Green Carts Farm to Winshields then Home

Green Carts Farm to WInshields then Home

Yesterday afternoon was a low point but its wonderful what a good nights sleep and some blister plasters will do. I woke up this morning ready and raring to go. I missed sunrise itself but was treated to a wonderful display as the rising sun came out from behind the clouds. It was an awesome view across the North Tyne Valley.

I managed my ‘normal’ 6.30 start and retraced my steps to re-join Hadrian’s Wall trail. Today there was more wall to see and some of most spectacular views of the trip. More uphill than downhill though I remember very well from my walk with Christopher earlier this year they are a lot of steep climbs and descents.

This first part of the day was once again walking beside the Military Road on one side or the other through pasture land. The views on every side were wide and expansive. I was really appreciating the opportunity to enjoy the landscape.

The next point of interest was Carrawburgh Fort. Here even the lumps and bumps were obscured by tall grass. Thankfully there was a narrow mown path through the site to the well preserved Mithraic Temple.

A lot much gentle up and downs followed. The ground was quite rough although mostly grass, I was thankful to be walking in dry weather as some sections looked like they could be very boggy.

So the road or in this case the trail goes ever on in the photo below you can just make out the hills on the horizon.

I then started on the climb up to Sewingshields the views just got better and better. This section of the wall was all completely new to me.

I was enjoying this walk so much, apart from the sore feet. I know people who think that any view which aren’t like the Lake District Fells or the Scottish Highlands aren’t worth looking at but I just love all kinds of countryside from the micro-pockets where I live to these seeping vistas

Then I turned a corner and there in the distance was Housesteads Fort one of my important stops of the day.

Housesteads is one of the most visited bits of Hadrian’s Wall and getting there was almost a return to normal society. I had not been meeting many walkers and others except around the major sites like Chesters yesterday and Housesteads today. As it happens and I just make this observation the people who most often stopped to chat on the way were overseas visitors. Whilst I enjoy solo walking I do always greet those I make eye contact with and if there is an opportunity for a short conversation I do enjoy that.

At Housesteads I used my English Heritage Membership for free entrance and my discount for drink, snacks and souvenir guidebook. It was an nice place for a sit – the staff were kind enough to provide a space for my backpack whilst I wandered around. I am appreciating the fact that Romans built all their forts to a very standard plan so the bits of wall and foundations remaining make more sense.

The next section of walk was the section that I had walked with Christopher earlier this year so it had a certain sense of familiarity. It was also the busiest section of my walk. In one place there were three school parties.

It was the afternoon and I had been walking since 6.30 so I took the decision to walk along the Military Way for this section. This runs just to the south of the wall and tends to miss out the really steep up and downs at the edge of the crags. I had done those before!

As I passed Sycamore Gap (the famous tree) it really felt like so many people had a better connection to a tree from a film than the wall which it was growing on. I make no judgement just the observation.

Like the day before I was beginning to flag a bit so pressed on. I soon reached Peel Gap where Christopher and I had started our walk.

I decided to walk along the wall a bit further then take the path down to my camp site – it took me to Winshield Crags which when I got there turned out to be the highest point on the wall and half way across the country. I couldn’t have walked much further today and decided I would leave my final walking section for another time.

There was a precipitous footpath leading down from the wall to the camp site. I had certainly been so thankful for my walking poles which had been so helpful getting me up and in this case down hills.

It was a great camp site and was only a short walk to the pub. So after getting set up and showered and changed – I felt I deserved a treat to end my epic journey. So Burger and Chips it was followed by Sticky Toffee pudding and two pints of Ale Caesar. I had to keep the Roman theme going.

It was another good night. When I woke up the next morning I had a while to wait for my bus and the forecast was for rain by 7.30. I packed everything up then went up the the farm where they have a very nice room with table and chairs and a kitchen. While it was raining I was having a cup of tea and reading.

It was soon time to go home so with the aid of my trusty bus pass I got the bus to Hexham, then the bus to the Metrocentre, then the bus home. I was home by lunchtime. I was so thankful I had done this after so much thinking. Reflections to follow ……….