We're going downhill. (County Durham) Feb 21st.
Reduced in numbers for a variety of reasons, three remaining gadgies, John H., Dave and me, are walking from Consett in County Durham on an old railway line through the Derwent Valley.
This route has been chosen because the country has been battered by storms and heavy rain this week and an old railway line, well adapted by the County council, has a relatively firm surface. And from Consett it goes downhill, another advantage.
Easily followed without a map but the walk is covered on OS Explorer 307, Consett and Derwent Reservoir.
A proper gadgie walk too as we are getting to the start by bus which is free for us old men!
Consett was a steel town high up in the county, supplying metal for the heavy industries on Tyneside and Wearside, and Blackpool Tower. The works closed in 1980 and there is very little sign of them left, moreover the town has had to reinvent itself, light industry and crisps.
As this is a bus walk there is no car park to add to my collection but instead, especially for the three who really admire the car parks, here's Eldon Square Bus Station at the top, a Consett car park and Consett Bus Station. Th doors at Consett are automatic and will only open when there is a bus on the stand. This can lead to older gentlemen, ignorant of the fact, waving their arms at a sheet of glass.
Once we had escaped the bus station we headed up the street roughly north west, under Dave's supervision as he knew the way. Having got lost in a cul de sac a lady shouted to us from her doorway and pointed out the correct route. She was obviously familiar with walkers having lost their bearings.
We walked through a park which had some fascinating public art;
"He's got the whole world in his hand" Who remembers that song as a hit for Laurie London in the late 50's? His only major hit. He made other records and appeared as "singer" in a German film "Und Du, mein Schatz, bleibst hier." made about the same time as Elvis sang "Wooden Heart" in his film GI Blues. In case you wondered the German is the original song.
?
Once through the park and past the cemetery we soon found the start of our railway walk;
Starting point for us today.
There are several old railway lines in County Durham which have been converted into walks/cycle tracks/horse trails/dog exercising trails and this is but one of them.
The first place we walked past was Shotley Bridge, which has a hospital and was the birthplace of Paul Collingwood, former cricketer for Durham and England. Shotley Bridge was once a centre for sword makers too!
Probably because the forecast was for heavy rain the trail was quiet, we were sheltered from the wind by the trees on the side of the track. Several dog walkers passed or approached us, much to Dave's delight, a number of cyclists came up behind, one rang a bell, one announced his approach by shouting and some just hurried by.
This used to be Shotley Bridge Station
The Shotley Swordsmiths
Most of the way the walk looks north west over the Derwent Valley. Several old mining villages clearly visible on the hillsides or down by the river. We passed close to Ebchester, once home to a Roman fort, walked close to Hamsterley and generally admired the view.
We stopped for lunch just beyond Lintzford, which once had an ink making factory. Who was ink monitor in their junior school? I was for one term in the last year of junior school, if you were rally lucky you got to mix the ink powder in water and also to pour it into the little white pots in the desks. And get it on your fingers!
Views across the valley. Lunch was a bit on the light side today as there were only three of us: Bliss chocolate coated chewy biscuits, almond slices and flapjacks.
Mile post close to lunch spot.
Moving on we joined the Red Kite trail. Red Kites were reintroduced to the Derwent Valley in 2006.
It was a windy day, the chief ornithologist suggested the birds would be keeping their heads down. Nevertheless we saw two, high up in the distance. We also saw two grey squirrels.
At Rowlands Gill the trail crosses a road and continues on the pavement of another for a short distance before entering the Derwent Walk Country Park. The route back to Winlaton Mill is well marked and we finished our walk at the Red Kite Inn, Winlaton, caught a bus to Newcastle and went to rehydrate at the Mile Castle, a Wetherspoon pub.
One of the company's larger town pubs, all three floors were packed at 4pm on a Friday afternoon. We had to stand for a while before we managed to get a table. On the next table about a dozen young ladies were starting what looked like hen party, they all wore the same T shirt bearing the same slogan. On the table to our other side a group of young men seemed to be starting a stag party.
