10th – 13th February – Trip to the North East

 10th – 13th February – Trip to the North East
 

When I was reviewing my work shift pattern last year, I noticed for my rostered winter leave, I could use a couple of days of regular annual leave to bridge the gap between some rest days after a run of 7 early shifts to give myself nearly 2 weeks off work, a good way to use up my annual leave before it gets reset at the start of April.  After doing some research, I decided to head to Newcastle for a few days in the first week and Liverpool in the second week. I will admit my heart sank when checking the weather forecast for my little getaway to the North East, changing from being dry to mostly damp, but the show must go on, after-all my accommodation only had free cancellation until a week before the stay (something I will also admit to having overlooked when booking a place in Whitley Bay but hey-ho).  The rough plans I had for some longer distance strolls in County Durham being put on the shelf and instead it was going to be a case of playing it by ear.

10th February – The Mist on the Tyne

Had the weather been more favourable I would have caught an early train into Waterloo to catch the Grand Central service towards Eaglescliffe to head towards either Dinsdale or Bishop Auckland (I couldn’t decide), but with the weather not being that favourable, the trip started with the 06:57 service to Waterloo, giving just over an hour to stroll to Kings Cross to catch 801219 on the 09:30 Edinburgh service, my trick with reserving seats on LNER is to shift the default coach to coach G (on a 9 coach) as I find that is one of the last coaches to get reserved.  In this case I had a private table in a coach with half a dozen passengers until York.

Once the train arrived at Newcastle, I headed to the Metro to buy myself a day ticket (probably wasting money getting a “TNE Day Saver” rather than a Metro-only ticket, but I wasn’t quite sure what the afternoon would have given me), and headed underground to jump on 555017 to Heworth where I started a little stroll along the Keelmans Way.  Last year I did the walk from Heworth towards Hebburn so it was nice to do the section towards the city centre area, with the potential of bailing out early if I felt like it.

The first section was via roads of an industrial estate, passing a paint factory (bit smelly) before reaching the Tyne near the Rivers Hotel (a place I've seen pop up a few times when searching for accommodation so nice to see where it actually is).  The next section was alongside the Tyne, although it was quite misty, even with the damp weather the path was quite busy with dog walkers & cyclists.  I soon reached a section where the path moved away from the Tyne before it reached another industrial estate.  This soon changed into the various buildings on the Gateshead water front, reaching the millennium bridge.

River Tyne from the Keelmans Way Path in Gateshead

I decided to continue with my stroll, going underneath the various bridges, picking up a path running alongside the river rather than a road, with a seemingly disused busway on my left hand side (shown on Google as Pipewellgate, I guess it was built before various roads got changed making access harder).  This area was signposted as the Gateshead Riverside Park with various modern houses next to the path (once the busway moved away) and I soon reached the remains of the Dunston Staiths, a large structure built to transfer coal from train to ship back in the industrial age of coal mining.  Something I will need to return to in the summer months when it's open.

Leaving the Tyne behind, I soon jumped the "Teams Cycleway" path, along the route of an old railway route heading near Dunston station and onto a section I walked a couple years ago when I did the Tanfield Railway path.  The repeat coverage wasn't for long before I headed towards a community sports area after crossing the A184, heading towards another section of the Cycleway, along another old railway line, all be a bit short.  After this path I reached the Gateshead Riverside Park again, this time at a higher level following a path going underneath the Redheugh Bridge & railway tracks leading me to Askew Road with the final section going across Wildmill Hills park to reach Gateshead Metro station, a good place to end the walk as I was a little bit damp with the drizzle.  An enjoyable walk, other than the industrial estate sections.

A voyager crossing the King Edward VII Bridge over the River Tyne

I got lucky with the first train being winner 555013 on a coast bound service, and it felt like a good time to head towards Whitley Bay to get myself checked in, losing some weight from my rucksack as I took this to Whitley Bay.  A short walk to my accommodation to get checked in and sorting myself out before I returned to the Metro with dud 555028 to South Gosforth, taking 555017 to Regent Centre to visit the large Asda for some supplies.  After visiting the shop, I returned to the station and onto 555017 for the 3rd time for the day to Haymarket for a spot of Metro hunting, grabbing winners 555001, 555007 & 555041 with runs to West Jesmond before calling it a night with winner 555040 back to Whitley Bay where I headed to the local Spoons for a juicy burger.

After food was consumed, I returned to my guest house to relax for the remainder of the evening, getting myself ready for an early-ish start the following morning with a trip to the west.

11th Feb – Whitehaven & Caldew Cycleway

The weather on the east of the country was looking quite wet, on the west it wasn’t so bad (at least only light rain rather than heavy rain), it had also been a while since I last headed to the northern section of the Cumbrian Coast line.  I headed to Whitley Bay station and onto 555041 for the run to Central Station, where after grabbing breakfast and my ticket (pretty sure it’s the first time I’ve used a Hadrian Wall Country Ranger) I boarded 156484 on the next Carlisle limited stop service.

