Way down upon the sWannee  River. (Northumberland) November 10th.

For a midweek outing four of us have chosen a flat walk along the banks of the River Wansbeck and the beach to Newbiggin by the Sea. 

Brian, Margaret, Dave and I met at West Sleekburn in Northumberland. Easy to find, head north on the A189 and turn off at the sign post. We parked at the side of the road very near the mineral line that goes through West Sleekburn to Ashington.

                Not a contender for car park of the year. On a previous occasion we parked next to the signal box below but the railway engineers got there before us. the lady of the house next to the car suggested we park there for the day and also on future occasions. Northern folk are so friendly.

There is no need for a map but the walk is covered by OS Explorer 325 Morpeth and Blyth.

Ready to go we walked, in twos as lockdown rules suggest, east for a short distance and turne left at the second street, heading down towards the river. On the river bank footpath we turned west and joined a number of dog walkers on the footpath.

                              Railway bridge. There are efforts to reopen this line to passenger traffic from Ashington to Newcastle.

                                      River Wansbeck

The footpath is close to the river, we walked under the railway bridge and a road bridge. beyond the road bridge the footpath leaves the riverside and climbs up to a housing estate. Having found our way through the streets we found the stairs down the bank through a small park and on to the road at Sheepwash. 

                          Sheepwash Bridge.  Nothing mysterious about the name, exactly what it says.

Once across the river we also crossed the road and joined the footpath on the north side of the water.

                  Dave and Brian thought they saw a kingfisher here. It had gone by the time I arrived. probably as well, I have a reputation with kingfishers.

From here the footpath simply follows the river, passing a caravan site, the Cambois Rowing Club HQ and the edge of the town of Ashington on its way to the sea.

                                 Life on the Wansbeck.

At the popint where the path goes under the A189 we joined the English Coastal Path. Next to the road bridge is a footbridge which leads to a walk to Cambois.

Beyond the A189 we left the ECP and walked on firm sand round the headland before scrambling up into a caravan park, finding the ECP again and walking north.

                               Wansbeck Estuary

                                  Distant view of Blyth harbour area.

The footpath follows the cliff tops towards Newbiggin crossing a couple of fields and giving a glimpse of a coal seam.

                      Shells and a seam.

Near Spital Point we called a Herbie and sat in a small car park to share Skimpy chocolate bars, Battenburg slices, and savoury flapjack and almond cake from Mrs A.

Lunch over we continued north to the town, walked down onto the promenade in the direction of St. Bartholomew's church at the end of the bay.

                                Newbiggin Bay

                               Newbiggin couple watching out to sea

                                    I never knew that

                               Model of the sea watching couple

                          St Bartholomew's. Possible 13th century origins with 19th century renovations.

At this point my knee was beginning to bother me so I caught a bus back to West Sleekburn. The other three continued north to the power station at Ellington before heading towards Ashington from where they caught a bus too.

My walk was 8.2 miles, the other three walked a noble 13.7

Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2020

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