The pub had a wide range of ales including Abbot, Spitfire, Ruddles and Doom Bar. Great pubs, great prices and the food is well worth the low prices.
Then we went to our respective homes.
Inspite of the forecast for heavy rain and strong winds we did not experience so much as a single drop. (Of rain that is)
Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2020.
And a matrix
steps miles
NAK 24628 10.1
Dave's NAK 1 21646 10.26
"""""""""""""2 21651 10.25
""""""""""""SM 21628 10.24
OUTDOOR GPS 10.4
And just a few more pictures
There are several viaducts on the walk
Statue to British Liberty in Gibside Park.
Reduced in numbers for a variety of reasons, three remaining gadgies, John H., Dave and me, are walking from Consett in County Durham on an old railway line through the Derwent Valley.
This route has been chosen because the country has been battered by storms and heavy rain this week and an old railway line, well adapted by the County council, has a relatively firm surface. And from Consett it goes downhill, another advantage.
Easily followed without a map but the walk is covered on OS Explorer 307, Consett and Derwent Reservoir.
A proper gadgie walk too as we are getting to the start by bus which is free for us old men!
Consett was a steel town high up in the county, supplying metal for the heavy industries on Tyneside and Wearside, and Blackpool Tower. The works closed in 1980 and there is very little sign of them left, moreover the town has had to reinvent itself, light industry and crisps.
Once we had escaped the bus station we headed up the street roughly north west, under Dave's supervision as he knew the way. Having got lost in a cul de sac a lady shouted to us from her doorway and pointed out the correct route. She was obviously familiar with walkers having lost their bearings.
We walked through a park which had some fascinating public art;
Once through the park and past the cemetery we soon found the start of our railway walk;
There are several old railway lines in County Durham which have been converted into walks/cycle tracks/horse trails/dog exercising trails and this is but one of them.
The first place we walked past was Shotley Bridge, which has a hospital and was the birthplace of Paul Collingwood, former cricketer for Durham and England. Shotley Bridge was once a centre for sword makers too!
Probably because the forecast was for heavy rain the trail was quiet, we were sheltered from the wind by the trees on the side of the track. Several dog walkers passed or approached us, much to Dave's delight, a number of cyclists came up behind, one rang a bell, one announced his approach by shouting and some just hurried by.
Most of the way the walk looks north west over the Derwent Valley. Several old mining villages clearly visible on the hillsides or down by the river. We passed close to Ebchester, once home to a Roman fort, walked close to Hamsterley and generally admired the view.
We stopped for lunch just beyond Lintzford, which once had an ink making factory. Who was ink monitor in their junior school? I was for one term in the last year of junior school, if you were rally lucky you got to mix the ink powder in water and also to pour it into the little white pots in the desks. And get it on your fingers!
Moving on we joined the Red Kite trail. Red Kites were reintroduced to the Derwent Valley in 2006.
At Rowlands Gill the trail crosses a road and continues on the pavement of another for a short distance before entering the Derwent Walk Country Park. The route back to Winlaton Mill is well marked and we finished our walk at the Red Kite Inn, Winlaton, caught a bus to Newcastle and went to rehydrate at the Mile Castle, a Wetherspoon pub.
One of the company's larger town pubs, all three floors were packed at 4pm on a Friday afternoon. We had to stand for a while before we managed to get a table. On the next table about a dozen young ladies were starting what looked like hen party, they all wore the same T shirt bearing the same slogan. On the table to our other side a group of young men seemed to be starting a stag party.
The pub had a wide range of ales including Abbot, Spitfire, Ruddles and Doom Bar. Great pubs, great prices and the food is well worth the low prices.
Then we went to our respective homes.
Inspite of the forecast for heavy rain and strong winds we did not experience so much as a single drop. (Of rain that is)
And a matrix
steps miles
NAK 24628 10.1
Dave's NAK 1 21646 10.26
"""""""""""""2 21651 10.25
""""""""""""SM 21628 10.24
OUTDOOR GPS 10.4
And just a few more pictures
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