Lower Tarras Valley and the end of a Coal Story

Today's Wednesday Walk was 3 of us for the first time in a while as Niall was able to join Tom and myself. We headed to The Laverock Bird Hide on the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve and parked the car there for a 4 mile walk down the road to the Tarras Distillery and then along the Tarras River up to Rachiel Bridge and then back up the road to the Bird Hide. It had been a wet morning and the ground was very wet and boggy in places. This is one of the many Hawthorn bushes we encountered on the walk and they are looking at their best now with loads of blossom. 

An avenue of Hawthorn

The first of 2 wooden bridges we had to negotiate and this one is not in very great condition so it was one person at a time.

The suspension bridge further up the Tarras and this one is in excellent condition but tends to swing a bit if there is more than 1 person on it. The Tarras is running quite high after a few days of heavy rain. 

The River Tarras with a few trees still to come into full greenery

This is the marshy area next to Rachel Bridge and its an area I and others would like to see made into a pond as a feature in  the new Tarras Valley Nature Reserve. 

I walked this path on Sunday but now it is a burn.

Tom on the Suspension Bridge

The view looking up river from the Suspension Bridge

One of the several places we used to think there was a coal seam came out next to the river but Geologist Niall soon put us right and it is in fact just Shale.

Crossing another burn that has become a raging torrent. We all managed to cross without mishap but it was quite difficult and I did get wet feet. 

The best example of a seam od Shale in the banking.

Niall crosses the rickety bridge. Despite the very wet and boggy ground it was an enjoyable 4 mile walk. 

 

A Visit to Beamish and a stay in Newcastle

It is 19 months since we visited Fiona and family in Newcastle so the plan for this visit was to meet them at Beamish on Sunday and then travel to High Heaton to stay a couple of nights with them. It went like clockwork and we all arrived at Beamish within 5 minutes of each other. Its a 4 mile walk right round the place and Gaye managed to do this at her own pace. She is here crossing the railway line. Thanks to Hannah for keeping her company all afternoon.

This was a real treat for me to see them washing down the Shire Horses after they had been ploughing a field. It is what my father would do in the 30s when he worked for the Duchess of Gloucester looking after the Hunter Horses and then eventually Steeplechasers.

These were 2 beautiful Greys

The Town Centre at Beamish where the Girls visited the Bakers and Leo the Sweet Shop

This was Leo's favourite shop

Beamish Railway Station but no trains were working today.

 

After Sundays trip to Beamish I went on Monday for a walk along the Waggonways and then to Paddy Freemans Park where I met this family of Swans in the pond. 

The Waggonways are alive with Hawthorn Blossom at the moment.

Sunday evening and Mario has provided us with a BBQ which was excellent and despite concerns about whether the chicken was fully cooked we have all survived.

A Waterfall in Jesmond Dene

Thes Scooters are regularly hired by students to get about the city.

The Armstrong Bridge

The gentle flowing burn that goes through Jesmond Dean

A spectacular bridge covered in ivy. It really is a lovely place to walk.