HWP Day 3 - Greenhead to Wall 29 May 2013.

Hadrian's Wall Path with Bourne Coffee Company - Day 3
Greenhead to Wall
Distance 31.7km
Wednesday 29th May 2013

As we were starting today's walk from the campsite we could start walking a little earlier than the previous day.  Once we had packed all the kit into the car off we went.  We walked out the gate at the back of the campsite and turned right and up the hill.  We were straight on The Hadrian's Wall Path and The Pennine Way.  I had already walked this way when I did the Pennine Way a few years ago.

Leaving the campsite below

When you open the gate you are now onto the grass track that moves up hill, a steep climb.  Again at the top the views were worth the walk up.

David and Anne near the top of the hill

Today they would be a lot of climbing up and down, fantastic views though, well worth the effort.

It was along here as we crossed one of the roads we passed a couple with a little dog who told us that we needed to be careful as some walker had been pushed down by a cow.  The lady was one of a group of three, but apparently she was alright.  There was another walker we saw who told us about the dangerous cows.  We soon came across the three ladies and said everything was fine.  It must have been quite a shock to be pushed over by a cow.  They did not bother us, you never know with having calves it may have been the small dog that gave them a fright.

Stunning

As we moved around Aesica Roman fort we saw a strange sight, we saw a lamb running from us and looking for his mother.  As it ran from us it ran to a white pony and stopped and looked.  We were sure it must have thought the white pony was its mother. Anyway we were continuing east along the Wall still following the acorn sign.

fantastic

Trig point 345

We had arranged to meet Susan at Steel Rigg carpark for 11.00am and we were just a few minutes late.  Anyway Susan came up with a quick lunch of sandwiches.  It was very cold sitting in the carpark so to keep warm Anne and I moved on while David and Susan sat in the car.  From Steel Rigg to Housesteads the views are even better.

Looking down on Sycamore Gap

We have always called Sycamore Gap, Robin Hoods tree as it appears on the film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.  In fact listening to a few people I don't think we are the only ones who call it that.

At Housesteads we walked down the hill to the museum where I got another stamp in my book.  We also had a quick drink and a short rest before climbing back up the hill to the Wall to start on the Path again.  I had never been on this part of the Wall before.  We walked up the hill to Trig Point 325.

David and Anne Trig point 325

From Trig Point 325 the Path starts heading down hill.  It was very windy and cold on the route down from the top.  The path along here although very straight has only a little climb compared to the previous part of the walk.  Suddenly it started raining so we buttoned up and carried on.  Almost as suddenly as it started the rain stopped.

We had a short rest just after crossing the road before the Mithraeum Temple.  

Mithraelum Temple

The Path then takes you back to the road which you follow on the south side for a little while before crossing over again.  Following the course of the Roman Military Way we walked through some old diggings to another Trig Point.

Trig Point 250

From Trig point 250 we headed south east towards Walwick.  Just before we reached Walwick we had o walk around Walwick Hall.  I bet in the days of the Romans they did not walk around sites and farms.  I bet they would just march straight through.  Anyway after walking around Walwick Hall we reached the road and turned left, south east and walked down hill.  At the bottom we followed the road left towards Chollerford.  Susan was sitting at the entrance to a drive for a big house.  The big house was up for sale, it was just up the road from Chesters.

After a short rest David set off, followed by Anne then me.  We had agreed to go to The George at Chollerford and see about getting something to eat.  Walking past Chester's I stopped to get my stamp before walking to The George.

Apparently some part of this road Anne ran past David.  Anyway we arrived at The George and found they did not do any food.  So after a drink we moved up to The Crown at Humshaug for some food.  Susan had found we could camp on the village green at Wall for free for one night.

While having our meal we decided what we were going do.  As David and Susan had to travel home Friday it meant that we had to cover 30 miles the next day.  We had only covered approx 18 miles, so I suggested we push on a few miles while it was still light, just to make tomorrow a little easier.  However it was decided that we would walk to Wall from The George and then continue from the campsite in the morning.  So after a meal we went back to The George and set off for Wall.

From the bridge at Chollerford looking east

From the bridge at Chollerford looking west

South of the Wall England at its best - a village cricket match

Today we had covered approx 19.6 miles (31.7km) according to the guide in approx 10 hrs including stops.

More to follow


Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The Hadrian Wall Path or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to previous - Day 2 Carlisle to Greenhead
Follow link to next - Day 4 Wall to Wallsend
Follow link to when I walked this as Day 12 of my Pennine Way
Follow link to another walk on this stretch of The Wall 

(If you want to know more about the Bourne Coffee Company see their official website)