Pennine Way Day 17. The Sill - Bellingham 24/05/2025

 After a nice evening and cooked breakfast at the Sill I set of for the few miles along Hadrians Wall before leaving the wall path and heading north for Bellingham.

So sad thta this tree was felled. I have been lucky enough to have seen it on several past walks.

Rapishaw Gap where the PW leaves the Wall.

It had rained the night before and after the recent hot , dry weather the ground was wet and there were a few quick showers during the day. Apart from one navigation error (my fault just after leaving the wall), the trail was well signposted.

Not sre what this structure was originally for.

View from Shitlington Crags , one of the few climbs today.

Day 17 Clips

Ended the day with wet feet. After booking into the Cheviot Hotel I went and stocked up on some supplies from te Co-op - enough for the evening and breakfast. Nice room in the hotel  - I managed to get my shoes dry , and also washed the only pair of underpants I had brought !!!

Reasonable easy day by PW standards. 

Total Ascent - 2500 feet

Total Descent 2900 feet

Distance - 16 Miles

Haltwhistle - Sill YHA Friday 23rd May 2025

 This was a warm up walk for the last four days on the Pennine Way. I got a train to Haltwhistle, and then spent the afternoon hiking to the Sill YHA on Hadrians Wall which is where I got to on the PW last year.

Cawfields Quarry

Trig point on Winshields Crag

After leaving the high Strret in Haltwhistle I picked up the nice trail along Haltwhistle Burn. After leaving the burn there was some agricultural land to cross before reaching the Pennine Way / Hadrian Wall path. From there navigation was simple along the trail to just before Steel Rigg, and a short road section down to the Sill.

The Sill is a lovely YH - clean , modern and great food, but I am not a big fan of shared dorms, so didn;t get a great nights sleep.

Great warm up walk for the big miles ahead over the next four days,

About six miles,

The Cheviot 10th May 2025

 We had driven up to Durham the day before and stayed at a campsite. I dropped Anne off at the park and ride which was near the campsite. Anne had a conference to attend , and I set off north for a 60 mile drive to the Harthope Valley for a hike up the Cheviot. The single track road ended in a nice grassy parking spot next to Harthope Burn.

Hedgehope Hill

I thought doing the climb half of the walk first would mean the second half down the valley would be easier. I was wrong - the trek down the valley was tricky. Lots of water crossing , narrow paths and boggy patches. However, a beautiful valley on a glorious day. 

On the way up the Cheviot

l00king back on the way up

Approaching the summit

The Pennine Way leaves the summit

On the way up Scald Hill I saw a snake. About 2 foot long. Fairly sure it was an adder but I wasn't quick enough to get the camera out!

Harthope Valley

Video Clips

Brilliant walk. A tough 8.5 miles.

Pennine Way prep April / May 2025

 I am doing the last 60 miles of the Pennine Way at the end of May , so since finishing the Cleveland Way I have been trying to get 3 or 4 days a week where I do 2K + steps and also sometimes carrying a weighted rucksack. Most of these have been local walks straight out of the back door. Here are a few that I recorded on my watch.

April 29 Shipley Park circuit

About 8 miles

May 1st Horsley Castle

Hot morning. This was hard work.About 7.5 miles.

2nd May Thors Cave

A lovely, short walk with Anne to visit Thors Cave near Wetton. We went for a nice cuppa at Ilam Hall afterwards.

About 2 miles