A walk on a summer's day.

A walk on a summer's day. July 28th.

For years we have breakfasted at Brockbushes Farm Shop and cafe on the Corbridge roundabout on the A69.

It has been demolished and rebuilt. We missed the grand opening on Saturday but have come along on Sunday morning to fuel up with bacon before a walk on what we are told is going to be a hot day. Five out today, me, Brian  Margaret,  John H. and Janice.

 Much larger, the farm shop has the look of an upmarket branch of Waitrose, the cafe area is inside a high building. The service is a little slow, teething troubles I expect.

Today's  walk starts from the Tyne Green Park in Hexham? Plenty of space, next to the river, and free. 

The walk is covered by OS OL 43 Hadrian's Wall

                       Parking at Tyne Green

Leaving the car park we walked towards the town, up the short steep hill to the square.

                  Hexham Abbey. The first Saxon church was built in 674 AD. Burned to the ground by Danish raiders the Abbey was rebuilt in the 12th century. 

We walked down the narrow shopping street to the main road, crossed over and headed up the hill next to the Victorian Tap pub. Climbing steadily we took the right fork, pointing to Juniper and after a few hundred nyards went through the gate on the left for Dipton Mill.

                             This way

The footpath crosses fields, clinbing steadily to a road, crosses it and then descends steadily to an overgrown path through a wood, eventually emerging at the Dipton Burn. More fields and a short stretch of road brought us to Newbiggin and after another short stretch of road on the Pennine Journey we went through the farm at Newbiggin Hall and walked through a wheat field. Finding some shade under a row of trees we called a Herbie (mile 4): Titans, cookies and , of course, sweet and savoury from Mrs A.

Turning north and crossing more fields we passsed Dotland Park and then, on a muddy farm track we made our way to the pub at Dipton Mill, It was a very hot day, cold drinks would have been welcome but, sadly, the pub had just closed for the day. 

After a short walk on the road we turned into Dipton Woods. Probably the muddiest woods in England, even in a dry summer, but eventually we reached the end, close to the Hexham Racecourse.

             Hexham Racecourse. Next meeting in October.

From here the road went downhill but as we approached the houses on the outskirts of Hexham we turned right at a finger post, walked through less muddy woods to the road leading back to Hexham and the car park.

On the way home we stopped in Wylam at the Fox and Hounds, Timothy Taylor's, tea and cold water.

Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2024.

The walk is just over 10 miles, some climbing, some mud, some views.

                              The new Brockbushes