                                           Cafe at Rising Sun Country Park.

It was raining when we left the cafe, turned left then left again up a track to the delightfully named Scaffold Hill Farm. Then following a muddy track we came to an estate, crossed the road and followed markers through Benton Square Industrial Estate.

The path crosses the Tyne and Wear Metro line near Holystone Farm, goes under the A19 and through  housing close to Backworth. Across a couple of muddy fields  and under the new Northumberland railway line from Ashington to Newcastle.

Turning east and walking muddy fields we came to Earsdon and as the rain had eased considerably we sat on benches near the church for a Herbie. (Jam tarts, sweet and savoury from Mrs A)

 Earsdon Curch, dedicated to St Alban. The building was consecrated in 1837 but the original was built in the 11th century. In the churchyard is a memorial to the 204 men and boys from the Hester pit at Hartley who lost their lives in a disaster in 1862. The pit pump beam collapsed and blocked the only shaft to the workings.

From Earsdon we walked across muddy fields to the village of Murton and from there to New York!

Walking the road towards the North Tyneside hospital on Rake Lane  we soon turned off and found our way through the houses to B and M's for a cheering cup of tea. B took us back to the Rising Sun car park and then we went home, in the rain.

               Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2026

The walk is about 6.5 muddy miles. Easy going too.

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.

Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2026.

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