Day 12 - Sunday 19 May 2019
Hexham to Grindon (15.2 miles)
Pleasant if not odd 2 day stay in Hexham – breakfast was odd, first time we have had breakfast served by a host carrying a 20 month old baby at the same time. The owner lived elsewhere, so you only saw her in the morning – otherwise the guests had general use of the house. We left Hexham to the chiming of church bells. Glad to be out of the lovely but busy town and traffic once we crossed the A road. Acomb nice (unpleasant dog poo notices) – found horses blocking gate at Crag House – had to find an altervative way over, in doing so broke a small part of the fence. First sight of the wall at Planetrees – cows blocking stile, therefore Dave had to distract them so Angie and Fudge could cross safely. At Chokerford – off route to visit Roman Bridge – did not stop at the Riverside Café due to all the tables been taken over by a big group of bikers. We rejoined the wall at Walwick – a lovely transit with Fudge off lead. Encountered black fly beasties at Shield on the Wall. We met Neil again about ½ a mile from the Old Repeater Station. Met Les our host – Beer, Diet Coke and a lovely chat, nice old boy. Other guests – Peter + 1 (Austrian/Italian); 1 German Girl we all had Dinner together.
Hexham Abbey
The Forum in Hexham - a charming art deco cinema with a pub below it
Crossing the River Tyne at Hexham
Thankfully we were only walking along the A6079 for a short time before leaving the business to head for Acomb
An intricate wood carving near The Hermitage, Acomb
Clearly they are fed up with this anti-social habit but there is a nicer way to make your point
Not a Halfway House as such - simply the name of a farm
Just after Halfway House we met this Fudge doppelgänger and his owner - just love his feet
Crag House near Planetrees - not far to the wall now
The footpath headed through this gate at Crag House but despite being extremely pleasant, these two were not budging to let us through - instead we had to scale a small fence just to the left of them.
Our first view of Hadrain's Wall at Planetrees
I wonder how this village got its name?
Arriving at Chollerford we decided to go off route to visit the remains of the Roman Bridge near Chesters
The remains of a Roman bridge across the North Tyne near Chesters Fort. On the eastern river bank here there is evidence of two successive bridges: an early one that just carried Hadrian's Wall, and a second, much larger one, that carried the Military Way - the road that serviced the Wall. This fine bridge, one of the most remarkable survivals on Hadrian's Wall, proclaimed the power and prestige of the Roman emperor and his empire.
Looking over to the western bank of the North Tyne and Chesters Fort from the Roman Bridge remains
The Roman Soldiers who built the wall often left inscriptions or carvings. This example is sited on the lowest course of the north wing of the bridge abutment - it is a phallic symbol which represented good fortune and protection against evil.
The Grade II listed Chollerford Bridge over the Tyne
Chesters Stables
Once part of the Chesters Estate, the building fell into decay but is now luxury self catering accommodation
Once part of the Chesters Estate, the building fell into decay but is now luxury self catering accommodation
The route from Chollerford to Walwick was along the B6318 which thankfully had a pavement.
Black Carts Turret
Just after Walwick and Black Carts the wall runs perfectly straight to the Trig Point near Milecastle 30 at Limestone Corner
The Trig Point at Limestone Corner (Milecastle 30)
The B6318 between Milecastles 30 & 34 - straight as a die
The Temple of Mithras at Carrawburgh
This fascinating Roman temple to the god Mithras was built by the soldiers based at Carrawburgh. Mithras was an eastern god who, according to legend, had captured and killed the primeval bull in the cave, which Mithraic temples were intended to evoke. The temple was probably built by soldiers at Carrawburgh fort in AD 200. The three altars found here (copies stand in the temple) were all dedicated by commanding officers of the unit stationed here, the First Cohort of Batavians from the Rhineland.
This fascinating Roman temple to the god Mithras was built by the soldiers based at Carrawburgh. Mithras was an eastern god who, according to legend, had captured and killed the primeval bull in the cave, which Mithraic temples were intended to evoke. The temple was probably built by soldiers at Carrawburgh fort in AD 200. The three altars found here (copies stand in the temple) were all dedicated by commanding officers of the unit stationed here, the First Cohort of Batavians from the Rhineland.
The last part of the days walking between the temple and The Old Repeater Station was relatively flat thankfully.
Just shy of our digs for the night we bumped into Neil again who we last saw when we left Middleton
Here we are arriving at The Old Repeater Station after a great days walking along the wall
Day 12 Data
|
Mileage
Cumulative Mileage Time Total Ascent |
15.2 miles
133.1 miles 6hrs 50mins 1696ft (517m) |
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