Distance 14 Km  (8.7 miles)     Ascent   147 m  (480 ft)       Average moving speed  3.35 Km/hr  (2.08 mph)    Start  9.42 am   Finish  15.25 pm   

My first walk for 12 months due to problems with hip and leg and then Covid concerns

On a bright sunny morning,seven of us alighted from the coaches at the roundabout forming the junction of the B6318 and the A68.    Our walk leader, Ann Brown, had planned to have a coffee stop at the adjacent Errington Coffee House.  However, we had arrived 15 min before opening time and due to the recently washed wet floor, we were not able to go inside but instead we had coffee and mince pies at the tables outside.  

Having finished our coffee we climbed the nearby stile and joined Hadrian’s Wall Path.  We started a gentle climb heading WNW along the grassy path which had been cut nice and short.  Another couple of stiles followed and then we crossed a farm road before continuing on a fairly level grass track (a slight diversion from the original HWP).  On reaching Stanley plantation we found that the path had been diverted again so after heading SW we then made our way westwards until we reached another farm track.  This was the end of the diversion and we headed N up the track to where the original track should have emerged.  The uprooted trees (probably Storm Arwen) explained the reason for the diversion.  Back on the original path, now adjacent to the Military Rd (B6318) we continued WNW until Milecastle 24 where we crossed the Military Rd. and then continued WNW on further grassy tracks a short distance from the Military Rd.   Soon after passing St Oswald’s Hill Head Farm, we left the Path and made the gentle climb up to St Oswald’s Church at Heavenfields.  The original church was built to commemorate the battle of Heavenfields in 633 AD where Oswald lead a victorious army against superior numbers.  Ann had arranged for us to sit in the church for lunch which was good planning as we had a couple of showers while we where there, one of them quite heavy.

After an enjoyable shared lunch and a quick look at the small room commemorating the  battle, we left the church and headed back to the B6318.  Crossing the road, we made our way S then SW up a minor road.  At the top of the hill we turned onto  a track heading ESE.  This gave good views towards the Tyne Valley and as the track looped towards the SW, we passed Written Crag and a small lake.  Continuing SW we passed Square Wood and at a junction of tracks, we headed NW along a part gravel track to Fallowfield.  The minor road south from Fallowfield is known as A Pennine Journey and we followed this until we reached Halfway House at which point we left the road and joined the parallel bridleway.  Continuing S on the bridleway, we descended to the Red Burn and after crossing a footbridge we climbed up into the village of Acomb.  I found Acomb quite interesting as I had never passed through on this path.

Leaving Acomb and heading south on the bridleway we passed an ancient sculpture on our left and then as we approached the A69 near the Hermatige there was an excellent sculpture cut into  a tree trunk.  Crossing the A69 by the footbridge of which I had no recollection, we then headed E along a minor road to Bridge End.  Crossing Hexham Bridge, we had a good view of the sunset and the reflections in the river.  It only remained to make our way to the car park and the coaches.  A very enjoyable day in good countryside and mainly in good weather – thanks Ann.