ECP - Walkworth to Alnmouth - Northumberland 29 Nov 2015

English Coastal Path
Walkworth to Alnmouth and return. With Shepherds Walks
Northumberland
Distance 17.7km
Sunday 29 November 2015

This was the first walk I had done as a Shepherds Walks volunteer. If you are interested in Shepherds Walks you can follow the link.  Richard Holmes was the guide, Ian Spencer was another volunteer. Unfortunately the weather was a little wet and windy but it did not stop the walkers.

The start was from car park near the Coquet View Leisure Park, Walkworth. Richard made some introductions, gave us a brief overview of the walk, tides and weather forecast.   We walked from the car park down passed the golf course and onto the beach. I had previously done this walk earlier in the year.

On the beach we turned left and headed north.  It was raining, totally different to the last time I walked here.  The tide was out and the beach was wide and clear. We crossed a headland where Richard stopped us and gave an interesting talk on some of the local geology.

As we moved further north a couple of rainbows came up over Alnmouth.  Richard explained about the Alexander Band that shows between the two rainbows.

We passed the large old root that was buried in the sand. I had passed this in my walk earlier in the year. The root was a little more exposed due to sand erosion. The rain had eased a little.

We walked the beach and turned inland, on the south side of the river. On the top we could see St Cuthberts Cross, Richard told us about Church Hill and the storm that separated it from the town before suggesting we have a short break in the lee of Church Hill.  

It was very windy as we climbed the hill to St Cuthbert's Cross, after a brief stop we turned south and headed down hill to the ruin of the old church.  Richard gave us some information on the building, a very interesting place.    

We continued south over some dry marsh ground. Which took us to a lane, earlier in the week when Richard and Ian had checked the route they came across a man in a van who was stranded in the area at the end of the lane where people parked their cars. There is a sign that showed drivers parked at their own risk as at high tide part of the path may flood.  

We continued west up hill up the rough path, at the top we were on the main A1068 road, near the road was a cycle path.  It was a nice path to walk, it took us north towards Alnmouth it was a gentle sloping path down hill and skirted a number of fields. 

At the top corner of the path, where the path turns east, and heads down hill towards Alnmouth away from the road, we passed the beautifully carved seat dedicated to Michelle Turnbull.  

At the bottom the path turns north again for a few hundred meters where it crossed the road onto another path which took us to the bridge.  Beside the large stone structure bridge, which could only take single lane traffic, stood a metal footpath bridge for walkers and cyclists. We crossed the bridge and headed up Lovers Walk on the other side of the road.  Which took us down and around the riverside of the town. 

Richard told us a little more history of Alnmouth and the coloured houses being the first concrete constructed houses in England.

We walked through the town to the golf course with a sign saying it was the oldest nine hole links course in England. Where we stopped for our lunch.

Setting off again we returned to the golf club house and walked up the road where we followed the road around the town taking us opposite Church Hill. We returned to Lovers Walk and headed back the same way we had come.  

The forecast was that it would be very windy on our way back but fortunately the wind had settled a little.  

On our return down the rough footpath, rather than turn down towards the beach Richard led us south down the path above the dunes to a caravan site. The sea looked calm and settled compared to earlier.

From the caravan site we continued along the path through the golf course.  As the shadows were lengthening Richard suggested finishing our walk along the beach.  As we returned along the beach the weather changed again and we were ending our walk as we started with our hoods pulled up and rain drops falling down.

It had been a good walk, thanks to Richard and Ian for a great day out. We had covered 11 miles (17.7km), I am looking forward to the next Shepherd Walks. If you are interested in doing a Shepherds Walks follow the attached link.

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 English Coastal Path or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Edale to Mam Tor and Brown Knoll return down PW - Peak District 5 Nov 2015

Edale to Mam Tor and Brown Knoll return down PW 
Peak District
Distance 21km Climb 740m
Thursday 5 November 2015

Mam Tor Number 10 on ITV's Britain's Favourite Walks shown January 2018. 
It was raining and misty as we drove across to Edale. The last time I walked here I went north, today I was going to look south.  Anne was going to have a look round the shops of Manchester. I parked the car at Edale Station 240m and walked up the road towards the church.

The footpath I was taking turned east next to the church yard. I hope the sign was not an indication of things to come.

The footpath took me south east across fields, I could not see any of the heights I would be walking on as they were covered by mist.

The footpath took me under the railway and across fields.

I crossed a road and the path dropped down to join a farm lane that once it crossed a stream started climbing south east towards Hollins Cross 390m.

Unfortunately there was no view from the top, I thought I was alone yet I could hear people below the ridge. A quick map check and I turned left easterly up the ridge.

On the way I passed another walker, I spent a few minutes talking to him, he was an interesting character. As I climbed the mist continued to obscure the views which was a shame but it was still good walking.