I spent the next hour or so looking out of the window at the passing scenery before arriving in Carlisle with time to make a quick dash to Boots for lunch before boarding 156438 which I took to Parton, at one stage I was considering alighting at Harrington as there is a short disused railway path in that area, but decided that could wait.  After a couple of photos at Parton station, I climbed down the steep stairs, followed some roads and reached a mixed used path which runs above the railway line, following the route towards Whitehaven, moving inland around Bransty before joining some roads, which I used to head to the station.

Cycle Route 72 path between Parton & Whitehaven

Due to the tunnel issues, only the bay platform is in use at the moment, the other platform has been fenced off with evidence of a further security fence within the tunnel itself.  The doors on 156438 were released and I boarded, sitting on the coast side for the views.  This particular service is a bit strange in not calling at Harrington or Flimby (instead it has extended dwells at Workington & Maryport).  I suspect I will return to this area later in the year as there are a few disused railways walks to explore, plus more of the coastal path.  So much to do, so little time.  I decided to alight from the train at Dalston to walk the Caldew Cycleway path, as the weather was only drizzly.

I followed the roads in Dalston before picking up the start of the mixed used path near a school, the first section wasn't that interesting as it was mostly fences with industrial buildings before reaching the countryside.  The path was quite decent tarmac with the occasional glimpse of the river Caldew.  There were more footpaths available which followed the river a bit closer, but as they went across grass I decided not to follow, in fear of walking into a marshy bog due to the recent rain.  One section of this path ran alongside the railway line, going underneath a road under construction.  After crossing underneath the railway at a viaduct the path moved away from the railway towards the Cummersdale area and a large open area (where again I followed the tarmac path rather than being more adventurous).  This took me towards the Denton Holme area of Carlisle, with the path turning more urban and onto the route of an old railway line (I think) crossing the river on an old viaduct coming to an end near a car park close to the WCML.

156448 alongside the Caldew Cycleway between Dalston & Cummersdale

After joining the roads, I headed towards Carlisle station going via the city centre, discovering a little Tesco Express (close to the Boots, but a bit further round the bend), allowing me to grab some supplies for dinner before making my way to the station and onto 156443 on the next Newcastle Limited Stop service (Haltwhistle, Hexham, Prudhoe, Metrocentre, Newcastle only) with darkness falling by the time I reached Newcastle.  Heading to the Metro for a short hunt, I soon scored winner 555019 with a trip to Gateshead Stadium, spending the next 30 minutes underneath the ramp looking at the rain (and getting quite chilly with the wind).  Eventually winner 555010 popped up to take me back into Central Station, where I jumped onto 156423 on a Carlisle stopper (pretty sure this one called at every station) to Prudhoe where I had a little walkabout, not going that far due to the rain returning.

20 (or so) minutes later 156484 rolled in on a Prudhoe terminator, which forms a service back towards Newcastle using the crossover at the Newcastle end of the station.  Back at Newcastle I headed underground once more, jumping on winner 555016 to South Gosforth and dud 555001 to end the day with the trip back to Whitley Bay where I could get into the room to relax & warm myself up.  An enjoyable little day trip to Whitehaven with a couple of shorter walks, although it’s added a few more walks to my list (Brampton Town branch & the South Tynedale route from Alston towards Haltwhistle (part running alongside the heritage line).

12th Feb – Waggonways and accidently walking to Prudhoe.

After a more relaxing start to the day compared to the day before, I headed to the metro with various ideas, jumping on 555010 to Benton as I had decided to split a walking idea I had up into two sections (Benton to South Gosforth via the Coxlodge Waggonway and towards city centre alongside the Ouse Burn could wait for another day)  After leaving Benton station, I followed a footpath alongside the Metro line which I was going to take towards the ECML to see what evidence of the former curves remained, however I soon turned back after coming against a bridge under the former Benton - Cramlington being flooded.  Even I'm not that crazy to navigate a flooded underbridge without knowing how deep it is!  Anyhow I returned towards Benton station, dropping down onto station road, following some roads leading towards the Newcastle Utd training ground (with various signs saying "players won't stop for autographs") and onto a slightly flooded bridleway path (more like a farm track), crossing over the ECML, passing many modern houses leading to the Rising Sun Country Park.

This is where things got a bit uglier as the solid surface path just disappeared, heading towards grassland which was a bit boggy in places as I headed over Beacon Hill (a place I will return to during better weather where I'm sure the views would be worth it).  Thankfully the solid path returned as I reached the "Rising Sun Colliery Waggonway" path heading east.  I decided to cut down my walk as I was originally going to walk the route of the Killingworth Waggonway across the country park towards Palmersville area (returning via another path) as that could be done on another day.  Countryside soon gave way to urban as I headed underneath the A19 and reaching the Silverlink Retail Park.  The last section of this walk was along a path next to the North Tyneside Steam Railway leading to Percy Main station.

