Gadgie Walks: Back to Scot's Gap

A walk from Scot's Gap (Northumberland) June 10th (A tale of two weddings)

Another fairly local and flat walk. It helps the knees. Three of us only because several of the regular team are walking the West Highland Way from Milgavie to Fort William. (Harry, John L. and I are out today)

Scot's Gap is a small village west of Morpeth. Its name is connected to the ancient rivalries between the totally innocent English and the kilted marauders from the borderlands who failed miserably to rustle the local flocks one night. The animals were corralled in a fold, defended by a dyke with a narrow entrance or Gap!

Just beyond the village there is parking at the National Trust offices, free too.

A map is advisable: OS OL 42, Kielder Water and Forest

Today's car park behind the old National Trust Office in Scot's Gap. Shame about the skip. (This is not a reference to John's car)

At the back of the car park there is a posted but overgrown footpath that leads to the dismantled railway line, the beginning of our walk. We followed the old railway line north across open fields, following a small flock of sheep which were carefully shepherding their lambs.

Old railway lines are easy walking.

After about a mile and a half we left the line, taking the steps on the left, crossing a field and entering the Delf Plantation, the footpath following the stream until it emerges near Toot Hill. (Mile 2) We crossed a field, taking a slight diversion to admire yet another of the region's Lime Kilns:

A fine line of trees

Sheep sheltering from the sun in the old Lime Kiln.

We took a footpath heading north for a short distance, turned left and passed the point on the map labelled Pump House. It looked like a large metal water tank. Following the track we crossed more fields, a ford and Low Fairnley before reaching the farm at Fairnley. The path goes round the buildings.

The goats of Fairnley

Beyond the farm (mile 4) we joined St. Oswald's Way.

The footpath here goes alongside Catcherside North Plantation which had suffered greatly in the winter storms, nearly every tree on the edge of the wood having been uprooted. And the field was very boggy too. Finding the point where St. Oswald changes direction (mile 5)we headed south on a good farm track alongside Catcherside Plantation until we reached the farm of the same name. We decided, as the wind had got up, that a wall in the yard would offer some protection as we enjoyed a Herbie. meanwhile chatting to the people at he farm who were preparing for a wedding to be held in a field, and a couple on a long distance walk who were looking for the route to Knowesgate.

We continued following the saint for a short while. There seemed to have been a considerable mount of fencing going on, the path was hard to follow but eventually we said farewell to Oswald, struggled in vain to get through a small plantation which was littered with fallen trees (mile 6) but eventually made it to the farm at East White Hill. (mile 7)

Just beyond the farm we turned left on the road and after about half a mile took the footpath on the right which joined a track taking us to the farm at Fawns which has Manorial Earthworks too.

Fawns

Walking across the fields in a south east direction we came to Broom House, (mile 9)the footpath goes through the garden! We turned north east, joined a track, walked the edge of a field of wheat rather than tramp directly across it on the actual footpath and were soon in the village of Cambo.

Row of cottages and gardens in Cambo

Holy Trinity Church, Cambo

Once the village school, then the village hall, thanks to the generosity of the Trevelyan family. Capability Brown, famed for his landscaping skills attended school here. A lady came out of the hall, she admitted she knew little of its history, she was preparing the place for a wedding.

An almost hidden signpost sent us across fields. Eventually we joined the road and walked back to the cars. Then home, unusually perhaps.