The path crossed Back Tor and climbed up to Lose Tor 476m. After a quick photo of the mist I turned round and returned back along the ridge to Hollins Cross.

As I walked back to Hollins Cross I passed a group of about 8 walkers on their way to Lose Hill they asked if the view was better up there, no unfortunately it was not.

I passed another group as I approached Hollins Cross, it was very busy up here.

Another quick check of the map, reset the compass and I moved along the ridge towards Mam Tor. The path was made of stone and led me straight up the climb to the trig point at Mam Tor 517m. There are a lot of little features cemented in the area around the trig point.

A quick sandwich and I continued heading south west to drop down to the road.

As it was a little clearer here I moved down the hill a little to take a look east along the valley towards the Blue John.

As I moved back up the road I caught a glimpse of a kestral.

I crossed the road and started up the footpath to Rushup Edge which climbed up to Lord's Seat 540m where there is an old Tumulus.

I continued along by the wall as it slopped down hill until it met a junction. Here I passed a group of four German walkers. I turned right in a northerly direction. After about 400m I turned from the main path and followed a bearing across open ground. There was a lot of bog in the area and I had to watch were I was walking. It was very wet. You could see where people had previously walked.

As I was approaching Brown Knoll 569m the mist was turning into rain, visability was low. After the trig point I checked my bearing and continued north east to the fence line.

I turned right and headed north east along a stone path which turned north, visibility was very low and the rain was getting heavier.

I walked up to Edale rocks where I had another sandwich in a little shelter. I had wanted to go around the tops back to Edale but with the weather and the time of day light left I decided to return by the lower route.

So after walking up to Kinder Low trig point 633m I turned round and headed down hill.

As I approached Jacobs Ladder the mist started to lift although it was still raining.

On my way back rather than follow the Pennine Way I followed the footpath to Barber Booth, the views across the valley opened up as the mist lifted showing me where I had walked.

The rain lifted for a few minutes before starting again, as I approached Edale Station. I had a few minutes to spare before Anne's train came in. A good day walking I had covered 21km with approx 740m climb.

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 in the Peak District or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to my Day 1 of the Pennine Way
Follow link to another walk across Kinder Scout.

Offa's Dyke Path Day 5 - Stone Circle to Clyro Brook 30 Oct 2015

Offa's Dyke Path, with Bourne Coffee Company - Day 5
Stone Circle to Clyro Brook
Distance 10km Climb 60m
Friday 30 October 2015

Today would be our last day walking we had decided to walk to the end of David's map which was a couple of km just passed Hay-on-Wye. We had a relaxed start to the day. From the campsite at the Baskerville Hall Hotel it did not take us long to reach our start.  It was cold and windy when we started.

We left Susan and started our walk down the road, it was very cold but at least the wind was behind us pushing us on.

After a km down the road the Offa's Dyke Path moves north across open country to the edge of Tack Wood.

The Path moves passed a farm onto a narrow track, still following the line of Tack Wood.

At the top of the wood it moves very steeply across country and twists and turns down hill, heading north.

We reached a lane and the guide says turn left and cross a stone stile. However we found a wooden stile straight across the lane and a path down between the fields.

At the bottom of the fields we were on the edge of Cusop.

Through another couple of fields and we could see Hay-on-Wye, the weather had warmed up a lot now as we moved lower down hill. The wind had also eased and we had to take our coats off again.

As we crossed the bottom field we could see Susan waiting for us at the carpark we had to cross as we entered the town. With the time we had we had a look around the town on our way through.

Walking through the town we passed the castle.

Looked in a few shops.

Passed the town clock.

From the clock we turned right and took the road to Clyro over the bridge. Where we left Susan.

Over the bridge we turned right by the river and about 1.5 km we followed the path north west from the river.

Our route now takes us along a country lane, where we could hear shoots being fired, hopefully not at us.

Along here the local farmers had tied yellow lids on the gates to show the route. There were only a couple of fields left to cross.

After passing a large farm complex the Path crosses one last field before a taking a small bridge over Cylro Brook and climbs a little under some trees up to the road. This was just off David's map and the first road we reached where Susan could get to pick us up.

This was it for now, we had covered 10 km with approx 60m climb.

Over the five days we had covered 86 km. The idea behind this years walk had not been the distance we would cover but to enjoy the walk. We will come back to do the rest another time, for now we would go back to Baskerville Hall Hotel campsite and relax.

Walking at this time of year we knew we would have restrictions due to the nights cutting in but as I say the distance does not matter. The guide and information on the internet show that The Offa's Dyke Path is a wonderful pleasant and beautiful walk and so it is. So I hope Anne and David enjoyed the walk, I know I did. As always we could not do this without Susan, thank you Susan.

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 Offa's Dyke Path or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to next days walk on the Offa's Dyke Path (it is still to be walked.)
Follow link to previous day, Day 4 Pandy to Stone Circle.