Postponed from last year, this year’s weekend away will be at Hexham, Northumberland.
Friday 17 September :
Travel to Hexham and check in to your accommodation.
Parking in Hexham seems to be limited to a special disc zone parking system, presumably for locals and hotel residents etc. Be sure to check with your accommodation what their parking arrangements are.
Places to visit enroute to Hexham via M62/A1/M1:
♦ Newby Hall & Gardens near Ripon, we had planned a stop off enroute to Hexham for those who were setting off earlier in the day. However, the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show is being held here and so normal admission to the hall and gardens is paused. If you would like to visit the flower show, tickets are £19.50 for the day. This will get you admission to the Hall and Gardens too but please check https://www.flowershow.org.uk/ for full details. Allow approx 2hrs drive from the Hall to Hexham.
♦ Mother Shipton’s Cave, nr Harrogate. https://www.mothershipton.co.uk/
♦ Raby Castle & Gardens, County Durham. https://www.raby.co.uk/raby-castle/
♦ Harrogate https://www.visitharrogate.co.uk/
♦ Gibside, Newcastle-up-Tyne https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside
Places to visit enroute to Hexham via M6 North:
♦ Leighton Hall, nr Carnforth (junc 35 M6) https://www.leightonhall.co.uk/
♦ Lancaster Castle (junc 33 or 34 M6) https://www.lancastercastle.com/
♦ The Lune Aqueduct, Lancaster (Junct 34 M6) https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/lune-aqueduct
♦ Sizergh castle nr Kendal (junct 36 M6 – 20 mins drive) https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sizergh
♦ Levens Hall, Kendal (Junc 35 M6 – 23 mins) BUT gardens not open fri/sat so could do it on way back https://www.levenshall.co.uk/
♦ Brockholes nature reserve, nr preston https://www.brockholes.org/
7pm: weekend welcome and meet up :
Venue: The Heart of Northumberland pub https://www.thehearthexham.com/ A chance for everyone to meet and make plans for the weekend. We have reserved tables for drinks and if you wish to dine here please let us know so we can confirm numbers dining with the pub. Or you may wish to make your own arrangements to eat elsewhere before the meet up or afterwards.
Saturday 18 September :
Some free time to have a wander round Hexham.
11am to 4.30pm approx: Walk – Hadrian’s Wall & Housesteads Roman Fort
Meeting point: The Sill – National Landscape & Discovery centre https://www.thesill.org.uk/ at 11:00.
Our walk today will cover approx 6 miles, taking in original sections of Hadrian’s Wall and the Roman Fort of Housesteads. This circular walk is physically demanding. See separate walk details and risk assessment. Allow a minimum of 30 mins for your drive to the meeting point.
Alternative/optional activities:
If you don’t fancy today’s walk, here are some other activities you may wish to consider:
♦ The Sill (National Landscape Discovery Centre, NE47 7AN) – this is the meeting place for today’s walk at 11am and will be an opportunity for you to meet up with walkers and stay on at the centre for a leisurely visit.
♦ Roman historical sites of Vindolanda and Housesteads are near to The Sill. The walkers will be visiting Houseteads for a lunch stop/visit at approx 1pm – so you may see them! (NB: there is a steep climb from Housesteads visitor centre/car park up to the Romain ruins and museum. If you’re driving and require disabled access, you should phone ahead to arrange access to parking bays alongside the Museum. From here, access to the Fort and museum is on level ground.)
♦ Tourist bus service from Hexham which links all the Roman tourist sites and The Sill visitor centre. Bus no AD122 – check website for timetable and fares.
♦ Hexham Abbey and Hexham Old Gaol – in the centre of Hexham.
♦ Within a short distance of Hexham are the lovely villages of Corbridge, Haltwhistle and Alston – the starting point for the South Tynedale Railway, England’s highest narrow-gauge railway
Saturday Evening Meal :
7pm arrival for 7.30pm at The County Hotel
If you are joining us for this evening’s meal, you will have already confirmed your attendance, meal choice and made your payment. If you have not yet done so THE DEADLINE IS 1 SEPTEMBER – see the summer update article on the OOS website for more information; details of menu choices and how to pay.
Sunday 19 September :
Check out of your accommodation (unless you’re lucky and staying on another day). Some free time to have a wander round Hexham.
11.30am – 2.30pm approx : walk – Tyne Green Trail
Meeting Point : Hexham Abbey at 11:30 for our last walk of the weekend – an easy circular walk of 4.5 miles on level ground, along the banks of the River Tyne. See separate walk details and risk assessment and more detail here.
3pm (approx) : depart for journey home.
Some views from Saturday’s walk – hope we get this weather!
and some of Hexham. .
Walk details and risk assessments:
Details of Saturday’s walk: here
Deatils of Sunday’s walk: here