Spring Walk June 2010, Northumberland/Scotland (Wooler & Kirk Yetholm)
10/6/2010-15/6/2010
Thursday 10th June 2010,
Travel day. We all left early (06:00), a wet journey at times but we all arrived safely at Craster, meeting in The Jolly Fisherman for lunch. Crab sandwiches (not as good as the Cove House Hotel in Portland) were the order of the day.
After lunch we walked up the coast past Dunstanburgh Castle to Low Newton-by-the-Sea. Here we stopped at The Old Ship Inn for light refreshment. They brewed their own beer. Various samples taken all met with approval. Then back along the coast to Craster and the cars to continue on to the Hostel at Kirk Yetholm. It stayed fine though a bit windy.
Dave and Dick went to get supplies for breakfasts and sandwiches (as no lunch time stop the next day) as it was a self catering hostel. All food, juice, coffee, tea and milk purchased and taken to the hostel ok but Dick forgot the eggs, however he had got tomatoes as John did not like eggs! However, this did not stop John cracking egg jokes all weekend even though he did not want eggs!
Paul met the rest of the party at the Hostel having just finished walking the last two days of the Pennine Way (having started 27 years ago!).
After a wash and change it was off to The Border Hotel for the evening meal and refreshments. Very good food and Ale in a pleasant atmosphere.
Friday 11th June 2010
We got up to an overcast morning but it cleared as the day went on getting quite warm. As we climbed it got quite windy.
After a breakfast of porridge, beans and tomatoes on toast, toast and jam (no one missed the eggs apart from John), juice, tea and coffee, we collected our packed lunches (ham and cheese sandwiches) to prepare for the days walk.
The days walk was to Wooler where we would be staying for the night. The route taken was out of Kirk Yetholm along the Pennine Way as far as Corbie Craig, here Dick, Ian and Richard left to cut out some of the distance. The others went on up The Schil, Red Cribs, Auchope Cairn, Cairn Hill, The Cheviot, here leaving the Pennine Way to go to Scald Hill, Broadhope Hill, where they met the others. All then went down to Broardstruthers Burn via Andy’s off path experience, on to Wooler Common and on into Wooler via the St Cuthberts Way to our accommodation.
Dick, Ian and Richard followed paths via Mounthooly, Fawcett Shank, Dunsdale, Lambden Burn, and Goldscleugh to where they met the others.
After a wash and change we all met in Wooler. Some ate in The Black Bull, while others at the fish and chip shop. All drank in The Black Bull until it was time to retire.
Saturday 12th 2010
We woke up to wind (Dick’s was the best!) and cloud but both cleared during the day.
At breakfast (full English) John had to give his egg away as it was too eggy! After breakfast we all met in Wooler before walking back to Kirk Yetholm along the St Cuthbert’s Way.
Again a slight divergence of routes. Some went up to Wooler Common doing the same bit of The St Cuthbert’s way as we had come down the previous day. Others went along the road until they met the St Cuthbert’s Way. All carried on along the St Cuthbert’s Way until it met the Pennine Way which was then taken into Kirk Yetholm.
As we arrived before the hostel opened, light refreshment was taken at The Border Hotel. Some rushed back as they had booked a meal early as they wanted to watch England v USA in the World Cup, others ate a bit later.
Again food and drink could not be faulted in any way.
Sunday 14th June 2010
We woke up to drizzle which came and went as the day went on but did not develop into anything more.
After another no egg breakfast it was planned to go to Morebattle via the St Cuthbert’s Way. Most walked there but as some only wanted to walk one way, Dick and Richard stayed in Kirk Yetholm doing a circular walk before taking Steve’s car to Morebattle to The Templemore Inn for lunch.
After lunch, back to Town Yetholm and The Plough Hotel but no real ale so then back to The Border Hotel before returning to the hostel for a wash and brush up. Again the evening meal was taken at The Border Hotel, up to its usual high standards.
Monday 15th June 2010
We woke up to a bright but breezy day. After breakfast we went to Holy Island for a walk around. It had been hoped to walk across to Holy Island but we were unsure if there was enough time, so we settled for a drive across the causeway. Once we had stopped for tea and cake we returned to the cars to drive home. The journey was uneventful but some hold-ups on the motorway.
Again another good walk, the weather had been kind, plenty of exercise as several steep climbs.
Those present Paul Keech, Ian Cousins, Dave Debnam, Graham Busch, Andy Capp, John Wooton, Pat Jennings, Steve Bousted, Richard Neale and Dick Grundy.
