Day 4 Seahouses to Bamburgh

Journeys End in BamburghBamburgh Castle

Are the lads really heading for another pub?

A room with a view...

This is a truncated day. Its been two days since the heavy rain, but everything is still wet and a long walk is out of the question.

Instead its a short trip along the coast and into Bamburgh which will be journeys end.

Day 3 Afternoon Beadnell - Seahouses

Showers build up to a heavy downpour as we arrive in the town of Beadnell. Luckily the rain pours as we lunch in the Craster Arms in Beadnell

Interestingly Beadnell is the only East coast Harbour which faces West

Day 3 Morning Embleton - Beadnell

Stunning views back to Dunstanburgh castle.

How much better do things look in bright sunshine?

We arrive at Low Newton By the Sea. This is a pretty little village owned by the National Trust. Several of the houses are let out as holiday homes.

Sore feet (and other things) receive attention.

Overnight in the Dunstanburgh Castle Hotel and a much needed bath. Sadly the boots haven't dried out in the Laundry Room

Day 2 Afternoon Craster - Embleton

Its hard going in the rain and the steady plod along the coast continues. Everyone seems quiet and the thought of a hot bath in the Dunstanburgh Castle Hotel is very appealing. Finally we arrive at the Hotel

Day 2 Morning Warkworth - Craster

Its day 2 and the weather has turned for the worse. Its raining, but it only seems like a light drizzle, how wrong can we be. We set off down the River And so on the coast to Craster - famous for its Kipper smoke house. Check out their website at http://www.kipper.co.uk/

Its only about 1 mile to the coast but by the time we arrive everyone is sodden. Expensive Gore-Tex coats do not work in this weather. Water runs off coats and onto wet legs. Waterproof boots are rendered useless as water comes up over the ankes. After while the water in the boots feels like a wetsuit. Warm water squelches around the foot. Talk turns to whether trench foot can be contracted in a single day. This is grim going.

By the time we arrive at Alnmouth, two of the group have a bright idea to cut a long dog-leg off by walking across the Estuary of the River Aln. This ends when the mud sucks off the boots of one of our team. The remainder of the mud flat is crossed in socking feet. In a large puddle in Alnmouth Neil is seen trying to some mud off his feet and out of his boots. For the rest of the day one of us is wayed down with heavy mud.

Day 1 Evening Warkworth

Its Six O'clock as we get into Warkworth. We arrive at the Castle via a football fields. Then down the high street to the B&B (The Hermitage Inn).

Everyone is relieved to get to the end of day 1. The weather so far has smiled on us. With the heavy mud the 17.5 miles seems much harder.

Day 1 Afternoon Felton - Warkworth

We are now in the heart of the Coquet Valley, the weather is good.

But what type of tree is this?
After huge Steak and Ale pies and chips no one really wants to leave the Northumberland Arms.

Progress in the afternoon is more sedate and we could be in a for a late finish.

Day 1 Morning Rothbury - Felton

Day 1 dawns and its bright and sunny. Everyone is in high spirits as we set off fairly promptly at 09:15. The first leg of the walk takes us down the River Coquet towards the coast. The assumption is that this will be downhill all the way. The assumption is broken within seconds as we ascend the first hill of the day.

Down by the river the path is overgrown and by 10:00 everyone has been stung by nettles. The sun is still shining and the mood is good.

The valley itself is very pretty and wildlife abounds.

By 12:00 we are in Wheldon Bridge and making good time. Good enough time for a pit stop at the Anglers Arms.

And onward to Lunch at Felton.

Ilkley to Rothbury 4th July

Its raining as we set off from Ilkley - is this the shape of things to come?

The journey up to Rothbury is uneventful and we arrive at the Queens Head. Its no longer raining and the forecast for Thursday is good

As we settle down for a hearty meal in the pub we hear music playing in the next room. It transpires that the vocalist from Lindisfarne (Rod Clements) is playing to an audience of about 100 people in the pub.

We have a good meal and a quiet pint (or two) and get ready for day 1.

Ilkley Round Table Sponsored Walk 2007

Welcome to this Blog which records the Ilkley and District Round Table Sponsored Walk 2007. This year we are attempting a 60 mile trek through Northumberland. This walk was inspired by Mark Reid in his book the Northumberland Inn Way.

Sponsorship money goes to the RNIB. This year my employer HML have kindly agreed to match any sponsorship I raise.