Red kite Trail Part 2

 5.6mls

 19^th September 2012

After a very successful walk (no more Olympic leg problems) last week we were keen to complete the trail and chalk up some more sightings.

It was wonderful weather for walking sun shining, crisp clear air and beautiful blue sky. Bus time tables were checked, the plan being to park at the start/finishing car park, get the number 47 bus to last weeks finishing point and continue the trail back to the car park – simple! Or so we thought. We arrived at the car park with 15 minutes to spare, changed into our walking boots just in time to see our bus pass by. Why oh why did the bus company not update its on line time table!!!! My companion was not amused (but neither was I)

There was thirty minutes until the next bus so a plan B was required. The decision was made to walk from the finish to our stopping point and get the bus back to the car.

For the first half mile the path is shared before turning right towards Thornley Woodland Centre well worth a visit on its own especially for children. Care is need as the trail crosses the busy A694 then into Thornley Woods which I was reliably informed by my companion is predominantly deciduous hardwood, oak, beachwood, ash. It then became apparent the disadvantage to our plan B, we were walking uphill, again, but on a positive note there would be less strain on the old knee joints and the expansive views over the Derwent Valley were opening up.

After a mile and a half the path levelled out and crossed the top of a recently harvested field with stunning views encompassing Tyneside and suddenly two red kites came along soaring on the thermals going higher and higher, What a magnificent sight.

Feeling very pleased with ourselves and with a new spring in our step we continued following the excellent way marker signs through Low Thornley before stopping for coffee and flapjacks. It was only a short break and looking back to check nothing had been left behind we spotted a kite just above the tree line, so close its markings were easily seen, definitely our lucky day. About a mile further on we had another sighting possibly the same bird.

The steady climb continued until we reached the village of Barlow, highest point and with spectacular views, this time of the Tyne Valley and even as far as the coast. This is supposed to be ideal place to see the kites because of the 360 degree visibility, no birds were seen but for the views alone it would have been worth the walk.

Leaving Barlow we turned left along the road before crossing the fields and entered Spen Bank Woods which is often used as a winter roost by the kites. Very soon we hit the road,  found our bus stop and returned to the car park.

      

 

      

Red kite trail

Red Kite Trail 7 miles

September 6^th 2012

We are eventually back walking after a frustrating break. My walking companion developed “Olympic leg”! It is not caused by sitting channel surfing over a period of 19 days as many people assume but a tear in the calf muscle during activity.  You suddenly see the athlete pulling up quick and hop, a scene often seen during Olympic fortnight hence the name. The injury occurred less than half a mile into our last planned walk going uphill over a cobbled surface.

After a suitable period of rest our plan today was 5 miles of the 11 mile Red Kite Trail to test the leg out.

Red kites are magnificent birds of prey with a wing span of just under 2 metres, colourful plumage and distinctive forked tail. They were successfully reintroduced to this area of north east of England in 2004-6 after an absence of 170 years.

The trail is a circular route staring and finishing at Derwenthaugh Park car park.

Leaving the car park we turned left onto a well surfaced path accessible to wheel chairs and pushchairs very popular today with walkers, joggers and cyclists (beware they quickly and silently appear).

The path follows the Derwent River on our left and rolling pastures on our right, where hay was being gathered, and headed towards a wetland area and man made lake were we spotted a patient heron.

The path continued over the fast flowing river and across the Nine Arches Viaduct, a remnant of the once dominant mining industry, from here we had wonderful views of the Gibside Estate with its impressive Column of Liberty.

Continuing on through one of the several woodlands we were covered with a canopy of green broken only be the stunning red berries of the rowan trees.

Very soon we left the park and exited onto the main road through Rowlands Gill passed the caravan site and joined Derwent Walk railway path for about a mile before turning right onto our trail. The steep sloping path here was narrower and unsuitable for buggies or wheelchairs, sections had been eroded by the recent heavy rain (a good work out for “Olympic leg”). 

There were seats along the route with spectacular views over the Derwent Valley were red kites had been regularly seen but today they were unfortunately allusive together with kingfishers, dippers and otters which according to the interpretation panel also frequent the area.

The path descended to Lintzford onto the A694 where we had originally decided to stop after 4 miles and catch a bus back to the car but as it was still early, the sun was shining and we still had a spring in our step we continued on.

Crossing the road and through the gate we rougher surfaces and some stiles to negotiate bordering fields before entering Chopwell Woods and its steep slopes.

At this point the only kite we had seen was on an impressive wooded sculpture but the day was not over.

Following the kite way markers we left Chopwell woods at Victoria Garesfield to find a bus stop and walking along the road my sharp eyed observant companion spotted a solitary kite soaring high on a thermal. It did not stay in our field of vision very long but it made a great ending for our walk and we did not have long to wait before the bus arrived taking us back to our car.

St Oswalds Walk

May 23rd 2012

St Oswald’s walk

This is a 97 mile walk from Lindisfarne (Holy Island), following the Northumberland coast to Warkworth, then going inland and south to end at Heavensfield on Hadrian’s Wall. The route links some of the places associated with Oswald, who was King of Northumbria from 634 until his death.

Oswald, the son of King Aethelfrith of Bernicia, came to rule after spending a period in exile at Iona; after defeating the British ruler Cadwallon at Heavensfield, Oswald brought the two Northumbrian kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira once again under a single ruler, and promoted the spread of Christianity in Northumbria. After eight years of rule, in which he was the most powerful ruler in Britain, Oswald was killed in battle.

Lindisfarne early history is strongly linked with the Bishops Sts Aidan and Cuthbert and there monastic community who produced the illuminated Lindisfarne Gospels. 

Today all that remains are the ruins from the re-founded 11^th century priory.

