Pennine Way Day 16 Greenhead - Hadrian's Wall - The Sill 07/09/2024

 I didn't know until I got back home but I had Covid. We think it was from the country fair at Chatsworth where Anne was working on the beekeeping stall. I had a high temperature which was keeping me awake until I took some paracetamol and manged a few hours sleep. Fortunately, only 7 miles today and easy navigation.

I set off just after 7.00 from the bunkhouse (perfect as I stepped oiut of the back garden gate straight onto the trail) My legs felt like jelly for the first few hundred yards, but soon warmed up. Unfortunately , it was misty so not much in the way of views. Luckily this is the third time I have walked this section of the wall , so I have seen the fabulous views before. The whole of this walk is shared by the PW and the Hadrian's wall trail.

Lots of up and down today as the trail follows the crest of the wall ridge.

Cawfields Quarry

I managed to get to the Sill just before 11 which gave me time for a cuppa before catching the bus back to Greenhead( Via Vindolanda and Haltwhistle).

Day 16 Clips

Pefectly set up now for the finish. I'll need 6 days- two travel days and four days hiking to finish.

Pennine Way day 15 Burnstones - Greenhead 06/09/2024

 This day was something of a tidy up after leaving the PW at Burnstones to get to Haltwhistle station last time out. For the first time (and probably last) on this adventure I drove up to Holmehead bunkhouse where I would be staying that night (Cleared with the owners thta I could park there before checking in later).  Holmehead is in a brillaint location - just belwo Thirlwall Castle and on the PW and Hadrians Wall trail. I walked the 1/2 mile down to Greenhead and caught a taxi to Burnstones.

I was wearing trail shoes, and within minutes (as predicted) my feet were wet.

Haltwhistle Golf Course

Thirlwall Castle

Holmehead Bunkhouse

On Blenkinsop common where the path was indistinct at times I followed the advice to head for the fenceline, and thta pretty much guided me all the way to Black Hill (PW passes close to the trig pont). The common was very soggy !!

The weather was good , so all I had to contend with was wet feet. The other bonus of today was a mere 10 miles which was quite a contract to the epic 20 milers last time out. Feels good to complete this section as I had half a mind to skip this and just continue on from Greenhead. Definitely glad thta I didn't opt for that.

Couple of video clips 

Day 15 vids

Pennine Way Day 14 Alston - Haltwhistle 22/08/2024

I had made the decision the day before that I would head out of Alston on the alternative South Tyne Trail, and then at Burnstone carry on the South Tyne Trail all the way to Haltwhistle where I would get the train home. I had enough time to get to Greenhead and then get a taxi to Haltwhistle but my left ankle was extremely stiff and sore and I thought the South Tyne Trail (flat trail following an old rrailway route ) would be kinder on my ankle. Next time out I completed the PW section from Burnstones to Greenhead.

I had asked the landlady of the Victoria Inn in Alston to provide me with a sandwich rather than breakfast. She had been to the CO-OP and there was a shoppping bag with sandwich , fruit and boiled eggs hanging off my bedroom door handle. In the morning. I put full waterproofs on as it was P****** it down , and I limped down the high street to find the start of the South Tyne Trail.  I was glad of this decision as the trail was flat and even and despite the bad wetaher I made good progress. Up to Slaggyford the PW meanders either side of the STT and in both my guide books is listed as alternative route for this section. At Slaggyford I somehow lost the STT and was back on the PW up to Burnstones (1/2 - 1 mile). At Burnstones I clambered up an embankment next to the viaduct and got back on the STT.

South Tyne Trail

Breakfast stop at one of the small stations on the route

Looking down at the river from one of the many viaducts crossed today.

Viaduct over the river in Haltwhistle

                                                               Haltwhistle

I had plenty of time before my train in Haltwhistle., so I went for a meal , and then spent some time sat in the park and then went for a cup of tea at a cafe. The time soon passed.

So, although I had opted for an easier route today I still covered 16 miles. The end of an epic 4 days on the PW.

 

Pennine Way Day 13. Dufton - Alston. 21/08/2024

 

Had a decent nights sleep in the Hobbit Hut at Dufton campsite, and like the day before woke up at four and was away for five AM ...in the dark!!

Inside the hobbit hut

Dufton Pike

I had a navigation error on the way up to Knock Fell which cost me around 20 minutes to correct. Not a big deal but not something you want on a 20 mile day.

On the way up to Knock Fell

Knock Hush

The term Hush was used a few times in this area of the map, and I learned later that these were man made channels formed by using dams and then letting the water wash away the surface soil to expose seams of coal. Once I got to Knock fell summit I entered the clag, and the wind picked up and the temperature fell.

Knock Old Man - Justbelow the actual summit

I could just make out the radar stationas I passed across Great Dun Fell

In clear weather the way off Knock Fell is probably easy as you would just aim for the radat statin on top of Great Dun Fell. However, in the clag with lots of boggy pathes and indistinct paths it was quite tricky until i hit a section of flagged path. I hadn;t packed gloves - my hands were bloody freezing.

Just as I arrived on the summit of Little Dun Fell, the mist started to clear and the wind really picked up. 

looking back to Great Dun Fell

Little Dun Fell as the mist cleared

There was a decent flagged path for most of the way to the Cross Fell plateau.

Looking back to Little Dun Fell and Great Dun Fell

Cross Fell plateau

Looking back to Little Dun Fell and Great Dun Fell from Cross Fell

Summit Trig point and wind shelter

Top of the Pennines

As the conditions were now clear, there was a clear line of cairns of the plateau which would take me down to Gregs Hut. The path was indistinct just as it dropped of the plateau, but as soon as it joined the Corpse Road track there was no navigation issues.

It was great to stop for a break in Greg's Hut.

The Corpse Road

The next part of this epic day was following the Corpse road to Garragill. It was about 7 - 8 miles but it seemed at times never ending !!

I eventually arrived in Garagillwhere I found a bench and stopped for a short break before the last few miles to Alston. I had one more navigation error on this section which probably cost me another 20 minutes. I was pleased to arrive in Alston. I booked into the Victoria Inn, popped over the road to the Co-op for some food, took it back to my room where I scoffed the lot. I was in bed for 7:30 and was asleep before 8.

Garagill

On the way to Alston

An epic 20 miler which will last long in the memory.