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AUTUMN 2002 - HADRIAN'S WALL Newcastle x3 3/10/02-6/10/02

Thursday 3rd October

Travel day Pat drove picking up Jack, Phil Dick and Steve leaving the last pickup around 09:20. The motorway was its usual self with a hold up soon after we joined, we carried on though just missing some heavy showers further north arriving at Greenhead at 14:20.

Pete Thomson had travelled up by train to Newcastle then on to Haltwhistle where we had originally arranged to meet. As he had got there much earlier than us he decided to walk on to Greenhead, again we were not there so he went to the Roman Museum.

Whist the others got changed Pete was contacted but he was going to be some time in the museum so they started to walk to Haltwhistle, within 300 yards Dick's lace broke on his new boots, after emergency repairs walking continued arriving just in time for a quick pint ( 5mins) at the Station Hotel before getting the train to Newcastle.


We found our hotel and after a wash and change met Paul, Ian and Graham in the Punch Bowl. They travelled up on the train and stayed in the Youth Hostel. Leaving the pub we walked into town to eat and see the sights. Food was taken at a pasta house moving on to The Duke of Wellington for a couple before going on to the Crown Pasada. Whist in the Crown Pasada two things of note occurred, one Pete and Jack were missing, they had stopped of in a wine bar, as the music sounded good. When talking later Jack said the wine was like nectar and the décor was to be seen to be believed, sadly we were only there for one night. The second, whilst standing between Pat and Phil Dick was goosed, both Pat and Phil denied any knowledge of this event and say it was the girl who walked passed, in any event no action was taken.

Friday 4th October

It was a fine sunny start with the day becoming overcast later but remaining fine all day for all but Jack, his day started overcast with heavy clouds which brightened as the day went on, so much for the nectar the night before.




We all met at Jesmond station on the Metro to go to Newcastle Central then on to Hexham to start the walk. Upon leaving the station we proceeded to the river then carried along it to Butt End where we crossed the river, we had to walk along the road for awhile before joining a footpath by the river.




When crossing one of the fields with Horses in Ian pulled again being followed all the way to the style, the horse would not take no for an answer trying to nibble his ear on the way, managing to escape at the end of the field.




The rest of us got through ok Pete gave it a couple of Polo's, jack looked very apprehensive however as he had to push past the horse. After this we left the river to walk on the road to the Red Lion at Newbrough for lunch, waiting for 5 min's for it to open.




After lunch we carried on along the road for about 3 miles climbing steadily all the way. We left the road after Grindon Hill to cross to Hadrian's wall. The path was very indistinct towards the end near Moss kennels, we ended up walking through someone's drive. They were ok though saying many people miss the path.






After crossing the Military road (B 6318 ) we climbed up a hill to join the footpath along the wall and on to Once Brewed. The walk along the wall was up and down but not to bad. As we walked down one dip we passed a sycamore tree that had been used in the film Robin Hood with Kevin Costner.




When we got to the hostel most stayed there for a meal others went to Twice Brewed next door to eat, arranging to meet later in the pub. The food in the pub was very good but the hostel food was not that great. Ian, Paul and Graham joined Pat, Dick and Steve after their meal saying the others had gone for a lay down. Some time later Phil appeared saying he could not wake Pete and Jack, they did make it in time for a pint though. This walk had been a first as Ian, Paul and Graham had been having several pints of orange and only a couple of beers. They were in training for the Great North Run. The walk back to the hostel was a challenge not through the amount of beer consumed but it was very dark. Whilst turning into the road of the hostel Pat tripped on the kerb, Dick said you should treat it like towing a trailer keeping a wide berth on the corner, he promptly then proceeded to trip over the next kerb.

Saturday 5th October

Pete, Phil and Jack walked to Vindolanda to visit the Roman museum, it took them longer to get there than expected as again the path was not that clear. After leaving the museum they walked to Bardon Mill for lunch, then getting a bus to meet us at Greenhead later in the day. Whilst waiting for the bus the village idiot came and had an interesting chat to them. The rest of us set out along the wall to Haltwhistle as we climbed up to the wall the cloud was on top of the hills.




Although it kept fine we were disappointed that the low cloud obscured the views. We came of the wall near milecastle 42 to walk down to Haltwhistle. Reaching Haltwhistle and entering the town there was a coffee morning in aid of breast cancer, so we stopped and contributed. A wise choice it as was only £1 for tea and cakes, which were home made and very good.


After we were lightly refreshed we went on to find The Black Bull a pub which brewed its own beer, unfortunately when we got there they were not brewing as the brewer was of sick but they did have six beers. Paul, Ian and Graham left to get the train back to Newcastle ready for the run the next day. Dick, Pat and Steve stayed in the pub to sample some more beers before walking back to Greenhead after a quick tea break in the New Inn. As we walked into Greenhead Dick's lace broke again in the same place as on the way out. After talking to the warden it was decided to go to Blenkinsopp Castle for a meal. It was an interesting walk there as it was getting dark and there were no streetlights but we maid it ok. There was a large fire near the bar which was very hot, we ordered food and sat away from the fire. Pete had ordered a starter, Ribs, which when they came were a meal in themselves. Pete shared these round, as even he could not eat all of those and a main course. During the meal Dick had a Smirnoff Ice as he had had enough beer and was accused by Steve of having a "girlie" drink. After the meal Dick, Pat and Steve went back to the Greenhead hotel to try one there. It was a good job we had a torch even so it was not easy to pick the right path. As it turned out the beer was a bit "green" in the hotel but dicks girlie drink was ok. There was a punk band playing in the back room but we did not go in just staying in the bar listening to the local domestics at the bar. The others came back later having some difficulty as Jacks torch only had one candle power but they made it ok in the end.

Sunday 6th October

Another fine day after an early breakfast Dick, Pat and Steve set out to walk the wall from Greenhead back to Haltwhistle were they had left the wall the day before. The start of the walk was up hill and quite steep, there were good views however once the top was reached.


The walk continued going up and down until we got back to milecastle 42 And we returned along the vallum which was only a slight incline and good straight roman path.


Jack and Phil went to the Roman museum and took in the views at Walton before going back down to Greenhead. Pete made his way back to Haltwhistle to get his train. We had arranged to meet at Pat's car for 12:00 however Jack and Phil were not there they, as we had guessed, were in the tearooms. We then left to take lunch at a Jennings pub called Lane End just before the M6. The journey home was ok until we reached jcn 16 Stafford when we hit lots of traffic and queue's. We could not go across to the M1 as that was closed so had to sit and suffer. It did start to move and we got going again until we got to Birmingham when it all stopped again. We had changed drivers with Dick taking the wheel, we tried to go round the jams, whilst driving and looking for road signs dick went through a red light fortunately there was nothing close. When we got on to the motorway we joined with the traffic we had left. Eventually we got home about 20:00 still in one piece no thanks to Dick.

Postscript The three Great North Run participants all successfully completed the race and celebrated Sunday evening back in Newcastle City centre with a few well deserved ales. There was a good atmosphere and all enjoyed the experience of the day.