Gadgie Walks

Coast and country again..... and why not?

(Northumberland) November 13th.

Today's walk is from Lesbury, close to the coast and not far from Newcastle. Take the A189 north, continue when it changes to the A1068 and at the ugly bridge across the River Aln turn right. There are five of us out : Brian, Margaret, Dave, John H. and me.

The walk is covered by OS Explorer 332 Alnwick and Amble.

There is some limited parking off the village street directly opposite the church:

St Mary's Lesbury. Mostly 13th century Norman with Saxon bits possibly.

Car parking near the church, not as picturesque as some but free.

Within yards of the car park, on the same side of the road, is a finger post pointing to the Alnmouth Road. This is the start of the walk. When we did the walk in summer we followed the footpath close to the river but at this time of year we thought it may be very muddy and we also wanted a slightly shorter walk, (well I did) so we took the more direct path across fields and up to a road. It did involve climbing a fence as we couldn't see a stile. We went straight across the road and down the drive to Alnmouth Golf Club at Foxton Hall. Nobody playing, the game is temporarily banned because of the pandemic even though it's outside and not exactly a crowded sport. sadly the clubhouse coffee shop was also closed.

Wol of the golf club

Empty greens and fairways.

beyond the club house we went down a short flight of steps to join the English Coast Path/St. Oswald's way. Initially we walked on the beach, mostly on pebbles as the tide was high. Near Seaton House we left the beach and walked the footpath close to the sea towards Boulmer.

Yet another attractive Northumberland Bay

The footpath goes through a hamlet of holiday chalets, wooden huts, caravans and what we thought might be David Cameron's winter hideaway.

The footpath sticks close to the sea giving the birders among us the opportunity to observe flocks of gulls on the water, waders on the beach and rocks and curlews in the fields. Plus mechanical sanderlings.

Boulmer is a tiny place, a few houses, boats and a pub which is closed of course.

Boats at Boulmer

Beyond the houses there is a good track which goes to Howdiement Sands or you can chose, as we did , the grassy footpath between the track and the sea. Much nicer to walk on.

At Howdiement Sands we called a Herbie, hunkering down beneath the dunes to shelter from the strengthening wind.

Handiement sands

View from the Herbie. Club biscuits, almond slices, mini apple pies and, from MrsA savoury flapjacks and iced cake. We are spoiled, but we walk it off.

The last time we came here, late July or early August the place was packed because Britons were limited to "staycations". Many people from the south discovered Northumberland for the first time. Shame really, don't need them!

Lunch over we walked up the road to the village of Longhoughton. Opposite the bus stop near the village hall which used to be the NAAFI when the helicopter station was more active, is a finger post which probably says public footpath. The footpath crosses several fields, goes under the railway, climbing gently until it reaches Longhoughton Quarry (Disused) which looks like the set for an apocalypse film.

Quarry and scrap at a builder's yard.

We walked through the yard to the road and turned left. After a few hundred yards we turned right onto the driveway to Ratcheugh Farms.

Follow the farm sign

This is a conservation area. Not sure but there are hints of pheasant rearing. This is a vermin trap to catch weasels and anything else that might take a young pheasant.

Marked on the map as Observatory

There are point to point races held here. The hurdles stored out of the way for now, presumably

Bug Hotel?

The road through the farm seems to go on for ever. At one point it turns off to the right. At this point we took the path down the left side of the hedge, crossed several fields and came to a track alongside the railway.