A Walk Through Jesmond Dene

This lovely walk is just half a mile from Fiona's house so I parked the car at Paddy Freeman's Park and did a 3 mile loop through the Dene. Loads to see including an Old Mill and waterfall plus Children's Pets Corner at the south end of the walk. 

The Waterfall just up from the Old Mill 

The Old Mill

Plenty of old bridges cross the Dean so you can walk on either side of the river

The Armstrong Bridge where just over 2 years ago we were picnicking just next to these bushes when I heard a loud thud and we discovered a poor soul had jumped off the bridge. We never did find out if he was killed as a result of his fall but I can still hear the thud today.

A Day at Alnwick Gardens

A visit to Alnwick Gardens has been on my "to do" list for many years so we headed off to see it today. We forget how busy these places are at this time of the year and it was heaving with visitors, but still a most enjoyable experience. The water feature is fantastic and worth the £10 entrance fee alone.

A Visit to Holy Isle

On arrival at the house on Sunday I had to pick these Blackberries. There is only 1 bush in the garden but it is absolutely laden with berries and I anticipate we will pick as many as this every other day this week.

We are staying in Newcastle this week so we can explore Northumberland while Fiona and the family are visiting Fraser in California. On Monday we headed for Holy Isle along with thousands of other visitors as August is such a busy month here and the sun was shining. 

The causeway was flooded in places as these next 2 photographs show. The car was covered in salt water which dried on very quickly in the sun so I had to have the car put through a carwash to get rid of the salt.

In places the water was quite deep

The bridge in the centre of the causeway 

We then headed to Alnmouth for a walk along the beach and we only just arrived there when we met Islay and Lochan who are Niall & Elspeth Weatherstone's grandchildren. They were on a camping holiday with their Mum & Dad. Quite a coincidence as we knew they were on the Northumberland coast but no idea where. 

Lochan and I had to go for a paddle, but the sea was very cold.

The girls were not as brave as Lochan and me.

An RAF Helicopter came overhead just after I had been in the sea so maybe they were worried about me.

Another Stage of Hadrian's Wall

Continuing with the theme of Hadrian's Wall we continued from where we left off last week at Burgh by Sands. This involves using 2 cars with Peter leaving his at Carlisle and Tom taking his to Burgh by Sands. Looking over us in this photograph is King Edward 1 and this statue was erected in 2007 to celebrate 700 years since his death. The Latin inscription on the monument describes him as "the greatest English King".  

The weather forecast which everybody had checked before we left had said it would be clear and dry all day so we were surprised 15 minutes after we set off to find the rain starting. I was the only one who had packed a waterproof coat so we decided to shelter under a huge Oak tree. For the next 45 minutes it was a case of seeking shelter under various tress, but eventually the rain disappeared and the weather gradually improved. 

The walk took as along various fields including this Maize field. Tom thought they were Turnips.

This is a most unusual Stile with metal steps and wooden gates

Due to a severe landslip on the first part of the walk next to the River Eden resulting in a diversion it was almost into Carlisle before we hit the Eden River. The first bridge we passed under was the old Waverley Line railway bridge which according to Tom he has read in the Cumberland News that it is to be opened up as a walk and cycle way in the next couple of years. This is a much more attractive bridge than the modern railway bridge shown below.

The main west coast line to Scotland and a very dull looking bridge that needs urgent need of attention before the trees growing out of it do severe damage.

At various points along the walk next to the Eden there were exercising places including these bars. By the look of the surrounding vegetation they have not been used much in recent years and will soon disappear. Tom had a go but could not even pull himself up to bar level. 

In the distance was Dixon's Chimney and a reminder for me of my office for 5 years with EMS Cargo as my office was situated within 50 yards of the chimney. It was built by Peter Dixon in 1836.

Carlisle Castle which is over 900 years old and has been involved in many a battle between the English and the Scots. It is now the headquarters of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.

At the end of the walk we had to cross the main road which is a dual carriageway next to Carlisle Castle. Rather than walk up the steps on the bridge it was decided to use the lifts at each end. This must be a sign of old age but after a 7.5 mile walk I must admit a series of steps are not the most welcoming sight. Another good walk slightly marred by the rain at the start but again finished in grand style with a pint in the Greyhound Inn at Burgh by Sands. 

