Walking Holidays in the UK

I reported a while ago on the prospects for improvements to the end of the West Highland Way, with the Nevis Bank Hotel up for sale. Work has now been approved at the other end of the West Highland Way, in Milngavie town centre. The first phase will involve improvements for to the underpass from the station – including new lighting, paving and cladding. I think the council is right to identify the underpass as an important gateway to the town – most people starting a walking holiday along the West Highland Way will arrive by train, and this is their introduction to the town.

The Hexham Courant is today reporting a proposal for an “Alpine Style Gondala Facility” to link the town of Haltwhistle with Hadrian’s Wall. The Haltwhistle Partnership appears to be behind the scheme.

Haltwhistle Partnership project manger is quoted in the Courant: “One of our key objectives is to encourage the economic wellbeing of Haltwhistle and district, and any project that offers this potential benefit should be given consideration.

“Whether or not the cable car concept proves feasible here, it has definitely stimulated a lot of debate and encouraged people to think more broadly about income generating possibilities for the town and surrounding area.”

Whilst the Northumberland National Park Authority described the proposals as “interesting and innovative.” What’s that code for I wonder?

It all looks like a bit of a publicity stunt to me. Undoubtedly a cable car ride covering several miles would be a great tourist attraction – but I just can’t see how the finances would ever stack up – without shedloads of public subsidy. I’d have to be convinced that such a facility could be built without scarring the most dramatic section of landscape Hadrian's Wall passes through.

Labels: Hadrian's Wall, Pie in the Sky

Tree felling has recently taken place in near Craigallian, just after the start of the West Highland Way. The West Highland Way was breifly diverted through Mugdock County Park for a short section. Harvesting is now complete and the Way is reopend. However there are still stacks of timber along in the forest which are presently being extracted. Walkers are reminded to keep off these - they can be unstable and start rolling. You may also encounter lorries and other vehicles removing the timber. So be careful! The work should be complete shortly before the start of the main walking holiday season.

Labels: tree felling, Walking Holiday, west highland way

I noted in January that a section of the Great Glen Way on the north side of Loch Ness between Fort Augustus and Invermoriston has been closed for tree felling. The latest news is that the felling has been completed ahead of schedule, and the timber is now being extracted. Re-opening is expected on 31 March as planned. The first mickledore clients on one of our walking holidays along the route start later in April. It will be interesting to see how the veiws have been opened up by the felling.

Labels: Great Glen Way, walking holidays

The new timetable for the Hadrian’s Wall bus has just been published. The bus follows (roughly) the course of the Hadrian’s Wall National trail, starting at Newcastle and calling at Heddon, Corbridge, Hexham, Chesters, Housesteads, Once Brewed, Haltwhistle, Roman army Museum, Gilsland, Birdoswald, Lanercost, Brampton, Crosby and Carlisle. - So plenty of opportunity to walk a section the Hadrian's Wall Path, of if you are doing a longer walking holiday, the bus can provide a useful backup when the weather’s bad, you get injured, of just feel like a rest.

This year’s timetable is very similar to last year’s. The big change is one extra afternoon bus between Hexham and the Roman Army Museum, the central section where the bus is most heavily used. This had been at the expense of the 2 o’clock departure from Newcastle. Apparently this was little used. If you need to get from Newcastle in the afternoon, jump on the train to Corbridge or Hexham, and pick up the AD122 there. Definitely an improvement, in my opinion.

It’s an excellent service, heavily subsidised by various bodies, including the County Councils – so make use of it to make sure we keep it. Hopefully this year Hadrian’s Wall Heritage, the body in charge of publicising and managing the Wall, will manage the get the timetable printed before the season is over. Whilst they do well to organise and oversee the bus service, they need to improve their publicity, and get things organised earlier, to maximise its usage.

In the meantime, the timetable can be downloaded at

http://www.hadrians-wall.org/ResourceManager/Documents/HWC%20Bus%20Timetable%20%20AD122,%20185,%20681.pdf

Labels: Bus, Hadrian's Wall, Hadrian's Wall Heritage, National Trail