Hadrian's Wall - Lanercost to Steel Rigg

[MiniRambo]

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After weeks of planning (and fund raising), Friday 12th June was upon us. A group of work colleagues from NatWest endeavoured to walk a 15 miles stretch of the Hadrian's Wall path to raise funds for the Eden Valley Hospice, a local charity that provides specialist care for people with life limiting/terminal conditions.

Peter, having done the full route recently, agreed to organise the motley band of enthusiastic, but mixed experience walking group with a couple of colleagues unable to take part due to physical ailment. The walk would start at Lanercost and end at Steel Rigg car park, close to the Twice Brewed hostelry where a few drinks and a meal would be consumed at the end of the day. Cars, and people, were dutifully dropped at the appropriate places and we began to walk at 8.20am.

The intrepid explorers!! Outside Lanercost tearoom!

.... and this time with me on the end!!

The weather was glorious, almost too good. Early morning sunshine with warmer temperatures than recently experienced led to shorts being adorned from the off for a couple and a later change of wear for a couple more!

The first half of the walk is via a mixture of narrow lanes, farm land and a small amount of road walking and our first glimpse of 'the wall' is a small section next to one of the narrow lanes. We gradually gained height and into open countryside the wall soon began to impose itself upon the route and immediate surroundings. It was a really enjoyable ramble with great walking conditions and 'good crack' as we naturally alternated between walking companions.

Our first encounter with 'the wall'!!

On route along one of the narrow lanes.

The first major part of the wall near the hamlet of Banks.

By mid-morning, the temperature was steadily rising and so it was good to take a break at the Birdoswald Roman Fort and enjoy an ice lolly and take on some liquid. We also welcomed our colleague Trevor, who had come across from West Cumbria, and provided his usual light hearted banter!!

Enjoying a break at Birdoswald Roman Fort

Soon after we moved away and passed by the village of Gilsland. Anne began to suffer from the heat and we made a further stop to ensure she had had enough to drink and also 'encourage' her to wear a hat. It seemed to do the trick and she was soon in full stride again.

Approaching the Roman Bridge at Willowford

Our lunch stop was at Thirlwall Castle, an interesting ruin who's high walls provided a cool, shady place to enjoy our butties (and Battenberg, Alistair ). Footwear was checked and before long we were soon up and away. Effectively, it was from Thirlwall Castle that the greater amount of climbing was to be encountered and conversations soon ebbed away as we concentrated on breathing rather than talking.

Looking back down the steep hill following our stop at Thirlwall Castle

A handsome young man known by the name of Craig!

Soon after we reached the information centre at Carvoran, where, we re-grouped before climbing steeply again to the start of the craggy section of the wall. The views were wonderful - to the east the wall stretched away along an undulating route along the edge of the Whin Sill escarpment, in all other directions there were good distant views over Northumberland and Cumbria. To the north, we could see smoke, which we believed to be from controlled burning of heather, it turned out to be an uncontrolled fire at the Spadeadam air base and most of the fire appliances in Cumbria had been called to it.

View from the crag above Carvoran, looking west.

... and from the same place looking south. Crossfell (highest point on the Pennines) is to the left of Craig.

... and again, looking north west.

... this time looking east.

... and a little further along...

.... and zoomed in...

...looking back...

....a little further along, getting higher...

We walked into the car park at Cawfield with a spring in our step and purchased iced lollies and cold drinks. It was just what we needed!! Although five of us managed to partake, soon after the van left so the others missed out on the ice creams, shame.

With renewed energy, I set off on my own to complete the last 4 miles or so of the route. Although it had been good to enjoy the crack and camaraderie you get in a walking group, it was now time to get my head down and make my tired legs (and lungs) work for the hardest part of the day. The undulation I mentioned earlier was now magnified ten fold. However, the views and scenery were at their best and the striving to get to the top of each upward section was made worth while by the vista all around. The Twice Brewed inn was now in sight so I knew the finish of the walk was also nearby.

Zoomed in to the others still enjoying their ice creams at Cawfield

The Wall

... and again showing the terrain..

Great views...

Twice Brewed Inn

I eventually reached the highest point on the ridge at Green Slack, marked by a trig point. It was downhill from here to the car park at Steel Rigg. I was at the car at 4.05pm and soon after, on my way home. It had been a superb walk, with glorious weather and good company and had raised money for a very worthwhile cause.

Selfie taken from the Trig Point.

Well done Peter for organising. We'll be thinking of you over the coming days and hope you receive the medical attention that gets you back to full health!!

[AJNicholls]

Thanks for sharing. This brings back some good memories of when I did the full route in 2013. Lots of history there, found it all quite educational!

[shane1974]

Its good to see hat route in lovely sunshine, I passed that way earlier this year, from Cawfields upto haughtongreen.
had a nice sprinkling of snow then....

[ChrisW]

Great report MR, really captured some lovely shots of home which are always great to see when you're far away. I enjoyed the narrative as much as the pics but can't work out how that ice cream dude got away with only half of you guys getting some....were there a few stragglers?

[trailmasher]

Great report and pics MR and also a worthwhile walk for charity whilst seeing some great scenery. Well done all of you.