The last walk of 2022. (Northumberland)

December 30th.

Several gadgies are away for the holidays , one complains he can't get home because of rail strikes, so there is a quartet heading out in the rain for another familiar walk from Belsay. Easy to find, drive through Ponteland and turn left just as you reach the village to park opposite the Blacksmiths Cafe and cake shop.

The fab four are Harry, John L, John H. and me.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, the cafe was closed for the holidays so once booted up and having donned overtrousers because of the promised rain, we set off.

We left the cars infront of the cafe as it was closed. If open, leave your vehicle opposite.

We took the farm track heading south, passing the Belsay Woodland Burial site and having  a distant view of Belsay Hall.

                 A distant view of Belsay Hall. Well worth a visit, there is the hall, the castle and a beautiful garden. National Trust I think.

We followed the track to East Beechfield Farm. Close by is West Bitchfield Farm. Is this a misprint on the map?

              East Beechfield.

Having walked through the farm yard and gone through a gate we took the posted path across fields, passing the outline of an ancient village. Had Dave been with us he would have explained it all but it was left to John.

At one point we had to struggle over a very dilapidated stile:

Looks better in the picture than it really is. Quite a struggle for us. It needs repairing.

Carrying on we reached West Newham Farm, turned right on the farm track and followed the road to Huntlaw. (There is a short cut as shown on the map, which is one I've used before. It crosses the field but they were very muddy)

            Huntlaw and a heron. (Not really)

Once past Huntlaw we crossed fields to West Grange and carried on to Milbourne. We called a Herbie outside the Methodist Chapel and shared Kit Kats (honeycomb variety), Snickers and Christmas Cake.

                 Lunching at Milbourne.

Directly opposite the chapel a finger post pointed us through a short stretch of muddy woodland alongside Cag Burn, across fields to a small pond which is marked on more recent OS maps.

The small pond is beyond the trees, close to Cadgers Burn.

Continuing north across fields, and now in the rain, we reached East Newham, turned left and headed for Middle Newham, having now visited all three Newham farms. A Middle Newham we followed the signpost across fields, passing another medieval village in outline until we were back at East Beechfield and the cafe.

It was very early in the afternoon, there were three drivers so we went home!

Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2022.

The walk is 8 miles, easy going but muddy this time of year.

Happy New Year to all.