{"id":2868,"date":"2024-03-23T19:54:56","date_gmt":"2024-03-23T19:54:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phoenixwalks.xyz\/?p=2868"},"modified":"2024-03-23T20:21:25","modified_gmt":"2024-03-23T20:21:25","slug":"12-03","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/phoenixwalks.xyz\/index.php\/2024\/03\/23\/12-03\/","title":{"rendered":"12\/03"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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12 – 03 – 24\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0CAUSEY ARCH\u00a0<\/strong><\/h1>\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 16.9 Km\u00a0 (10.5 miles)\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ascent\u00a0 \u00a0206 m\u00a0 (676 ft)\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Average moving speed\u00a0 4.14 Km\/hr\u00a0 (2.57 mph)\u00a0 \u00a0 Start\u00a0 9.33 am\u00a0 \u00a0Finish\u00a0 15.37 pm<\/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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On yet another very overcast morning, seven of us left the coach opposite Ravensworth golf club on the B1296.\u00a0 We headed SSE towards Dunkirk on a decent track, so decent that I was in deep conversation and walked straight past the old railway line now the Tyne & Wear Heritage Way. So we backtracked the 100 m or so and joined the railway line which headed downhill in a WSW direction.\u00a0 The last time I walk along this track over 4 years ago, I seem to remember that it was a decent track.\u00a0 While it still provides good walking most of the way, it seems that the excessive rainfall we have had in recent months has washed away some of stones\/grit in parts so that there is now a 6 – 12 in deep trench about 12 in wide zig-zagging down the centre of the track on the downhill section.\u00a0 While it is still certainly walkable, you do have to watch where you are going otherwise you could slip into the trench.\u00a0 \u00a0The track heads under the A1 and then under the east coast main railway line.\u00a0 Just before the railway line, we had a good view of the Angel of the North.\u00a0 After crossing the River Teams, a small stream at this point, we began the uphill section of the line.\u00a0 Approaching the junction with Clarty Lane we had a coffee stop, not an ideal stop as there were no seats but it was the best we could do. While there, the anticipated rain started so it was on with our waterproofs.\u00a0<\/p>

After passing Kibblesworth on our RHS, we left the railway, turning SSW on a damp, but not too muddy, path which\u00a0 brought us to Cooper House where we joined Riding Lane to head SE.\u00a0 Before reaching Riding Farm we turned off the road to the right and followed a very wet path alongside the edge of a field.\u00a0 At the end of the field we turned SE and headed down a steep descent to then cross the R Teams on a footbridge.\u00a0 This was the section of the walk which concerned me as I was not sure of the presence of a decent path.\u00a0 However, we then followed a fairly good path SW ending in a climb up to Urpeth North Farm.\u00a0 Joining a minor road heading south we then followed another road heading WSW\u00a0 over Urpeth Common.\u00a0 By this time the rain had stopped and we soon reached the bridge carrying the Consett & Sunderland Railway Path.\u00a0 After checking the 4 corners of the bridge we took what I felt was the least difficult climb up onto the bridge.\u00a0 Everyone made it safely except yours truly who ended up slipping into the mud.\u00a0 When we were all on the path, we headed W, thankful for a flat firm surface on which to walk.\u00a0 Opposite Beamish, we stopped under a road bridge for a well deserved snack.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>

On our way again, we continued along the track, passing some farm animals made from pieces of metal machinery.\u00a0 A little further on, before the line swings SW, we left the old railway line and descended into Hellhole Wood.\u00a0 This was a reasonable descent except for the last couple of yards where we were on the level but faced with a large pool of water.\u00a0 Pleased to say we all made it across without getting wet.\u00a0 The walk through the wood and Carrickhill Wood which followed, was quite attractive with interesting trees and many fallen leaves on the side of the path.\u00a0 At the end of the wood, we crossed Beamishburn Road and then started a steep and very muddy climb which ended at Causey Rd next to\u00a0 a farm house.\u00a0 Great I thought, now that we are at the top, the path will be dryer and better.\u00a0 No such luck!!\u00a0 The narrow path bounded on both sides by wire fence or bushes was deep in mud and very slippy.\u00a0 However we managed to reach the road at the end without any accidents .\u00a0 Turning onto the road, we headed NW to East Tanfield station.\u00a0 As we we were in good time, I had promised the group that we could head to the station cafe and have an afternoon stop in comfort.\u00a0 However, the station and cafe were closed so we headed up Causey Gill, another attractive path which had the benefit of having a good surface.\u00a0 Reaching Causey Arch, I offered the option of heading down the steps to the Causey Burn and seeing the Arch from below.\u00a0 However, there were no takers so we continued over the Arch and then crossed the railway line to join Causey Rd\u00a0 and the nearby Causey Arch Inn – our destination.<\/p>

Despite poor visibility and some rain, a reasonably interesting walk which was, with one major exception, on fairly good paths.<\/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>