Hartley, Holywell and the Sluice. (But it is a new walk)(Northumberland) December 8th.
The forecast is for a cold day, wind chill factor sending us out in
temperatures below zero, so we are staying close to home and enjoying, hopefully, a new walk.
Staring at the Delaval Arms at Hartley, south of Seaton Sluice on the road to Whitley Bay, five of us are on a rectangular walk. Visits and colds have reduced numbers,( the Norton Anti Virus is not working according to Brian) The map to use is OS Explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne and the Delaval Arms pub is at GR NZ341758. Down the road towards the sea is a car park for the one who used a vehicle, most of us came by bus.
This week's sun kissed freezing car park.
The walk;
From the car park we went through a gate and followed the footpath across grassy land, part nature reserve, to the road that goes to St. Mary's Lighthouse. The island is only accessible when the tide is out, as it was today, but we didn't cross the causeway. The island has, apart from the lighthouse, a nature reserve, with seals if you are lucky.
St. Mary's lighthouse.
After a short walk along the road from the lighthouse we crossed the main Blyth Whitley Bay road and walked up the side of the cemetery and continued to a dismantled railway, easily recognisable because the bridge abutments are still there.
Turn left through the "bridge"
From this point we followed the footpath across fields to Dene Farm where we changed direction and walked northwest to Crow Hall Farm.
From this farm we took the lane almost into Holywell. On the edge of the village we turned right and in a corner between houses found the path for Holywell Pond. At the pond there is a bird hide, beautifully decorated by Year 3 children from the local school. Unfortunately there are no windows in the hide, just open viewing points facing north and the cold wind came right through. Being tough gadgies we declared a Herbie Spot. Not being a large turn out there were slim pickings today, Alpen bars, Yorkshire flapjacks and mince pies for Christmas.
Holywell Pond, quiet today, all the birds trying to keep warm.
Lunch over we continued down the side of the pond and turned north west when we reached the dismantled railway, now a footpath/cycle path with no evidence of the days of steam, or diesel.
At The Avenue, the road from Seaton Delaval to Seaton Sluice we turned right then left along the road to New Hartley.
There is a memorial garden in the village to the 204 men and boys who were killed in the Hester Pit disaster of 1862. The cast iron beam of the pumping engine broke, fell down the shaft and trapped the men. There is also a memorial to those killed in Earsdon Church Cemetery where most of the victims were buried. After this disaster the government passed legislation ensuring all pits had two shafts.
Back on the footpath we walked past Seaton Red House Farm and on to Lysdon Farm. Here we followed a path, that had no arrows, across fields to Gloucester Lodge Farm on the coast south of Blyth. It gets its name from Napoleonic times when the Gloucester Regiment were camped here, well out of the way.
The Blue Stone outside the Delaval Arms. Thought to be a Saxon boundary marker. In the latter half of the n18th century strong man Willie Carr of Hartley and Blyth, could pick it up as a demonstration of his strength.
The Matrix MMXVII almost the last
steps miles
NAK 24833 10.19
iPhone 20660 9.7
Dave's 3D 20400 9.99
"" USB 19923 10.06
"" NAK 19890 10.84
Sylvia's mother 20757 10.58
The forecast is for a cold day, wind chill factor sending us out in
temperatures below zero, so we are staying close to home and enjoying, hopefully, a new walk.
Staring at the Delaval Arms at Hartley, south of Seaton Sluice on the road to Whitley Bay, five of us are on a rectangular walk. Visits and colds have reduced numbers,( the Norton Anti Virus is not working according to Brian) The map to use is OS Explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne and the Delaval Arms pub is at GR NZ341758. Down the road towards the sea is a car park for the one who used a vehicle, most of us came by bus.
The walk;
From the car park we went through a gate and followed the footpath across grassy land, part nature reserve, to the road that goes to St. Mary's Lighthouse. The island is only accessible when the tide is out, as it was today, but we didn't cross the causeway. The island has, apart from the lighthouse, a nature reserve, with seals if you are lucky.
After a short walk along the road from the lighthouse we crossed the main Blyth Whitley Bay road and walked up the side of the cemetery and continued to a dismantled railway, easily recognisable because the bridge abutments are still there.
From this point we followed the footpath across fields to Dene Farm where we changed direction and walked northwest to Crow Hall Farm.
From this farm we took the lane almost into Holywell. On the edge of the village we turned right and in a corner between houses found the path for Holywell Pond. At the pond there is a bird hide, beautifully decorated by Year 3 children from the local school. Unfortunately there are no windows in the hide, just open viewing points facing north and the cold wind came right through. Being tough gadgies we declared a Herbie Spot. Not being a large turn out there were slim pickings today, Alpen bars, Yorkshire flapjacks and mince pies for Christmas.
Lunch over we continued down the side of the pond and turned north west when we reached the dismantled railway, now a footpath/cycle path with no evidence of the days of steam, or diesel.
At The Avenue, the road from Seaton Delaval to Seaton Sluice we turned right then left along the road to New Hartley.
There is a memorial garden in the village to the 204 men and boys who were killed in the Hester Pit disaster of 1862. The cast iron beam of the pumping engine broke, fell down the shaft and trapped the men. There is also a memorial to those killed in Earsdon Church Cemetery where most of the victims were buried. After this disaster the government passed legislation ensuring all pits had two shafts.
Back on the footpath we walked past Seaton Red House Farm and on to Lysdon Farm. Here we followed a path, that had no arrows, across fields to Gloucester Lodge Farm on the coast south of Blyth. It gets its name from Napoleonic times when the Gloucester Regiment were camped here, well out of the way.
Gloucester Lodge Farm.
Here we joined the Eve Black path that crosses the dunes from Blyth to Seaton Sluice. Years and years ago the area round Seaton Sluice was a busy little town with coal exports, glassworks and a remarkable sluice that scoured the river. There is also a cut through high rocks allowing ships to enter the harbour at all times. Some evidence of the sluice remains and the cut is there but the small harbour is now a haven for small boats.
Seaton Sluice. The cut in the centre distance.
From here we walked up the road and along a path back to the car park. And then to The Delaval Arms which had several real ales on draught, including Wainright named for the great Lake District Hill walker. And Brian joined us, he had started the walk later.
The Delaval Arms, good beer and friendly staff.
Contains OS data. Crown copyright and database right 2017
The Matrix MMXVII almost the last
steps miles
NAK 24833 10.19
iPhone 20660 9.7
Dave's 3D 20400 9.99
"" USB 19923 10.06
"" NAK 19890 10.84
Sylvia's mother 20757 10.58
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