We're going to Gilsland. (Northumberland) 

June 18th.

A much reduced gadgie team of three, due to holidays, Dave, John Ha. and I are off to  follow a walk not covered for several years. 

The forecast is for a warm, dry day and so it proved top be. The walk starts near Gilsland which is found by driving west on the A69, turning right for Greenhead and then left, sharp right and down a road to a small but perfectly formed National Park car park on the right near a short terrace of houses..

The walk is covered by OS OL 43 Hadrian's Wall and is recommended although part of the route is well marked.

                            Rural car park for about a half dozen cars.

The walk: We went a short distance down the road and followed the sign post for Thirwall Castle. The path crosses the Carlisle - Newcastle Railway line and a path took us to the ruin.

                  A fine ruin, Thirwall Castle. Probably recycled Roman Wall which is nearby.

Having admired the ruin we walked alongside the railway to Longbyre where we took a footpath  that followed the Pow Charney Burn across a boggy field to the farm at Barron House. The path goes through the farmyard, there was a collection of sheepdogs which chorused our way through.

Slightly nervy collie.

From the farm we walked a track for a short distance before taking a footpath on the left across fields to an isolated house that made it clear it was not on the path.

                                   Not this way.

We walked a short way down the road and then entered the woods on the right. It is only fair to say that we wandered on good trails through the woods, across at least one footbridge until we emerged at the Gilsland Spa Hotel. It is equally fair to add that the woods, with splendid English sun shining through the trees casting shadows and lighting up the flowers were a delight.

Gilsland Spa Hotel which appears empty at the moment. Starting life in the 18th century it has been hotel (visited by Sir Walter Scott and Robbie Burns), convalescent home for the Co-op movement and hotel again, currently being refurbished.

We followed a footpath at the back of the hotel. Initially across a field and then through woodland where the path was a bit muddy but easily passable.

Eventually we reached a road and walked alongside the RAF bombing range to a small car park on the right. From here we took the footpath down to Crammel Linn.

                       You have been warned. We could see in the distance the remains of a jet on the ground. A pretend MIG?

The Linn is a waterfall and there were already a few people bathing in it, sunbathing around it or leaping from a low cliff into it. Interestingly the gates to the area were well and truly locked, we climbed the wooden one, some young men vaulted the metal one which had wire mesh to stop people putting feet on bars.. A polite notice from the RAF pointed out that it gave permission to enter the Linn, but behave.

We stopped for a Herbie.

                   Crammel Linn from our Herbie Spot; (Apple pies, almond slices and peanut and chocolate bars.)

For the return journey we followed a footpath parallel to the stream (River Irthing) through woodland until we re-joined the path we had taken from the hotel on our way to the Linn. The path is well marked with black and yellow arrows. Easy to follow.

Back at the hotel we walked down the road and just beyond the church of St. Mary Magdalene took the footpath on the left downhill across fields to the stepping stones and then on a footpath to the village of Gilsland.

                     St Mary Magdalene, Anglican parish church for Gilsland, built 1852

                      Substantial stepping stones across the Irthing.

In the village we turned left and walked along the road, under the railway bridge before joining the Hadrian's Wall path. The path runs alongside an impressive Roman ditch, crosses fields and soon had us back at the car park.

Roman ditch, dug by hand!

Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2021

The walk is about 10.5 miles, fairly easy going with a few short climbs