Two of us wearing raincoats

 Two of us wearing windproofs and waterproofs. December 29th

MUD WARNING

Reduced in numbers again, it is Christmas, John L and I are braving the elements for a gentle walk from Bolam Lake. The small lake is west of Morpeth, the maps for the walk is OS explorer 325 Morpeth and Blyth and OL OS 42 Kielder Water and Forest.

The UK has been hit by storm Gerrit very recently, heavy rain and strong winds spoiled the post Christmas days, particularly in Scotland. We expect a muddy walk.

We parked by St Andrew's  Church in the tiny village. It's free. No other cars today and it was quite sunny, but cold. To start with!

Lovely little church of St Andrew, Bolam. The tower is Saxon, the nave is Norman, the small window is where a WW2 bomb pierced the wall but failed to explode. Some 60 years later the pilot returned and apologised.

                               Parking by the church

We walked back down the lane turned right and headed downhill for the walkers  entrance to the Visitor Centre and car park at Bolam Lake.

                 The car park at Bolam Lake Visitor centre. First hour free, two hours £2 all day £4. A bargain compared to some in Northumberland.

My daughter has had a calendar made up from the best car park shots of the year, sample below.

It made a great Christmas present, copies not available even in good book shops.

There are several footpaths in the country park, we followed the one round the east and south of the lake.

               Bolam Lake on a cold December day.

Leaving the lake at the next little car park, near Bolam Low House, we went through the White Gate and walked straight across a field to Shortflatt Tower Farm. The footpath here is clearly marked, not through the farm but over a footbridge  before crossing a field to a good farm track. The track curves past Sandyford Farm.

Sandyford Farm, sheep and symmetry.

At mile 3 on the map a footpath heads north across fields to East Shaftoe Hall. The Devil's Causeway, an old Roman Road, crosses the land but its line is difficult to spot, ploughed  over centuries ago.

                    The walled garden at East Shaftoe Hall

                 and a gloomy picture of the farm.

At this point it started to rain adding a little misery to the strong wind. We followed the farm track close to the Iron Age fort before turning north to Shaftoe Crags where we took shelter and called a Herbie.

Lunch spot at Shaftoe Crags. Skinny whips and Christmas cake eaten out of the rain but in the cold

Taking on the bad weather, hoods up and fastened, we continued battling the elements before turnin east to walk through Salters' Nick.

The crags were cut through to assist carters on their way. Never spotted them but there are pick marks on the right and the cut is wide enough for a wagon. It would need good springs!

From the Nick we crossed muddy fields, churned up by hooves until we reached the firm farm track and walked in relative comfort to Bolam West Houses. Turning right we walked down the road to the first small car park on the lake and took the footpath to the left following the north side of the water back to the Visitor Centre. We considered a cup of tea but were so wet and muddy we decided to head back to the car and home.

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A good walk, even in poor weather. About 8 fairly flat miles.

A view from the terraces

 A view from the terraces  December 15th.

MUD WARNING

Stiil looking for firm tracks after the rain and snow six of us are out on a familiar walk from Rothbury. Brian, Margaret, Harry, Ian, John C and I are off to traverse the terraces above the town. Devised as carriage drives by Lord Armstrong they cross moorland and with a couple of forestry tracks make a mostly easy walk, hopefully.

Rothbury is reached by following the A1 north, taking the A697, turning left at Longframlington. In the town turn left down Bridge Street, cross the river, turn right and make use of the large and free car park.

Rothbury is on the edge of maps. The walk is covered by OS OL 42 Kielder Water                                     &  OS Explorer 332 Alnwick and Amble. Advisable.

                       Rothbury riverside car park. Not a winner.

Booted and windproofed we crossed the footbridge and headed to the Newcastle Hotel for breakfast, passing All Saints church on the way.

Al Saints, Saxon origins and Victorian rebuilding, with lots of additions inbetween.

 Once breakfast was finished we set off  up to the town centre, turned left  up Brewery Lane and passed the terrace of flats built by Lord Armstrong for his rtetired estate workers.

Addycombe Terrace flats 19th century

Taking a footpath on the left we crossed a field to a higher road, turned right and after a short distance took the footpath across fields to a forest track. (Mile 1). Turning left we followed the meandering track through Addycombe for a mile Before turning off (Mile 2) and taking a footpath across open land. More like a  muddy trench than a footpath, narrow and stony, crossing a footbridge and eventually reaching a forest track. Turning right this track took us to another, we turned left and at Mile 3 went through a gate on to open moorland.

                 Rothbury from the terraces.

The track took us on an almost semi-circular route until at Mile 4 we reached  Blue Mill

                  They are waiting for the old ones to catch up.

After a half mile of gentle uphill walking we took the footpath on the right, crossed a stone stile and were back on open land on a fair track.

