Five go off on a walk by the Tyne. April 14th
A quintet of gadgies, Brian, Ian, John H., John C and me, are out for a walk from Wylam in the Tyne Valley. Not far from Newcastle to get to Wylam head west on the A69 and turn off south at the road sign.
Drive through the village towards the station and just before the river there is a car park on the left.
The map to use is OS Explorer 316, but it's not essential.
Wylam car park --------------------Free!
Leaving the car park we turned left and headed towards the river. Over the Tyne we turned into the Wylam station car park and at the far end joined the Keelmans* Way.
The Tyne from Wylam Bridge.
The footpath runs along the river bank. It has recently reopened after closure because of a land slip. The path is close to the Newcastle Carlisle Railway line and goes round the edge of Ryton Golf Course. One section is fenced off, for years the area smoked and smelled of sulphur, supposedly from underground mine workings but today not a hint of smoke. After two and a half miles the path is close to Ryton Willows, nature reserve. There are several rowing club headquarters buildings here on both sides of the river and there were several boats out, some with two rowers, some four and at least one with an eight, plus a mini landing craft with coaches shouting orders.
The Tyne boatmen.
After three miles and a bit we came to Newburn Bridge, a single track, light controlled crossing, and we crossed.
Newburn Bridge. (Newburn was the site of one of the early Civil War battles in 1640. The Scots won.)
Once across the river we also crossed the main village street and climbed the steps to the War Memorial. From there we followed a footpath over a small hill, past Newburn Primary School and joined a track through some well defended allotments. The track gave way to paths through Walbottle Dene and we continued gently uphill through the woods which had a healthy looking crop of wild garlic. A walker told us there were deer in the woods but we saw none.
As we almost reached the A69 we crossed a footbridge and headed up a staircase of sorts to a picnic bench at the edge of Throckley. (mile 5) Of course it made a Herbie Spot. We shared Whips, mini malt loaves and savoury and sweet cake that Mrs A had kindly sent.
Lunch over we headed through the estate to the main village road which was probably the main Newcastle to Carlisle road before the A69 was built. Crossing a roundabout we took a footpath between an off licence and a betting shop. The path was generously littered with broken glass and discarded drinks cans. We kept on downhill past The Leazes (mile 6) until we reached the Tyne Riverside Park.
Heading west on a track that became a narrow but flat footpath we eventually came to Station Road. Turning right we walked, slowly in some cases, uphill to Heddon on the Wall.
Station Road, the hill seemed to go on for ever.
The path through Heddon is tricky, turning second left we threaded through an estate until we came to Heddon Banks Farm. From here we followed the road to Close House.
Close House is a grand golf course with a modern looking club house and restaurant. We decided the restaurant would not be too keen on five pairs of muddy boots.
Close House art work and restaurant.
We followed a well marked path through the woods near the restaurant, walked the edge of the golf course and emerged on the Hadrian's Wall Path close to Stephenson's cottage and walked back to the cars,
Stephenson's cottage. ( George Stephenson was a railway pioneer. In their spare time the family built lighthouses)
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The walk is just over 10 miles, easy going apart from that hill.
*Keelmen rowed boats full of coal out to ships in the river.
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