Path on the edge of the Rising Sun Countryside Park, Newcastle 

I didn’t have long to wait at Percy Main before 555001 rolled in to take me into the city centre, alighting at Monument where I headed the wrong way as I was going to aim for a bus towards Darras Hall to walk an old railway path in the Ponteland area (leads to Newcastle Airport), instead I jumped onto a Stagecoach run route 62 service to North Walbottle, picking up the "Walbottle Waggonway", the first section heading north towards Callerton (where it tried to snow) with some beautiful views of the countryside.  After doubling back, I headed south towards the A69 where the path detours via an underpass near Blucher.  A short section of mud before solid ground returned as I headed towards Lemington, dropping down.  My original concept (developed when on the bus) was to do part of the old railway route towards Newburn, returning via another path and to end up in Denton and a bus stop near the Slatyford bus depot.

I reached the mixed use path along the route of the former North Wylam loop of the former Newcastle & Carlisle Railway, heading towards Newburn where I decided to carry on towards Wylam.  Near Newburn the route of the old railway is lost under modern developments with the cycle path following the River Tyne in the Tyne Riverside Country Park before re-joining the route of the old railway (cycle route 72).  This section was quite nice for woodland & quietness, passing the house where George Stephenson lived.  I soon reached Wylam where annoyingly the train I was going to catch was cancelled (grr), so I decided to continue towards Prudhoe, crossing over the fast flowing Tyne on the Hagg Bank Bridge where the former railway route came to an end.

Wylam (Hagg Bank) Railway Bridge

The cycle path continued into some beautiful woodland running between the railway & the Tyne, eventually coming to an end near Prudhoe station.  I headed to the station and had a short wait before 156463 rolled in on the next Newcastle fast service, a crazy walk but one I was quite happy with, for it was a very pleasant route to do.  In Newcastle I headed to the Metro and got lucky as the next South Hylton bound service was a pair of older Metro Cars (4085 & 4024) as I jumped on for the run to Sunderland as a farewell to the old stock as who knows by the time I return to Newcastle all the older stock could have gone.

As I needed to visit a toilet, I jumped onto 158796 on the next Newcastle service to take me to Heworth, and transferring onto 555027 to Gateshead Stadium where I resumed my position underneath the ramp, watching the weather, I saw a winner unit head towards South Shields so that was going to finish the day, just a case of looking at the passing trains for anything else I needed for my little red pen, before winner 555034 rolled in to take me to Whitley Bay.  Once I reached the Bay, I headed towards the local Spoons for something warm & back to my accommodation to relax.

Metrocar 4024 at Sunderland Station

13th Feb – A failed attempt to revisit Benton

After a good night’s sleep, I checked out of my accommodation, a guest house I would use again if the price was right, heading towards Monkseaton station (owing to the Sainsburys Local in Whitley Bay town centre being a bit bare boned for breakfast related items, and I detoured via the Morrisons).  Annoyingly I purchased my zone BC single ticket before finding out that due to overhead wire damage services were suspended between South Gosforth & Shiremoor.  My idea for this morning was to do the second part of my Benton area walk to finish in the city centre area for a train to London & then home, however that needed to be changed, as I came up with a quick revised idea for a walk, something which was on my rough list.

It was onto 555013 for the run via the coast towards Wallsend station to begin my little walk.  Back in 2022, the weekend trip when I visited Reston I walked the former North Tyneside Loop.  So the first section along the former railway line was a revisit heading in a southern direction towards the Walker area of the city and a junction where the cycle path divides.  I followed the downhill section, with a couple of switch-back turns before reaching the Walker Riverside path for another walk alongside the Tyne.  This was quite nice, giving views of the industrial area on the south bank, peaceful as well.  Soon I reached a little marina area where the riverside path ends and I followed the signs alongside roads to reach the outlet of the Ouseburn. I returned to walking alongside the Tyne in the quay, another section I did back in 2022, but nice to retrace older ground.

Passing the millennium bridge and going underneath the Tyne, Swing & High Level bridges I reached the point I picked to be the end point of this walk near the metro bridge, as I switched to walking onto the roads up a steep hill (Forth Banks), going underneath the railway tracks, discovering a back entrance into Newcastle railway station near the car park at the Life centre, leading alongside the disused platform 12.  With time to kill I headed into the city centre, getting lost trying to locate a Poundland, before returning to the station and onto 801207 working a London bound fast service.

Junction on Hadrian's Cycleway, Cycle Route 72, Walker (Newcastle)

Once again coach G was pretty much empty, as I settled into my reserved seat and relaxed.  The train lost some time heading towards London due to congestion caused by issues around Wakefield, arriving around 19 minutes late (not like you would have known considering the complete lack of announcements from the Train Manager).  As the weather in London was a bit on the wet side I headed to St Pancras, jumping onto 700148 to London Bridge and across to the Charing Cross bound platforms onto 465033 & 465155 for the short leap to Waterloo East.  I headed across to Waterloo itself, located the next diesel service, taking a seat on 159020, 159108 & 159018 on an Exeter service, which took me to Grateley, and a gentle stroll home to get myself sorted after an enjoyable few days in the North East (other than the weather being a bit wet at times, but it is February after-all).  Thanks for reading, more photos can be found on my Flickr Here.