Railways and a battle

Railways and a battle.January 30th

It seems to have been raining for the last two weeks. No flooding in the North East but the ground is so wet we cancelled our proposed walk across country from Scots Gap and opted for a day out on relatively firm tracks from Wylam.

Wylam can claim to be the birthplace of railways. George Stephenson, William Hedley from nearby Newburn built Puffing Billy in 1813, two years before George Stepenson produced Blucher (which should have an umlaut on the u). But George went on to greater things, including the Liverpool to Manchester line. They were both financed by the Blackett family.

Wylam is west of Newcastle, follow the A69, turn off at the signpost for the village and head down towards the station. There is a car park on the left as you approach the River Tyne, and it's  free.

The map is covered by OS explorer 316 Newcastle upon Tyne

The Coffee Tree on the main street welcomes walkers and several yummy mummies this morning too.

Car park down by the river on the north bank. Free!

The car park is next to the dismantled railway line which used to join the Newcastle to Carlisle track a few miles to the west so we set off east on a good solid base towards George Stephenson's Cottage. Tyhe track is on the Tyne and Wear Heritage Way.

This is where George sat and watched his mum's kettle boil. (That was James Watt really)

NBot far from the cottage, which is occasionally open to the public, we went through a gate into Close House Golf Course. Not many golfers out today in the rain. The path goes close to the Close House Club House before heading up a road  to the edge of Heddon on the Wall.

                                             Nice bench in Close House.

At Heddon Banks farm we walked through a small estate before heading downhill on Station Road. There may well have been a station at the bottom once but it has gone. At Heddon Haugh we rejoined the Tyne and Wear Heritage Way/ Hadrian's Wall Path and walked east to the Tyne Riverside Country Park. There is a cafe there and the Keelman's Pub but as the rain was easing off we bravely continued towards Newburn Bridge Just before reaching the bridge there is a memorial to The Battle of Newburn Ford.

August 28th 1640, during the Second Bishops' War. Outnumbering  the English four to one the victory went to the Scots who then continued to Newcastle, laid siege to the town and left cannon ball marks still seen on St. Andrew's Church.

We crossed the Tyne at Newburn, turned west on the riverside path and found a couple of benches for a Herbie. For what seemed like the first time for several days the rain stopped as we shared apple pies, cookies and sweet and savoury from Mrs A.

                                                                   Newburn Bridge.

The path on the south side of the Tyne is "The Keelmen's Way, named for the men who ferried coal in Keel boats down to larger ships. It goes round the edge of Ryton Golf Course and reaches Wylam after three miles at the railway station. Back across the river, back to the car park and off to the Fox and Hounds for TTL or zero alcohol Guinness for the drivers. And it had started to rain again.

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Start and finish at the red dot. Herbie by the river, south bank just after 5 miles.

The walk is a bit under 9 miles.Easy going with one climb out of Close House.