Northumberlandia

 She's the biggest earthwork in the world, almost.

Just outside Cramlington, beyond the Snowy Owl pub is Northumberlandia. Built from rock and soil when the surrounding land was stripped for coal the earthwork, a large lady, is currently the second largest art work of its kind in the world, apparently. Beaten only by China. There are footpaths to walk round, you can climb to the top of her head and admire the view. And there is a cafe. 

Today the Green walking group is having a walk from the car park at Northumberlandia (Free!).

                               Parking at Northumberlandia

Once parked and booted our party set off through what The Times described as a forest towards the lady. There is a cafe by the forest which is actually a short strip of woodland. Once through the lady lies in all her glory.

She's a big lass and a bonny lass.

 Rather than walk round the lady we turned left and headed down a well made track across what was once an opencast mine, now filled in again and left to settle before being either a park or agricultural land. Turning right we then walked north almost to Shotton before crossing fields to the main east Coast Railway.

There is a crossing point. Visibility down the track is good but the trains are fast. No messing.

It's necessary to follow the railway fence for a while before finding the crossing and then doubling back. 

Once over the railway we were on a road that goes to the local pharmaceutical factory. We followed the road for a short distance, turned left then almost immediately right, soon finding ourselves at the A192 road which goes downhill past Hartford Hall to cross the river Blyth. It's a busy road.

Once over the river we took the path into Plessey Woods Country Park and wandered the paths to the visitor centre.

                   Totem poles, as you would expect

                    Plessey Woods Country Park visitor centre. Cafe, toilets and swings for the children.

The park was busy, quite right too on a Sunday morning. Lots of families, and dogs.

We sat at a bench under a group of chestnut trees and enjoyed a Herbie. No swapping with the Greens.

Lunch over we followed signs for the Meadow Walk and river and took the footpath high above the river. Eventually it headed for the water, went under the viaduct on the main line and we continued towards Stannington.

                       Take this path

                           Main line viaduct over the River Blyth.

At Stannington the path climbs up to the A1, busy dual carriageway but there is a footpath alongside it.

 After a short and noisy walk by the road we followed the sign for Shotton, walked through the farm and at mile 7 rejoined our original route. Soon we were back at  Northumberlandia, some went to the cafe, some the Snowy Owl Pub and some went home.

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The walk is about 8.5 miles, easy going, pretty woodland makes up for the short stretches on the roads.