An urban stroll on the Wansbeck (Northumberland) Dec 12th.

 I have been invited to join the Gosforth Greens for a short Christmas walk followed by a pub lunch. Can't turn down an offer like that. 

The walk starts in Morpeth, A1 North and turn off. Cross the bridge, turn left and turn left by the tower, there is a large car park, T and C may apply. No map the walk is well posted but should you want one it is OS Explorer 325 Morpeth and Blyth. There are about twenty of us, a bit of a school crocodile.

                                Car park shot. Busy for a Sunday but some shops and stall are open.

 From the car park we headed for the river and turning right walked along the bank, admiring the ducks and geese and the families feeding them

                        I'm a swan, not an ugly duckling

And I'm an out of focus duck (Gooseander?)

At the first bridge e crossed the River Wansbeck and carried on on the south bank to the second bridge. Crossing the river again we  turned left and walked carefully and in single file along the road to the next bridge where we crossed again.

Turning right we walked a short bit of road before taking atrack on the left which took us past the ruins of Newminster Abbey, through an estate and back to the road. Leaving it again we crossed a field, negotiated a double stile  and headed for High Common House on Morpeth Common.

One by one through a kissing gate.

 The first stile is just about visible  behind the second. Not much room between but some barbed wire to add to the fun.

From this point we headed in a straight line in a North East direction across the common, accompanied by several dogs and their owners.

                     One lady had provided several types of cake so we had a mini Herbie.

Cake break over we continued on our way to the graveyard by the church of St Mary the Virgin. There were a number of trees that Arwen had blown over two weeks ago but of greater interest was the grave of Emily Davison:

                 The Davison family plot. Emily was the young lady and suffragette who ran onto the race course and was killed by the King's Horse.

Leaving the churchyard we walked down the road to a roundabout, turned right, crossed the road and headed for Morpeth railway Station, currently undergoing refurbishment. We walked parallel to the railway line for a while to a level crossing where we turned left over the tracks and walked down a road which claimed to be open for cyclists only. 

Passing some allotments we all paused to admire the roadside decorations;

At the bottom of the hill we turned sharp left and followed the footpath on the riverside back to the car park, crossing over by means of the handy footbridge.

To finish the day we went to the Tap and Spile pub on Manchester Road to enjoy a buffet lunch of;

chicken curry, quiche, ham. chips, salad, sausages and a cheese board with plenty of biscuits and a good selection of cheese too.

And there was Timothy Taylor's Landlord Ale on Draught too. Great day out.

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

This pleasant stroll is under 6 miles.