A Week on Holiday in Northumberland

Saturday 23rd to Saturday 30th August 2014

Last week we had an excellent family holiday in northern Northumberland visiting beaches, coast, castles and hills.  Here are a few photos:

Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle

Inside Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle and some of the Farne Islands

Flodden Field

Some of the ramparts and walls in Berwick

More of the ramparts and walls in Berwick

Peacock butterfly in Cragside gardens

Cragside

The Cheviot from Ros Castle

Seahouses harbour

Lindisfarne Priory

Lindisfarne Castle

Lindisfarne Causeway

Bamburgh beach

Bamburgh beach

Pennine Way: Day 16 - Auchope Hut to Kirk Yetholm

Distance: 11km; Ascent: 250m; Solo

See route in new window

I woke to wind howling around the hut and was glad that I decided not to camp last night!  After a leisurely breakfast in the hut (well I wouldn't want to arrive at the pub before they start serving lunch!) I set off just after 9. It was a gloriously sunny morning, but the bitter cold wind meant I had to wear my waterproofs to keep warm.

Summit of The Schil

After visiting The Schil, I opted for the low level option owing to the bitter wind and got into Kirk Yetholm just after 12. I was very pleased to discover that the Border Hotel is the Edinburgh & SE Scotland CAMRA pub of the year 2009 & 2010!

The end of the Pennine Way!

I decided to celebrate my completion of the Pennine Way with a couple of pints of Houston Texas, which despite it's name is actually a Scottish ale, together with shoulder of lamb followed by apple crumble :)  It was strange to be finishing the Pennine Way without Lynsey, given that we started it together 2 years ago, but I'll be on my way home to see her shortly.

Pennine Way: Day 15 - Byrness to Auchope Hut

Distance: 32km; Ascent: 1210m; Solo

See route in new window

Another long day today, but most of it was dry, which was a big improvement on yesterday!  After yesterday's long day, I had a bit of a lie in today and once again only started walking at 9:30. It was a bit of a pull up through the forests to the ridge, but once there the views made it worthwhile:)  The Cheviot looked a long long way away!

It was a pleasant walk to Chew Green, the site of a Roman camp, although there were just sheep there today! The border ridge seemed to go on forever, with every fence corner seeming very much like the last!  The wind picked up as I neared Windy Gyle, from where the path was slabbed almost all the way to The Cheviot, which made for hard going on the feet!

Finally I reached Auchope Cairn and began the descent down to the refuge hut, which I arrived at at 7:15. After a trip to the Henhole to have a bit of an explore and to get some water, I returned to the hut to have a welcome cup of tea whilst I watched the sunset :)

Auchope Hut

Pennine Way - Day 14

I think I must have forgotten that I didn't make it as far as Bellingham, when I ended up having a very relaxed start to the day at the campsite. This meant I didn't actually start walking until 9:30!

Anyway, once I'd actually started walking it was dry and occasionally sunny for the first couple of hours. After that light rain set in for the rest of the day; so much for the sunny day that had been forecast!
It took somewhat longer than expected to reach Bellingham, where I arrived at 1ish to have lunch by the North Tyne. Over lunch I made the mistake of looking at my guidebook, which claimed that it would take a further 7 1/4 to 9 hours to reach Byrness!

The afternoon was spent walking across boggy moorland in the rain and, at times, I wasn't feeling particularly motivated. By early evening, I finally reached the forest roads. I followed them all the way to the campsite in Byrness, where I arrived 6 3/4 hours after leaving Bellingham; clearly I must walk quicker than the guidebook writers!

A sign at reception states that I won't be entitled to a refund due to bad weather or midges. Luckily neither of them seem to cause me any problems as I eat dinner and enjoy a wee dram from my pitch by a small stream.

Position: llz=55.30501,-2.34993

Pennine Way - Day 13

It was a late start this morning from Greenhead at 11 as I had travelled there from home this morning.

The walking along Hadrian's Wall was excellent, although very busy in places. It was very blustery all day and during the afternoon the cloud cleared and it was uninterupted sunshine for the rest of the day.
After leaving the wall, I didn't see anyone else until reaching Stonehaugh; clearly this isn't a popular section of the Pennine Way!

The campsite in Stonehaugh is good, and the hot water in the toilet block is heated using wind & solar power. Now tucking in to lovely meal of dehydrated pasta and sauce.

Position: llz=55.08146,-2.32461