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Hadrian's Wall Path - Day 5 (Wednesday 4th May 2011) Wall to Wellhouse Farm(via Hexham & Corbridge) - 20 miles
Well today was supposed to be a really short day, 9 miles to Wellhouse farm campsite in Wallhouses, but it seemed a bit silly to be at the campsite by lunchtime with nothing to do so we decided to take the alternative route in our guidebook via Hexham and Corbridge. Unfortunately we didn't decide this until we'd set off at half past 10 from the hotel, not realising it would turn into a 20 mile day! Ah well, you live and learn! It's another sunny day and we set off towards St. Oswald's hill head where there's a tea room and a big wooden cross, we actually take a wrong turn here, following the main path before turning back and heading across into fields on the opposite side of the road. Then it's through the village of Acomb which has a couple of pubs and then back into fields again. We have to pass through a field with a bull in it, luckily he doesn't seem very interested in us and we pass through unscathed!
Hexham Cathedral
There's a bit of road walking heading into Hexham, which is a fairly big town with a Cathedral and lots of shops and cafes. We have a sit down for a bit, my feet are definitely feeling a lot better now, think all this walking has toughened them up! Hexham is a bit more industrial looking and bigger than i was expecting, but it's nice enough. From the town centre we head up a pretty steep hill which in this heat is a bit tiring, and then through Halfmile woods where we see a couple of deers until they catch sight of us and run off! We pass the Duke's house which is a fairly extraordinary looking building before passing through more woodland and emerging onto the road by the Dilston physic garden, home to all sorts of healing plants.
From here you follow the river on open track into Corbridge, where there's some of the roman stones from the original bridge. Corbridge is a lovely little town with lots of little shops and a few good pubs. I recall thinking it would be nice to come back here sometime....little did i know it would be so soon!! We stop for a drink at the black bull and i manage to get pooed on AGAIN by a passing bird...i'm definitely getting a lottery ticket this time! Then it's a fair bit of road walking up to Halton castle which is a very pretty spot before walking on tracks following the side of the road most of the way to Wallhouses. I have to say we were both pretty wiped out at this point and the sign that said Wellhouse farm campsite 1m pretty much nearly finished us off! It must've been the longest mile ever and we were absolutely knackered by the time we finally arrived at the site, with incredibly sore feet!
We arrived at about 6 o'clock to find our bags locked in reception and no-one around to let us in! We eventually found a man round the back of reception who seemed to know what to do and he let us in and took our money. It was only when we were putting up the tent that the realisation began to set in that it was about a 4 mile round trip to the pub and that we only had half a cheese sandwich and a couple of mars bars to last us 'til Heddon on the Wall tomorrow! Neither of could face the walk to the pub so we finally managed to get a taxi from Corbridge village taxis to pick us up, in a Bentley no less, definitely the poshest taxi i've ever been in!! Anyway it all worked out in the end, we bought some sandwiches for tomorrow, had a fantastic meal and a few drinks at the Black bull and got picked up by the same taxi and dropped off at the campsite! Last night in the tent, thank goodness as it's falling to bits!
Hexham Cathedral
There's a bit of road walking heading into Hexham, which is a fairly big town with a Cathedral and lots of shops and cafes. We have a sit down for a bit, my feet are definitely feeling a lot better now, think all this walking has toughened them up! Hexham is a bit more industrial looking and bigger than i was expecting, but it's nice enough. From the town centre we head up a pretty steep hill which in this heat is a bit tiring, and then through Halfmile woods where we see a couple of deers until they catch sight of us and run off! We pass the Duke's house which is a fairly extraordinary looking building before passing through more woodland and emerging onto the road by the Dilston physic garden, home to all sorts of healing plants.
From here you follow the river on open track into Corbridge, where there's some of the roman stones from the original bridge. Corbridge is a lovely little town with lots of little shops and a few good pubs. I recall thinking it would be nice to come back here sometime....little did i know it would be so soon!! We stop for a drink at the black bull and i manage to get pooed on AGAIN by a passing bird...i'm definitely getting a lottery ticket this time! Then it's a fair bit of road walking up to Halton castle which is a very pretty spot before walking on tracks following the side of the road most of the way to Wallhouses. I have to say we were both pretty wiped out at this point and the sign that said Wellhouse farm campsite 1m pretty much nearly finished us off! It must've been the longest mile ever and we were absolutely knackered by the time we finally arrived at the site, with incredibly sore feet!
We arrived at about 6 o'clock to find our bags locked in reception and no-one around to let us in! We eventually found a man round the back of reception who seemed to know what to do and he let us in and took our money. It was only when we were putting up the tent that the realisation began to set in that it was about a 4 mile round trip to the pub and that we only had half a cheese sandwich and a couple of mars bars to last us 'til Heddon on the Wall tomorrow! Neither of could face the walk to the pub so we finally managed to get a taxi from Corbridge village taxis to pick us up, in a Bentley no less, definitely the poshest taxi i've ever been in!! Anyway it all worked out in the end, we bought some sandwiches for tomorrow, had a fantastic meal and a few drinks at the Black bull and got picked up by the same taxi and dropped off at the campsite! Last night in the tent, thank goodness as it's falling to bits!
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