Length:
21.7 km (13.5 mi)
Ascent/Descent:
366/367m
Net
Walking Time: ca. 5–5 ½ hours
Toughness:
5 out
of 10
Take
the 09.52 Newcastle train from Carlisle, arrives Hexham 10.39.
Return
trains: hourly xx.59 (from 57 minutes journey time).
Buy a Corbridge return.
Take
the 09.15 Brampton (for
Haltwhistle and Newcastle) bus (Line 685) from Carlisle Bus Station Stand 5 (also stops
Warwick Square and along Warwick Road, including by the Premier Inn!), arrives Hexham, Bus Station at 10.39.
Return
buses from Corbridge, Angel Inn: 16.28, 17.33, 18.33, 19.34,
20.34.
From
the outskirts of Hexham, you cross the River Tyne and ascend to the lofty
church of St. Peter Lee. Down and up to Acomb village and down and up again the
route continues to a quiet country lane with fine views into the North Tyne
Valley and on through the Crag House Estate to a fascinating stretch of Wall at
Planetrees, showing evidence of the change from Broad Wall to Narrow Wall.
Turn
east along a Hadrian’s Wall Path stretch with relatively few Roman era remains.
The route soon passes the wooden cross and St. Oswald’s Church near Heaven
Field, site of a 7th century battle (Christian Northumbria vs Pagan
Welsh) and now a fine viewpoint to the North and Northwest.
Further
along, there is good evidence of the Vallum, but the Wall is mostly buried
under the B6318. Some wall platforms are visible at Milecastle 24, but Halton
Chesters/Hunnum Fort is just grassy mounds. Weather permitting, you get some
fine views to the North though.
The
descent from Down Hill with its post-Roman quarry delights with fine southerly views
into the Tyne Valley and passes a couple of historic castles: Halton (built
from Wall stone) and Aydon, as well as some large limekilns before reaching the
picturesque old Roman town of Corbridge with its many hostelries.
Bus
Shortcut: Line 74 (Hexham
- Newcastle) stops near The Errington Coffee House and outside Halton Red House,
about 8 km from the end – relevant services are the 15.40 to Hexham and the 16.23
to Newcastle.
Lunch:
Picnic.
Tea:
The Errington Coffee House (8.2 km from the end, open to 17.00). Plenty
of options in Corbridge, both in the town centre and near the station
(for details see the pdf).
For
walk directions, map, photos and gpx/kml files click here. t=swc.413.f
1 comment:
1 of yesterday's walkers sat this one out, but we had 4 new arrivals last night in Carlisle and 1 more in Hayden Bridge, so n=11 on the walk in w=overcast-but-dry weather all day, with some sunshine late on.
With trains not running, Stagecoach's decision to run a single decker on the 685 in the morning was frankly puzzling, but that's what it was. We got seats ok in Carlisle, but people joining later had to stand. They're clearly not used to packed buses up here and what with the bus only having 1 door, every stop resulted in a massive palaver. Much delayed, we eventually reached Hexham, where the leader suggested an immediate tea stop at the bar/café in the train station. Muddled thinking as that was of course closed due to no trains running!
We got going at 11.20 and had our picnic stop on the slope by Crag House, looking down on the 'famous' piece of Roman Wall by Planetrees.
Picking up the HWP, we saw the weather improving, eventually enabling views of the Cheviots to the North and on the other side of The Pennines.
A tea stop was due at the Errington Coffee Shop and soon the descent off Hadrian's Wall started, a rather lovely route past Halton and Aydon Castles and across the Cor Burn.
In Corbridge, 4 took the next bus (18.34), while 7 walked back to the rather superior 'pub' in the tremendously restored Pele Tower, then on to a perfect meal at The Black Bull. Currently on the last bus to Carlisle...
Happy Birthday to 1 of the group!
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