Also on Lindisfarne is the castle built in 1550 on a dramatic rocky out crop on the south eastern side of the island. It is a compact island in a beautiful dramatic setting with an air of tranquillity and spirituality well worth visiting and exploring in its own right.

Finally after a year waiting we have managed to orchestrate the Pilgrims Way crossing of the causeway, suitable days off work, favourable weather and most importantly correct tide times. We travelled to Holy Island the previous day and booked B&B at The Manor House Hotel http://www.manorhouselindisfarne.com/  ready for a good start next morning.

The morning view out of the bedroom windows was spectacular with the imposing castle set against clear blue skies, small fishing cobbles bobbing on clear seas and the haunting cry of the sea birds.

After a wholesome breakfast of fresh local produce we were keen to start.

The walk commences at the priory and passes through the village follows the main road down to the sands and Chare Ends.

You have the choice of walking along the road or over the causeway sands, which ever way you choose it is only passable when the tide is out, you must ensure you have sufficient time to complete the crossing before setting off.

 

Our route was 3 miles over the sands the way marked by a line of long wooden poles which must be followed closely to avoid any quick sand. The tide was safely out as we surveyed our route. The ground to begin with was firm damp and littered with broken shells so walking bare footed was discounted, and it was very uneven due to   the lugworms that produced highly coiled casts in the sand like miniature mole hills. This favourite bait of fishermen is not allowed to be extracted within 50 metres of the wooden posts and they seem to know this judging by the huge number of casts so we had to walk over a very bumpy surface for a couple of miles.

Although the tide was out there were channels of shallow water to cross resulting in wet feet for me. My sensible companion had donned practical leather boots a much better option especially when the going turned to thick gooey sticky mud about the half way mark.

 We had a refreshing coffee at the car park with an opportunity to dry my feet and put on a lovely pair of dry socks before setting back along the road to the island and collect our car to head home.

Our 3 mile Pilgrims Way crossing was a round trip of 7 miles a great days walk!

Durham Coastal Footpath 2nd leg

15^th March 2012  

A lovely spring day with clear blue skies and the promise of only a gentle breeze was an invitation to dig out the hiking boots, fill the flask with coffee and head down to Easington to complete our Durham Coastal walk. We set off from the car park with a little trepidation as our estimate distance today was 8 miles which was a couple of miles above my comfort zone for this time of year, as the hiking gear has been hibernating for the winter season. Still nothing ventured, nothing gained! 

This section of coast line is unusual in that there are numerous denes and these convolutions not only add extra miles but provide a different landscape with a greater variety of vegetation and wild life. The first one, Foxhole Dene, is the steepest and deepest along this stretch of coast and to me seemed guarded by a sleeping lion, or it could just be my over active imagination. Then followed Warren House Gill, Whiteside Gill, Blackhills Gill, Denemouth and Blue House Gill, each of these providing plenty of cardio vascular workout and with interesting individual features.

One site has been designated an area of scientific interest due to Scandinavian rock deposited by ice sheets many years ago, there were large art instillation along the  path, and the salt marsh at Denemouth  provide a unique environment for the Durham Argus butterfly. The legacy of mining in this area was evident by the mole hills being composed of black coal dust as there is only a shallow depth of soil over the coal shale where trees and shrubs struggle to survive.

We made a stop for lunch at Blackhall reserve with its wonderful view of the magnesium limestone cliffs, caves and stacks which according to local legend was ideal for smugglers.

 The surrounding grass is kept purposely short to encourage skylarks whose song seemed to constantly accompany us today. As part of the land management gorse and thick shrubs had been burnt to allow wildflowers such as red fescue, sea plantain, sea thrift and ?butterbur to re populate. 

Our walk continued along the edge of the coast leading into Crimdon caravan park which is set above wide flat sandy beaches with Hartlepool marina in the distance, once a popular recreational destination for miners and their families in the 1920’s -30’s.

Crimdon Dene marked the end of route where we left the coast headed inland to find a bus to take us back to Easington.

The Durham Heritage Coast is a wonderful location with is beaches, rugged cliffs and imposing headlands well maintained by the National Trust in partnership with the local councils.  

Ouston and Urpeth

Feeling sluggish from the festive excesses we decided a walk was required but as always it was weather dependant. We also had to consider the shorter days and what would be the ideal distance as we had not been walking for a while.

Having a favourable weather forecast we dipped into our Cicerone guide “Walking in County Durham” and found a circular local walk along field and farm tracks with riverside and woodland paths. Only 5 miles it sounded ideal.

Our starting point was a school on the southern edge of Ouston marked by a mushroom sculpture that led us across farm fields towards Urpeth Hall. A bitter wind was blowing that stung our faces but you did feel all the cobwebs were being blown away too.

Leaving the farm buildings we followed the lady bird markers into a wooded valley and followed the River Team downstream into a peaceful meadow where we stopped for coffee and enjoyed the tranquillity despite being only a couple of miles from urban Gateshead.

Have you ever wondered where ladybirds go in winter? Well we found a cluster or “loveliness” of ladybirds attached to a shrub.

 The most common species of ladybird in Britain is the seven-spot ladybird. This bright red ladybird has seven spots and is thought to have inspired the name ladybird: "Lady" referring to the Virgin Mary (Our lady) who in early paintings is seen wearing a red cloak; the seven spots are symbolic of the seven joys and seven sorrows of Mary.

The path took us towards Riding farm then crossing the river (although it was more a small stream at this point) up to Urpeth from there we entered Walter’s Wood with its mature beech trees and soon back to our starting point at the mushrooms.

On our walk today we were accompanied along the woodland paths by a robin, startled a heron by the river, and spotted a weasel and grey squirrel.