Gadgie Walks: Eight go searching for St. Cuthbert. (Again)

Eight go searching for St. Cuthbert again.

(Northumberland) January 24th.

I couldn't join the boys (and girl) last Friday for the walk from Warkworth as I had had a rather painful injection in my arthritic knee and had been told to lay off any form of exercise for a few days. But I am back today with a team of eight following a familiar path from Belford in Northumberland.

We are: me, Dave, Harry, Brian, Margaret, Ian, John H and John L.

The walk starts from the village of Belford which is easy to find. Head north on the A1 and turn left for Belford somewhere north of Alnwick. There is a group of grain silos on the right, look out for them.

A map is not essential but the walk is covered by OS Explorer 340, Holy Island and Bamburgh. Breakfast at Sunny Hills farm shop at the start of the village.

Breakfast over we went up the main street, turned left on the Wooler road and parked in front of the old community hall. Off road and free.

No prize for a car park but convenient for the walk. A bench for booting up too.

We followed the lane on the left side of the hall, passing the crenelated farm house at Westhall and going through the farm yard itself. The path crosses fields below Chapel Crags and Sunnyside Crag, passing Craggyhall and a lime kiln too.

Crenelated farm house................

..................... rucksack and limekiln. Could be a good name for a pub.

Beyond the fields the path enters Square Wood which isn't. At the first junction we took the track to the left and soon came to Swinhoe Farm (mile 2).. At the farm there is a cross roads, we turned right and walked on to Swinhoe Lakes.

Swinhoe Lake, very quiet today.

Beyond the lake, the track climbs slowly up through the interestingly named Virgin Hill Wood. However our way was blocked by several trees that had fallen across the path and we had to go into the adjacent field to get round them. (Scrambling over days are gone)

Just some of the many trees blown over by storm Arwen some weeks ago.

Back on track we crossed a field to what I think the French call a Carrefour or supermarket, where four trails meet. There is a great view from here over the north sea and Holy Island. (Mile 3 plus)

The causeway to Holy Island

and a bad picture of the castle there

We took the track heading north west, passing the new anglers refuge on a small lake.

Anglers rest, nobody around today.

The track goes through woodland towards Raven's Crag before turning south (mile 5) round Copsey Hill.

The path off the track is not marked but is on the left at a point overlooking Holborn Farm.

Turn left at this point for the footpath over Greensheen Hill'

From here we followed the footpath round the south side of Holborn Lake and along the ridge of Greensheen Hill.

Holborn Lake, quiet too

Trig point and hazy Cheviot.(mile6)

The footpath crosses a wall and then joins St. Cuthbert's Way to head steeply down to the saint's very own cave. People are currently requested not to enter as some damage has been done but we declared a Herbie and settle down for lunch.

Some of the team lunching: biscuits, apple and blackberry pies,flapjacks, savoury and sweet from Mrs A and almond slices from Mr Kipling.

St. Cuthbert's cave. As a reminder the saint was a monk and a bishop, living from 634 to 687 AD, spending some time on Holy Island and befriending otters.. On his death his corpse was carried around before he was finally settled in what became Durham Cathedral where he remains. According to on line Brittanica the cathedral was destroyed during Henry VIII's reformation. I can assure you that the magnificent Norman Gothic pile was intact and in working order a few weeks ago when I passed it.

Lunch over we joined the track at the foot of the hill and headed south east, passing the rocks at Cockenheugh, more impressive than St. C's but not as well known. (mile 7)

Cockenheugh

Beyond the outcrop we followed the track which has recently been improved for forestry work until we were back at Swinhoe Farm.

The cows of Swinhoe Farm.

At the farm we took the path trough the yard, past the riding school and onto the Northumberland Coast Path/ St. Cuthbert's Way. Crossing fields on an almost straight path heading south east we were soon back at the cars. Changed we headed for the Ridley Arms at Stannington which was serving Consett Pale Ale and Farne Island, along with tea or coffee.