Distance 13.7 Km  (8.7 miles)     Ascent   227 m  (745 ft)       Average moving speed  4.11 Km/hr  (2.56 mph)    Start  10.40 am   Finish  15.40pm   

My first walk back with the Phoenix, four and and a half months after my hip replacement op.  On a very overcast day seven of us got off the bus in Belford and led by Peter Craig, we headed W for a short distance along the B6349.  After turning NW for a short distance we headed W along a narrow stone “path” above the Belford Burn.  By this time it had started raining and on slippery stone, the drop into the burn was somewhat disconcerting.  After passing the turreted West Hall we turned NW on a reasonable track (St Oswald’s Way).  We continued on this gentle climb until reaching Swinhoe Farm where several ponies looked very forlorn in the rain.   Turning left (WSW) at the farm, the track again climbed until we reached Dicks Old Walls which was to be our coffee stop.  As it had stopped raining some waterproofs were removed before leaving the hut.   

We continued WSW until just past Kiln Wood we reached a large wood at Cockenhaugh.  There had been some tree felling nearby and there was an impressive pile of felled trunks adjacent to the track.  As we made our way WNW through the wood, many of the trees were dressed in their autumn colours making an impressive sight.  As the track turned NW we had some views of the stone cliffs below Cockenhaugh.  After about 0.7 KM we reached St Cuthbert’s Cave Wood where we turned right to head up to St Cuthbert’s Cave.  By now the sun was shining so we sat outside the cave in reasonably warm sunshine for our lunch stop.  

During lunch, a very noisy group of strangers arrived and as they left and just before we were due to move on, another couple of Phoenix groups arrived at the cave  Leaving the cave we climbed the steep hill to join St Cuthbert’s way.  Unfortunately there was a fence in our way so we headed along the fence looking for a gate or stile but not finding one, we climbed over the fence.  This enabled us to join the Way and then after reaching the highest point, we left the Way and headed generally E.  While this was the correct direction, unfortunately it was a very wet path and it was a case of trying to avoid the many pools of water which were not always very visible.  As the path, where you could see a path, turned SE we joined St Oswald’s Way and headed into Virgin Hill Wood.  At Upper Swinhoe Lake we stopp ed look at the Lake and take photos.  On our way again, we headed SE to Swinhoe Farm where we turned left  (E) onto a minor road.  After 0.5 Km we left the road on a track which took us into Square wood.  After a short distance we turned SSE on a track through the wood.  On exiting the wood we had the impressive Sunniside Crag on our left.  Passing Craggy Hall we then arrived at West Hall again.However this time rather than being cloaked in mist and rain, it was in silhuet with the setting sun behind it.  A short distance down the road and we were back in Belford after a very enjoyable walk – except for the morning rain.

Peter C  –  Thanks for an enjoyable walk.