Gadgie Walks

Trains and boats and battles. (Tyneside) December 14th.
The days are getting shorter unless you are pedantic; seven of us are off for a flat walk on Tyneside. Starting from Wylam and walking the south bank to Newburn then back on the north bank. No need for a map but if you need one it's OS Explorer 316, Newcastle upon Tyne. Some of us last did this walk in late March this year (A wander round Wylam)
The not so secret seven are John x 3, Harry, Dave, Brian and me. Breakfast was taken at the Coffee Tree café in Wylam, friendly little place with all sorts of coffee including straightforward black filter.
Wylam is famous as the birthplace of George Stephenson, "the father of the railways" who was born in a cottage east of the village. William Hedley, another rail pioneer and locomotive designer was born in nearby Newburn village and went to school in Wylam.
The church, dedicated to St Oswin, dates back as far as 1886.
The village does have a large and free car park, near the bridge and station so, not surprisingly we left our cars there.

Classis car park, near the bridge and from where we started.

Leaving the car park we crossed the river, turned left into the station car park and followed the footpath at the bottom, right next to the line. (Why not park there? They charge)

Another soldier silhouette

The Tyne from the bridge

Wylam station on the Newcastle Carlisle line

The footpath, the Keelman's Way follows close to the bank of the river passing Ryton Golf course and an interesting area that is carefully fenced off. In several spots here smoke emerges from the ground, old mine workings presumably as this section of the river was once a hive of industry.

This smoke signal is for my friend Eileen Pete in Sakatchewan, it says "hi!"

Approaching the bridge at Newburn the footpath passes the headquarters of the Tyne United Rowing Club.

Nobody out on the river today.

Crossing the narrow bridge we were in Newburn.

Newburn village from the south side

Newburn was once larger and more important than Newcastle. It was the first fordable point on the river and possibly had a Roman fort defending the area which is not far from Hadrian's Wall. The church, dedicated to St. Michael and all Angels was originally a wooden building which burned down. The new one was started in 1067 so it is sort of Saxon/Norman. Much has been rebuilt since then.

Newburn Bridge

Newburn was the site of a battle in 1640 considered by some to be the opening scrap of the English Civil War. An army of Scots camped on the north defeated the English and then went on to capture Newcastle, by then larger and more important than Newburn.

As soon as we had crossed the narrow bridge we turned left, passing The Boathouse pub, and joined the Hadrian's Wall Path which follows the north bank of the Tyne for some miles.

Not far into the path we came to the memorial to the battle of Newburn.

Battle of Newburn explained at the memorial.

Initially a well built track Hadrian's Wall Path becomes a footpath close to the river, later widening again.

This column marks the westerly limit point of mayor of Newcastle's barge trips.Look carefully you can see the three castles from the city's coat of arms. At Close House, golf course, rugby and soccer grounds the HWP leaves the river bank and, on a well posted path crosses the golf course, goes through a copse and arrives at Close House itself.

Here we left the HWP and followed a road towards the Close House exit, looking for a finger post on the left hand side of the road. Having found it we took the footpath through a wood, through Rift Farm and back down to the riverside path at George Stephenson's Cottage.

George Stephenson's birthplace, east of Wylam.

A short distance beyond the cottage we decided, at last, to call a Herbie. Feasting on soup, sausage rolls, biscuits, mince pies ,flapjacks and savouries from Mrs A. we spent a pleasant half hour in the wintry sun before heading on back to the car park at Wylam.

Once changed we went to re hydrate in the Boathouse, a familiar pub which boasts 14 hand pulled beers and a noisy juke box today. Then we went home!