Maxine's Walk

Kirkwhelpington - Great Whittington - 10 miles

After our night at the Youth Hostel we began the day with a lovely cooked breakfast - bacon, sausages and eggs bought from the shops in Rothbury yesterday. Then Livi and I were dropped off in Kirkwhelpington to start todays walk. We set off  initally walking along lanes through several upland sheep farms.

These were some of hundreds of sheep we saw today. Unfortunately not all of them were alive, we saw two dead sheep but also lots of baby lambs - the realities of farming life.

After a few miles we came to the village of Great Bavington, with streets like these it reminded us of Larkrise from the TV programme. The house on the left used to be the village school.

After Great Bavington we walked across fields to Little Bavington, from there it was two miles of road walking to Hallington. We passed these two lovely horses, they were having a great time racing round their field and were very interested in us.

As you come into Hallington you pass these man made water races which take water from nearby reservoirs down to Tyneside and Newcastle. Livi and I stopped to play Pooh sticks - I won.

Although you can't really see it from this photo there were great views north back towards the Cheviots and the rest of Northumberland.

We then walked down to the village of Great Whittington where we had to finish our walk for today.

Today was also Mothers day, you remember in my previous post I said that the children had been shopping? Well this is what they bought for me...

a St Oswalds Way T-shirt - front

and back...

a St Oswalds Way fridge magnet and...

a pair of lovely mohair socks, which are very warm and according to the label never get smelly! (They are currently under test!)

Thank-you children for my presents (and Tim for paying), now I just have to finish the last bits of the St Oswalds Way.
   

Rothbury to Kirkwhelpington - 15 miles

Yet again another clear blue sunny day! We started today's walk just outside of Rothbury walking south, up a track and onto the hills.

For those of you paying attention, yes I have missed out a section of the St Oswalds Way. I will be doing the Warkworth to Rothbury section sometime in April.

Ben led the way up the track...

then it was a race up onto the hills. At the top there are rocks with cup and ring markings, but the car park was also in sight where Tim was meeting us so I had to carry on down the other side to keep up with the children.

At the Lordenshaws car park, we were met by Chris and Pete who were walking with me this weekend, James also carried on walking but the others decided to go shopping in Rothbury with instructions to find sausages and bacon for tomorrows breakfast!

This is the path up onto the Simmonside hills, the first part has stone flags on it but then it was quite boggy especially as we continued across the heather.

This is Coquet cairn which is the highest point on the St Oswalds Way. Great views from up here, as far as the North Sea.

 
  

As we came off the hills and into Harwood forest we came across loads of snow that still hasn't melted. It was quite deep and very crispy. Chris had her walking poles, all she needed was a pair of skis...

After the hamlet of Harwood, Chris, Tim and the children went off to find a tearooms and Pete and I carried on for the last five miles.  (They were also buying secret things for mothers day which I will show in my next blog)

Coming down into Kirkwhelpington we followed the line of these old earthworks, which are thought to be part of an old droving route between England and Scotland.
 

From Kirkwhelpington we got back in the cars and drove to YHA Bryness to stay the night.

Craster to Warkworth - 13 1/2 miles

Last Sunday was wet...

Kez was wet...

I was wet...

the path was wet...

but we soldiered on, battling against the North East coast winds!

This house is part of the Howick estate, built by Earl Grey (of the tea), as a bathing house. There are steps down to a bathing area in the rocks below. It looked a bit cold and wild for any bathing today.

Just look at those chimney pots, this is obviously not your average seaside cottage. I wonder what it is like inside.
 

This house is also on the Howick estate. It is a replica of a stone age dwelling of a type which has been found in this area. The actual dwelling would have been larger than this.

From the picture on the display boards it looks like a cosy, lively place to live. Kez thought they may have been a bit cold, especially given the weather we were experiencing!!

With a warm fire, some fish to cook and furs to sit on it could almost have been cozy! I don't think Kez was convinced.

From Howick we continued down the coast to Boulmer and Kez made a couple of new friends...

Barty Owl and

a Tern.

Between Boulmer and Alnmouth we went through yet another caravan park, although the accomodation was a little more eccentric in this one!

After Alnmouth, Kez hopped (literally) into the car while I continued on down the coast. The first bit was on the cycle path, a bit boring but interest was added by various sculptures. This first one is a mile post, 4 miles to go today, how many to Helston?

After the cycle path I walked through the dunes and then back down to the beach for my last section on the North East coast.

My last view of the North Sea before turning inland to Warkworth.

This is the old bridge and gatehouse into Warkworth, now only open to pedestrians. This was a lovely end to the walk today. After crossing the bridge you walk along the river and then up through the town to the castle.
 

Hope you enjoyed todays walk. Next I am temporarily skipping a section and will be doing Rothbury to Kirkwhelpington. Perhaps the weather will be drier.....some warm sunshine would be nice...OK it is March I'll maybe have to wait for warmer weather.