free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Another weekend exploring local paths led to a last-minute decision to walk Bede's Way - an easy 12-mile walk connecting St. Paul's monastery at Jarrow with St. Peter's church at Sunderland. I thought I'd use this as an opportunity to practice pacing, too, and found a constant speed of 4mph kept the legs stretched and the heart pumping (I'll never be a runner
).
The area is rich in history, and the route guide suggests that some of the paths walked 'may' have been the very paths St Bede and his brothers walked all those centuries ago, but as expected much of the walk is through paths near housing estates and semi-industrial landscapes. That said, there are some lovely views from the windmill at Cleadon, and the stretch along the coast (part of the English Coast Path) makes for a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
The path isn't particularly well way-marked, but hardly difficult to follow. This was a pleasant walk, close to home, on a gorgeous summer's afternoon. But I really do need to get back to the hills ASAP...
Bede’s Way. by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
Bede’s Way. by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
Bede’s Way. by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
Bede’s Way. by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
Bede’s Way. by
Christopher Watson, on Flickr
