Friday, 20 November 2009
Hadrian's Wall Walk – Sites Worth Seeing
For anyone considering a walking holiday on Hadrian’s Wall next year – there are a couple of sites I have come across lately which you might find interesting.
First up, an interview with David Glade, the Hadrian’s Wall National Trail Officer on Country Walking Magazine’s site, Live for the Outdoors. A bit of history on Hadrian’s Wall walk, and a few conservation tips for people on walking holidays along the wall. The quality’s a bit amateurish (could they not find a microphone holder?) but some useful information.
The second 2 sites are anything but amateurish – 2 websites of local photographers both worth great Hadrian’s Wall portfolios:
Roger Clegg, from Hexham, has recently won the Northumberland National Park Authority’s prize in the Landscape Photographer of the Year Competition, with a number of fine Hadrian’s Wall pho’s showcased on the Journal Live site . I particularly like Walltown Crags in the sunrise.
The second site is Joan Thirlaway’s After the Rain site , with a whole host of Hadrian’s Wall pictures, in a number themed galleries. Checkout the sunset at Crag Lough. It’s not often you get such glassy calm water in the evening.
First up, an interview with David Glade, the Hadrian’s Wall National Trail Officer on Country Walking Magazine’s site, Live for the Outdoors. A bit of history on Hadrian’s Wall walk, and a few conservation tips for people on walking holidays along the wall. The quality’s a bit amateurish (could they not find a microphone holder?) but some useful information.
The second 2 sites are anything but amateurish – 2 websites of local photographers both worth great Hadrian’s Wall portfolios:
Roger Clegg, from Hexham, has recently won the Northumberland National Park Authority’s prize in the Landscape Photographer of the Year Competition, with a number of fine Hadrian’s Wall pho’s showcased on the Journal Live site . I particularly like Walltown Crags in the sunrise.
The second site is Joan Thirlaway’s After the Rain site , with a whole host of Hadrian’s Wall pictures, in a number themed galleries. Checkout the sunset at Crag Lough. It’s not often you get such glassy calm water in the evening.
Labels: Hadrian's Wall walk, National Trail, photos
Friday, 15 May 2009
Walking Holidays in Yorkshire: The Cleveland Way Celebrates it 40th Anniversary.
The Cleveland Way was opened in May 1969 and was, surprisingly, the second National Trail to be opened. It is a brilliant walk, combining desolate moorlands, dramatic views from the edge of the North York Moors plateau, and the cliffs and beaches of the North Yorks coastline. Despite all this, it has never enjoyed the popularity of other national Trails, such as the Pennine Way and Hadrian’s Wall. At Mickledore Travel we have been organising Cleveland Way Walking Holidays for a number of years, and numbers are steadily growing. It is however, less popular than some of our other walking holidays, such the Coast to Coast Walk.
To celebrate the anniversary people are being encourage to walk their favourite section on 24 May. Malcolm Hodgson, National Trails Officer for the Cleveland Way, said:
“Whether you’re looking to complete the whole 110 miles or just fancy a short afternoon stroll, the Cleveland Way will take you through the very best the North York Moors has to offer. It has changed considerably from the first few years when waymarker signs were few and far between and long distance routes were very much for hardy hikers. Today the trail is managed for everyone to enjoy with a clear path and lots of great places to rest your legs along the way. We’ve also improved accessibility considerably and there is now just one stile on the inland section.”
My favourite section? Possibly the Wainstones, a jumble of Gritstone boulders perched on the very edge of the North York Moors, - great boulders, with great views over the flatter grounds to the North towards Middlesbrough and the North Sea.
To celebrate the anniversary people are being encourage to walk their favourite section on 24 May. Malcolm Hodgson, National Trails Officer for the Cleveland Way, said:
“Whether you’re looking to complete the whole 110 miles or just fancy a short afternoon stroll, the Cleveland Way will take you through the very best the North York Moors has to offer. It has changed considerably from the first few years when waymarker signs were few and far between and long distance routes were very much for hardy hikers. Today the trail is managed for everyone to enjoy with a clear path and lots of great places to rest your legs along the way. We’ve also improved accessibility considerably and there is now just one stile on the inland section.”
My favourite section? Possibly the Wainstones, a jumble of Gritstone boulders perched on the very edge of the North York Moors, - great boulders, with great views over the flatter grounds to the North towards Middlesbrough and the North Sea.
Labels: Cleveland Way, National Trail, walking holidays
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Hadrian's Wall Bus Timetable Published.
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
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
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