Guided walk date – 06/09/09
The day dawned grey, and despite the forecast for brightening conditions stayed grey, however after a dreadfully wet week we were relieved that the rain stayed away, other than a little light drizzle in the wind.
We lost two, due to the ingestion of something dodgy the night before, before the walk had even begun. So a slightly diminished group left the car park in good spirits, despite the warning from the leader that conditions for the first half of the walk would be very wet underfoot. She was proved right, and after picking their way carefully round the first few wet patches everyone gave up and just marched through the rest. An evening of scrubbing boots and gaiters was looming.
The sun refused to shine, even a little, to help illuminate the crags for the photographers. Some thought that the moody conditions suited the character of the whinstone, others would have preferred some sun! For all it had been a few years since they had seen this particular stretch of the wall.
A group of cattle was approached with some trepidation, especially after the spate of fatalities at the hands of such beasts over the last couple of months. We had no dogs with us to interest them, so the cattle kept on munching and we kept on marching, without having to beat a hasty retreat.
The first half of the walk allowed us the opportunity to see where the second half would take us, as well as affording good views of the famous loughs, and the edge of Wark Forest. Everyone was secretly relived to climb up onto the line of Hadrian’s Wall trail at the half way point and leave the mud behind! The going may have been better underfoot but the challenge of the rather undulating terrain then began. The higher ground did give us great views in all directions and we were happy to watch the rain clouds sweep through the North Pennines without bothering us.
Lunch was taken in as sheltered a spot as we could find, with a great view of Houstesteads fort. We discussed the wonders of Roman technology with the aid of some modern technology! The walk leader was quite clearly redundant, as between David and Lesley’s teenage son (left at home) and ‘google’ we got the answer to the million dollar question, thanks of course to the invention of the mobile phone.
With modern technology back in pockets, we set off to walk on top of the only stretch of wall where such things are allowed, and continued westwards taking the numerous ups and downs in our stride. Blustery winds added to the atmosphere and the dips in the wall provided welcome shelter along the way.
We all made it back to the car park, looking rather windswept but healthy, after a great walk.
- To find out more about the guided walks in Northumberland that are coming up please click here.