Gadgie Walks

In old familiar places...................(Northumberland) October 8th

That old standby Brough Law today. In part because Paul and Maureen are over from Cumbria and we are meeting up. The other seven gadgies are Brian, Margaret, John C., Harry, Dave, ben and me. A Noctet? ANovtet?

The walk starts at Branton, a hamlet near Ingram. A1, A697 and watch out for signs for Branton, minor road and the car park is on a corner near the bird hide. Not well signposted, keep your eyes open.

Two maps: OS Explorer 332 Alnwick and Amble and OS OL 16 Cheviot Hills.

Today's car park, near Branton. Close to the ponds.

Leaving the car park we took the footpath on the left which goes towards a bird hide, famed for kingfisher photography. However we took the path across the barrier between the two ponds, emerging from the nature reserve near a footbridge over the River Breamish.

Looks gloomy but it was really a sunny day. The ponds are currently home to hundreds of noisy geese.

We did not cross the river, if you like walking on roads do so, but we followed the path on the south side which becomes a track through bracken on the side of East Hill then a footpath again at Ingram Mill and finally we reached the cafe/centre at Ingram.

Although we had not come far it became a breakfast spot, more like an elevenses spot. We sat outside consuming tea or coffee and scones.

Ingram Valley cafe. Once the valley warden's information centre. It has a small display showing the history of the valley, unfortunately that room was closed today but the cheese scones were great.

The cafe is next to St.Michael's church;

St. Michael's at Ingram. 11th C origins

Moving on we walked past the farm at Ingram and almost at the next car park which also has toilets we turned off on a track on the left. No signpost but the track climbs steadily uphill, passing the remains of a piece of woodland, until it reaches the top of Brough Law.

Brough Law. An Iron Age settlement dating from the 4th Century BC and apparently a bit unusual for Northumberland as the palisade was built from rubble which is all you can see now. It is thought that when built the defensive wall was 10 feet high, or seven cubits.

Leaving the large settlement we headed south following one of several grassy tracks across the open moorland. There are a number of ancient settlements in the area which we didn't stop to admire but walked on over Cochrane Pike where we turned north east then south again to join a farm track.

Leaving the track we crossed a field and chose to sit on a grassy bank for the day's Herbie.

Herbie time. Fortunately some declined the usual offerings which was a good job. I only had six apple pies. We also ate French fancies, ginger biscuits, savoury flapjacks and chocolate and beetroot cake.

After an extended lunch break we headed north east on a footpath on the side of Old Fawdon Hill. Normally we go over the top but not today. We were close to another mold settlement.

Another old settlement, and sheep.

Passing between two more forts on Castle Knowe and Gibb's Hill we reached the house at the delightfully named Clinch.

We were met by these fine fellows.Not long now lads

A field later we joined a farm track round Dun's Knowe to Branton Buildings and then back to the village and car park. Several of us visited the bird hide but there were no kingfishers, just geese.