First Stage of Hadrian's Wall Walk

Another beautiful Wednesday and we headed off to walk the first section of the Hadrian's Wall Walk from Bowness-on-Solway to Burgh by Sands a distance of 8 miles. This will be the third section of this walk we have done in recent weeks. Some of us walked the entire 84 miles in 2004 but I doubt if we could do it in a week these days. 

As we drove to Bowness-on Solway the tide was coming in and in no time at all the estuary was full as the tide came in at a very fast rate. In the distance on the Scottish side of the Solway Firth is Chapelcross Atomic Power Station now decommissioned and without its cooling towers. 

At Port Carlisle which is a mile from the start we met up with an old guy who has a little business going taking photographs of the walkers going past his house in front of this sign he has made. He has details of the distance from there to many places in the world and then displays them on the boards. He was quite a character and we enjoyed a pleasant chat with him. We decided to show Denmark in Western Australia where Niall spends half his year as it is much more exciting than putting Langholm 25 miles. He has a collection box and did quite well out of us.  

And this is our entrepreneur.  

We soon reached the village of Drumburgh where we came upon Drumburgh Castle , a fortified house with an entrance at first-floor level only to make it easy to defend. The stone it is built from was taken from Hadrian's Wall.

If you look hard enough you could possibly see Whita Hill and the Langholm Monument in the distance. Our walk ended at the Greyhound Inn at Burgh by Sands and a very welcome pint.

Back to Scottish Weather in Canonbie

After a glorious week in north Norfolk where the only things we needed on our many walks was Water and Sunscreen it was back to our usual Wednesday walk with a vengeance today. None of us wanted to venture far and the weather was looking very dodgy so we headed for a 7.5 mile circuit starting from the Canonbie Church. The idea was to have afternoon tea there at the Community Cafe but we got our timings wrong as the walk finished at 1.00pm and the Cafe did not open until 2.00pm. John and Tom suitably attired for an Umbrella Walk. 

This is the new seat at the woodland walk near Canonbie Sawmill. It offers a good view of the sawmill and the surrounding countryside.

The view from the seat. It was an enjoyable walk despite the many rain showers as the crack was good and Tom was in particular good form. hopefully we will be back to travelling further afield next week when more of the gang will be available. 

North Norfolk Walking Holiday

We all arrived in Cromer at different times but by 8.00pm it was time for everybody to head down to the sea front and get some superb Fish & Chips. The weather was dull but the forecast for the coming week was excellent so there was plenty to look forward to. Our holiday house was an old Vicarage with 7 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms so we had lots of room. 

The first day's walk was along the coast from Cromer to Weybourne a distance of about 10 miles. The first half of the walk was inland a wee bit and there was plenty of shade among the trees but the second half of the walk along the shore was tough in one section as the beach was all large pebbles and there was no cover from the fierce sun. A lovely afternoon tea in Sheringham where we were served by 2 lovely young ladies who really looked after us and were given a substantial tip for being so efficient and pleasant. This was the only walk that all 9 of the walkers did together and the photo was taken by Gaye who is not a walker but probably covered as many miles visiting every charity shop in the area. 

Sandria and Elizabeth in deep conversation as they walk towards Waybourne

Peter walking along the pebbled beach near Weybourne

One of the many Windmills we saw in our week of walking. 

Three very handsome gentlemen in the Hot Tub after a long walk. Tom was prepared to go swimming.

Saturday night dinner in the Red Lion. Service was excellent but the food was not very exciting. The conversation and wine was excellent however and a most enjoyable evening was had by all.

This was the Monday walk along the Bure Valley Railway path from Aylsham to Coltishall where we had afternoon tea after an 8 mile walk and then came back on the Narrow Gauge Steam Train.

This is one of the many creeks that bring the sea to the main harbour at Wells-next-the-Sea

Yet another windmill next to a field of Barley

There were loads of lovely village churches and this photograph taken by Elizabeth shows one of the nicest but I cannot remember where it was. 

The lovely beach at Holkham Bay

Peter having a rest on the railway line.

Many of the fields we passed through had a right of way through them and this is the way the farmers plant them by leaving a strip of land for walkers.

This is Felbrigg Hall where we walked on our last day in Norfolk. It was still very hot so this 6 mile walk was just ideal after a full week of walking.

The lovely Clock Tower at Felbrigg Hall

The beach at Cromer

Gaye enjoying a day out at Houghton Hall country estate which overlooks Sandringham.

All along this coast there are many beach huts adding a bit of colour to the landscape