Walking from Werce's settlement.

Walking from Werce's Settlement. November 17th.

Not having been out for a couple of weeks with a knee problem I'm joining the Greens for a short walk on the coast. 

Starting from Warkworth on a cold but bright morning the trip goes up the coast to the River Aln then returns across country. 

The small town of Wark gets its  name from Old English for fort, but Warkworth means Werce's Settlement. The town is dominated by an impressive castle, run by English Heritage and well worth a visit. There is also, on the north bank of the river, a hermitage, accessible by boat from the south side. The church is Norman, dates back to the 12th century and is dedicated to St Lawrence, patron saint of the poor and cooks or poor cooks in my case.

When we have done this walk on previous occasions we have parked at the bottom of the main street, passing the church and using the site by the river. Today, because of work going on there we are using the dunes car park. Drive across the river and turn immediately  right. Plenty of space, toilets and free.

It is quite possible to do the walk without a map but it is covered by OS Explorer 332 Alnwick and Amble

                  The Hermitage at Warkworth

                                      Warkworth castle

                               And finally a car park.

Leaving the car park the eight of us headed down the track towards the dunes but just before reaching them we turned right and followed what is usually a clear track to a point opposite Amble. The track in places was covered with flotsam, brought in presumably by a high tide. And at one point......

................. not a work of art or flytipping. It has been collected by volunteers and will be removed.

At the point where the north jetty starts  we turned north and headed for the beach, leaving behind the view of Amble.

                  Amble, possibly holiday lets

The harbour mouth and Coquet Island. 

The sand was quite firm, easy walking, the beach was popular for dog walkers and the dunes protected us from the west wind. 

To avoid the slippy rocks at Birling Carrs we left the beach at mile 3 and walked through the caravan park, very quiet, hardly anybody there, Once through the park we went back to the beach and walked round the point at the mouth of the River Aln. (Mile 5)

A short steep climb had us next to the cross which marks the spot where a church stood before the flood of 1806 changed the course of the river.

                                        The old rugged cross.

Not far beyond the cross and going down hill we came to the ruined chapel, usually a good lunch spot but there were too many of us so we made use of the remains of a WW2 pill box.

               It looks very old but is a 19th century lying in chapel. Lost its use when the flood changed the course of the river.

After lunch, (no sharing!) we followed the path, part of St. Oswald's Way/ Charles III/ Northumberland Coast path, back through the caravan site to the golf course.

On the way we passed the ruined guano shed.

Guano shed. Built before the storm and well away from the village because of the smell!

The footpath crosses the course and goes under a footbridge. 

                      The bell is to warn golfers that a party of walkers is about to cross the course, except we already had.

beyond the bell the footpath follows the edge of the golf course and back to the lane that leads up to the car park.

On the way home we stopped at the Widdrington Arms which sells TTL!!

             

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

             The walk is almost exactly 8 miles, easy going.