                             A proper stile

On previous occasions we have stopped along this track for a Herbie but it was cold and windy so at Mile 5 we went through the gate and walked downhill to Physic Lane.

                      This way for Physic Lane

                      Thropton from Physic Lane.

Close to the Cross Keys pub we made good use of a bus shelter for a Herbie: Mince pies, lemon cake and savoury bun from Mrs A.

Crossing the stream we walked through the coach park and took the footpath round to a footbridge over the River Coquet.

Crossing the Coquet.

We expected the fields to be a marsh after the recent rains but they were merely damp and we followed the river bank to a footbridge just before mile 8. 

                              One more footbridge.

Once across and having taken the field path and scambled up a short but muddy bank we were on the Rothbury riverside footpath which took us back to the car park.

Rehydration at the Ridley Arms in Stannington. Anarchy Blonde, very drinkable.

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The walk is about 9 miles, easy going with a couple of short climbs.

The wilds of Wylam

Back to the Tyne. December 8th

THe few centimetres of snow and ice that fell at the weekend have been washed away by nearly a whole day's  rain on Thursday. As a result, discretion being the better part of valour as the old saying goes, we have opted for a walk with some hard tracks.

The walk starts from Wylam: west on the A69 and turn south at the Wylam sign. Through the village towards the station, just before the bridge over the Tyne there is a free car park on the left.

There are five out today: Brian,  Margaret,  Harry,  John the Wylam jazz man and me. The walk is covered by OS Explorer 316, Newcastle upon Tyne but it's  not essential. Or is it.

Morning coffee in the Coffee Tree cafe, Wylam. Filled by a group of Yoga ladies who were having a morning celebration for the birthday of one of their number. 

             Wylam free car park, not a winner, but plenty of spaces.

Leaving the car park we turned left and walked across the bridge crossing the Tyne.

            Wylam can quite rightly claim to be the birth of the railways. George Stephenson was born here and started his engineering career in the local pit.

After the recent snow and heavy rain the Tyne looks troubled. Fortunately there is a bridge over it.

Immediately over the bridge we turned into the station car park and set off on the Keelman's Way, a walk along the riverside on a firm  track, mud free too. Passing the Ryton Golf Course, with care even though there were few players on the sodden course, we reached the Ferry House after two and a half miles. Carrying on past a nature reserve and the headquarters of a rowing club we reached the Newburn Bridge.

              The Ferry House. Once there were several crossing points in the area. All gone.

Welcome to the rowing club. Nobody out today although the water here was calm.

The battle of Newburn in 1640, one of the opening matches of the Civil War took place here in August 1640. Score; Scotland 1 England 0. England won a later rematch.

We crossed the river on the narrow Newburn Bridge walked up to main street and climbed the steps to the War Memorial.

                                     Newburn War Memorial

A footpath, rather muddy, climbed uphill and then down towards Newburn School. Beyond the school we turned up a track, passing a very large sign advising us to "BEWARE OF THE DOGS". The footpath followed the stream in Throckley Dene, one of the few in the area without a sign of old industries. Even on a cold day, walking a muddy path it was a peaceful stretch of woodland. There are some deer in it, but they remained hidden.

After crossing a road (built on the Vallum), we were in a field and turning left climbed steps built into the hillside to a picnic table at the top. Well there was a table here the last time we did this walk but it has gone. No Herbie.

At this point we headed downhill towards the river but for some reason Harry and I got separated from the others but managed to find a route that took us to  Tyne Riverside Country Park. Heading west along a dry track we set out for Heddon Hall. However at one point my phone rang. It was Margaret, enquiring as to our whereabouts. Surprisingly we were several hundred yards apart, they were Herbieing at a picnic spot directly opposite the Ferry House, so we joined them.

 The Ferry House from our Herbie spot. Cookies, mince pies and almond cake and savoury bun from Mrs A. One of my regular readers, a lady who lives in Canada, was recently on holiday in the UK. She told me she had looked in vain for a chain of cake shops called Mrs A. I had to explain that Mrs A is actually Margaret.

Lunch over we followed the Hadrian Wall footpath back to Wylam. There's a choice: A good hard track on a dismantled railway line, also used by bell less bikers who can't shout a warning either or a muddy footpath close to the river which eventually joins the hard track and passes Stephenson@s cottage.

Stephenson's cottage, his birthplace. Closed to visitors at the moment.

Having changed from muddy boots we went to the Fox and Hounds. Timothy Taylor's Landlord, Guinness or tea.

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The map need some explanation. The numbered route was the original plan. The black line the route we followed. We made a change to cut out a steep hill from mile 7 to Heddon. 

The walk is about 10 miles, easy going but take care in housing estates.