A walk in the woods. April 26th
Four of us, Brian, Margaret, John H and I are off for a walk from Hexham.
West on the A69, turn left for Hexham, cross the River Tyne and turn right (sign post for Auction Mart) and park on the Tyne Green Country Park for free. It even has toilets.
Tyne Green Country Park. Next to the river, watch the canoes.
The recommended map is OS OL 43 Hadrian's Wall.
Leaving the car park we turned right, crossed the railway bridge, went through the large car park by Waitrose, up the path to the small square with a few market stalls and a view of Hexham Abbey.
Hexham Abbey. The first church on the site was built about 670 AD. Sacked by the Danes in 876 it was rebuilt starting in the 12th century with changes and additions up to the 15th.
Opposite the Abbey is the Moot Hall, 14th C
We walked down a narrow street of shops, turned right onto the main street and then turned left up Eastgate. The first climb of the day. Keeping left at the first fork we continued on the road until we spotted the signpost on the right for Duke's House.
Identified by this marker. Daft as a Brush is a cancer charity. The company has produced a book of trails on the North and South of the Tyne.
Now in Halfmile Wood we followed mud free footpaths between the trees until we reached a track.and turned left. (mile 2 approx). This track took us past Duke's House.
Duke's House visible over the wall.Built in 1873 for the Backhouse family, Quaker bankers. Extended in 1920 and now three homes. The house was allegedly built on the site of a cottage where the Duke of Somerset was captured in 1464 after the Battle of Hexham in the Wars of the Roses. He was executed in Hexham.
We continued past the house and after a short time turned south in Park Wood. There are several paths in the wood, navigation is important. Turning west again (mile 3) we followed more woodland trails through Dukeshouse Wood until we came to a minor road. Turning left and going downhill to a signpost that sent us across fields, through more wood until we stopped for a Herbie near Newbiggin. (apple pies, cookies, savoury and sweet cake from Mrs A)
A woodland view, miles of it too, very enjoyable.
We had now joined a long distance footpath, "A Pennine Journey", not to be confused with the famous Pennine Way. The path meanders, crossing streams and climbing steadily to Hole House. From this point the trail goes almost directly north uphill, crosses a road and then goes downhill back into Hexham and the car park.
On the way home we called at the Fox and Hounds in Wylam. Sadly the TTL was off but the alcohol free Guiness was OK.
The walk is about 9 miles, several climbs, mostly woodland and fields. Well worth doing.
No comments:
Post a Comment