Hadrian’s Wall Path, Day 0

/ alliwanders

Time for another long-distance walk! This time I’m doing the Hadrian’s Wall Path: 84 miles coast to coast across northern England. I’m currently in the ending city of Newcastle (it was the easiest airport to fly into) with a day of sightseeing planned, then tomorrow I’ll head west to Carlisle to get ready for the start!

First up was a wander down for a sneak peek at the Path which runs for several miles along the bank of the river Tyne.

A few of the 7 bridges of Newcastle. The riverside walk is full of benches, bars, and cafes – would be buzzing on a sunny weekend
The city itself is rather grey and gritty – an overcast day doesn’t help

After strolling for a mile or four I headed back to catch a train for Hexham, about 40 minutes away, as I’d read it was a pleasant town with a great church.

Hexham Abbey was built in the 12th C. on the ruins of a church from 674 AD.
15th C painted panels on the rood screen. The organist was practicing lovely orchestral pieces during my visit
Gorgeous parks and gardens around the abbey
Old Market Square. Quaint, compact town center but unfortunately a lot of empty shopfronts as is becoming typical these days

After a nice tea & cake at the abbey cafe I returned to Newcastle to continue my sightseeing there as the day was still young. My research didn’t come up with much beyond the castle and cathedral so that’s what I saw….

This Keep is the “New” castle built in 1080 on a defensive site dating back to the Romans, = Newcastle. Originally a much larger site only this, and the Black Gate tower, below, remain
The Black Gate is a ticket office, cafe, bookstore, gift shop, museum, kids learning center, offices, etc – all in a 4 storey, 40×20 turret!
Back to the Keep: the crypt
Multiple steep stone staircases and passageways turn the square Keep into a maze
a 2nd floor display of Roman artifacts found on site
3rd & 4th floors: Great Hall. A little room up and to the left of the lower window was the prison of Robert the Bruce’s sister for four years
Chapel – “one of the finest surviving examples of Norman decorative stone carvings in England”

And over to Newcastle Cathedral, c. 1350.

The best part was the cafe! It was run by a charity supporting ex-offenders. All the cakes & sweets are baked by prisoners, either in house by those on a daily work release program (7a-7p then back to jail at night) or made in the prison’s kitchens and brought over, and several staff are ex-offenders learning a new trade. Also the music! I think they were just a local group practicing at the cafe but the music was so beautiful I was convinced to go for my 2nd round of tea & cake of the day.

And that’s all I needed to see in Newcastle. Tomorrow is scheduled just to be a transfer day to Carlisle but there’s a full week of rain scheduled so I may attempt some of the walk if conditions remain dry….. I’ll bring my umbrella just in case 🙂