{"id":1642,"date":"2022-12-31T19:35:50","date_gmt":"2022-12-31T19:35:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phoenixwalks.xyz\/?p=1642"},"modified":"2022-12-31T19:37:39","modified_gmt":"2022-12-31T19:37:39","slug":"20-12-22-hexham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/phoenixwalks.xyz\/index.php\/2022\/12\/31\/20-12-22-hexham\/","title":{"rendered":"20-12-22 Hexham"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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20\u00a0 – 12 – 22\u00a0 \u00a0 –\u00a0 \u00a0 HEXHAM<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Distance 14 Km\u00a0 (8.7 miles)\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ascent\u00a0 \u00a0147 m\u00a0 (480 ft)\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Average moving speed\u00a0 3.35 Km\/hr\u00a0 (2.08 mph)\u00a0 \u00a0 Start\u00a0 9.42 am\u00a0 \u00a0Finish\u00a0 15.25 pm\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>

My first walk for 12 months due to problems with hip and leg and then Covid concerns<\/p>

On a bright sunny morning,seven of us alighted from the coaches at the roundabout forming the junction of the B6318 and the A68.\u00a0 \u00a0 Our walk leader, Ann Brown, had planned to have a coffee stop at the adjacent Errington Coffee House.\u00a0 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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

Having finished our coffee we climbed the nearby stile and joined Hadrian’s Wall Path.\u00a0 We started a gentle climb heading WNW along the grassy path which had been cut nice and short.\u00a0 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).\u00a0 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.\u00a0 This was the end of the diversion and we headed N up the track to where the original track should have emerged.\u00a0 The uprooted trees (probably Storm Arwen) explained the reason for the diversion.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 \u00a0Soon 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.\u00a0 The original church was built to commemorate the battle of Heavenfields in 633 AD where Oswald lead a victorious army against superior numbers.\u00a0 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.<\/p>

After an enjoyable shared lunch and a quick look at the small room commemorating the\u00a0 battle, we left the church and headed back to the B6318.\u00a0 Crossing the road, we made our way S then SW up a minor road.\u00a0 At the top of the hill we turned onto\u00a0 a track heading ESE.\u00a0 This gave good views towards the Tyne Valley and as the track looped towards the SW, we passed Written Crag and a small lake.\u00a0 Continuing SW we passed Square Wood and at a junction of tracks, we headed NW along a part gravel track to Fallowfield.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Continuing S on the bridleway, we descended to the Red Burn and after crossing a footbridge we climbed up into the village of Acomb.\u00a0 I found Acomb quite interesting as I had never passed through on this path.<\/p>

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\u00a0 a tree trunk.\u00a0 Crossing the A69 by the footbridge of which I had no recollection, we then headed E along a minor road to Bridge End.\u00a0 Crossing Hexham Bridge, we had a good view of the sunset and the reflections in the river.\u00a0 It only remained to make our way to the car park and the coaches.\u00a0 A very enjoyable day in good countryside and mainly in good weather – thanks Ann.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u00a0Click on any photo to view full screen.\u00a0 \u00a0 Move through the gallery using the\u00a0 \u00a0<\u00a0 >\u00a0 arrows.<\/p>

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