After two days of glorious sunshine Monday looked very different. The rain came down throughout the day, sometimes heavy, sometimes light but never slowed enough for us to dry out and remove our wet weather gear for long.
We started to see lots more of Hadrians Wall above ground in this section together we several mile castles and forts
Before lunch the walking was quite straightforward, with some gradients but all manageable. We stopped in Ghisland for lunch at Megs tea shop which was great and highly recommended, it felt like the first time we’d been out of the rain for hours.
Shortly after lunch we crossed into Northumberland and this coincided with a change of landscape and difficulty level. The afternoons walk was tougher than anyone expected, several long steep climbs and short but steep descents down rocky, slippery slopes, the scenery was breathtaking however.
Our total route was 17 miles but combined with the steep ascents it seemed so much further, each of us was very pleased to reach Twice Brewed which is our stop for this evening.
We have now passed the half way point having completed 45 miles in three days. We’re hurting and tired but so far, what an experience we’ve had.
Tomorrow we’ll be heading for The George in Chollerford, its around 13 miles and includes a few more hills before we start to head down from the moorland on our journey to the Tyne valley. The weather is meant to improve and be sunny but lets see what tomorrow brings.
Stephen Arnison 