This Week's Walk: Holiday Day 10: Heavitree.

On the bus I happened to mention that I wanted to visit the charity shops of Pinhoe.  As it was raining, the suggestion was that I should take another bus out there.  I walked up Exeter main street in the rain, stopped to look at the work John Lewis' were doing to the old Debenhams shop, and thought 'blow it, I'll walk!' and strode purposefully down Paris Street.  What an important decision I made there, as it was Heavitree I wanted to visit and so would have been mightily disappointed if I'd got on a bus to Pinhoe.
It was striding up Heavitree Road, out of town that gave me this revelation.  I've been up and down that road innumerable times on the bus but I don't think I've ever walked it.  Past the baths, up to where Waitrose now occupies the hospital site, passed lovely old houses.  All in beautiful Devon rain.  True!  There is a quality to the rainfall in Devon that has to be experienced.  Rain soaked, rain bathed, rain kissed.  Even in January I enjoyed my walk in the rain.
Dropping down into Heavitree I began to trawl the charity shops - I found three, there may be more,  My favourite was the Force Cancer Charity which had taken over a whole house and every room had more and varied delights.  My current fad is wool, and I'm sure the puce 4ply I've acquired will come in very handy.

I decided to return to Exeter centre, via Magdalen Road - nice looking coffee shops there too, ditto houses, ditto posh schools. The old Eye Infirmary was covered in scaffolding which makes me think it may no longer be the Hotel Barcelona and about to acquire a new identity.  I turned into Southernhay with a nod to the old Maternity Hospital aka Dean Clarke House (place of my birth) and, glimpsing the cathedral, was reminded of my mother telling me she looked out over that during her stay in the maternity ward.

I headed through the cathedral close back to the main street.  How many miles?  No idea, can't find a pedometer anywhere!

Holiday Day 9: Teign walks

OK, today's walk was split up into three little bits, but all were near the river Teign, hence the name.  First up was a pre-lunch stroll covering some of the ground I did yesterday round Back Beach in Teignmouth and along the prom and back.  Tide going out and what looks like a very tricky entrance to the river marked by buoys quite a long way offshore.  It's always interesting to see where the sand has been deposited over the winter, looks like the sandbar has moved quite a bit this year.
Secondly, after lunch at Jacks Patch, we walked down to Flow Point.  A short, simple walk but one that I had never done before.  It was another view of the estuary and the houses over on the back road to Shaldon.  We also caught a glimpse of a train as it hurtled past.
Third part was the footpath past Forde House down to the river and then back along the route of the Templar Way to the Town Quay.  A well trodden route over the years.  It was dull and cloudy so the moors couldn't be seen but we did see a heron fly past, so that made up for it.

Holiday Day 8: Beach Walk

This is my first proper beach walk of the year!  I really enjoy walking on the sand, and I know we walked some of the pier to pier walk on the beach, but this was the whole thing!
I began at back beach at Teignmouth, they're doing some work on the wall by the pub but it's still possible to walk along by the boats if you're careful of the mooring ropes and the tide is going out. The view across to Shaldon and up the estuary to the moors is superb, and on a clear sunny day like today it can't be beaten. I continued past the ferry and the expensive beach huts out to the mouth of the estuary.  The tide was roaring out, the river almost looked alive the current was so strong.  I went right to the edge of the sand spit and then doubled back along the front beach.  The tide has turned enough for me to walk along the sand below the car park - the first footprints there! - I had to dodge the waves at the slipway a little further round but didn't get my feet wet!  Then it was straight along to the pier.  Family groups were busy making sandcastles, dogs were being walked.  It was busy and yet quiet - I really noticed the absence of traffic noise, the general peacefulness, and I really appreciated it.
I got as near to East Cliff as I could along the sands and then had to come up onto the prom to walk from the Lido to the start of the sea wall.  The East Cliff cafe was doing a good trade and it seems a very warm spot, I was quite tempted to have a bacon butty but I resisted.
And so, back to Teignmouth town and its narrow little nooks and crannies and its out-of-season charm.

I have to report a second walk too!  My brother and I walked in the National Trust woodlands at Bradley in the afternoon remarking how the course of the river has altered in the last 40/50 years and how many more people visit now.  We even made it up to Devils Pit for a look round - it's been repackaged at Puritans Pit and has a plaque to prove it.

Holiday day 7. Memory Lane

Very short walk today but long on memories.  Walking home from the new ASDA store from the market to Hero Bridge and then beside the river to Lemon Road, I was struck by the hundreds of times I must have made this walk - long before ASDA was thought about.  To the library, to the market, to school.  What I noticed tonight more than anything else was the stars.  It's not exactly dark-sky here but you can still see more than I have become used to.  I could recognise Orion and the Pleiades and the Plough.  I remember my mother pointing that out to me and saying how her father had pointed it out to her when she was a girl.
I suppose I got my exercise for the day carrying the bags of shopping, but the memories have certainly been good too.

Holiday Day 6: Stanhope Road and round

I grew up listening to my father and my aunt reminiscing fondly about Stanhope Road.  For my walk today I decided to walk the length of it.  I wonder what they would make of it now, even I can see changes in the short time I have known it - butchers closed to make way for sandwich shops which in their turn have closed.  McRaes the baker, home of the most wonderful cupcakes before they were popular - closed also.  The flats still look sturdy though and I know just how big those Tyneside flats can be - lots of property up for sale though. 
I passed West Park which is still waiting for Spring to arrive, and remembered the lovely display of Christmas tree lights from the flats opposite.  Then on to the roundabout where the derelict flats have been demolished - something new to be built there then.  I continued up to the junction with Boldon Lane, pausing only for a couple of charity shops, and then turned left and headed up towards All Saints church and the junction with Harton Lane.
By now I was wondering why I don't walk more.  I do love it.  there's the chance to be nosy, see what people have in their gardens, what's advertised in shop windows, who's about.  The chance also to let your mind wonder back over things to do, things you should have said, things you plan.  I went down Harton Lane in such a haze that it was only at the last minute that I remembered my uncle pointing out to me the part of the hospital where Catherine Cookson used to work.  And then, I swear, I saw a car covered in astroturf parked in a driveway.  Don't believe me?  Then go for a walk and check it out!
And so, past the Grey Hen, up Mortimer Road and back to my starting point.  Took me barely an hour.  I should do it more often.

Holiday Day 5: A Shopping Expedition

I decided to turn a walk to Aldis for a few groceries into a mini adventure.  Walked from Chi to Laygate and then back round to Aldi pausing only to shake my head at Bethesda Chapel (my father used to preach here) which is looking a bit shabby on the outside.  Then past The Office and cut behind Dallas Carpets in Aldi car park.  Shopping mission accomplished I headed back up Chi Road pausing only to look longingly at the chairs in a skip outside Chichester Court - could they be revamped and re-upholstered?  One day I will pluck up enough courage to ask.  Recklessly, I turned in behind The Cyprus (lovely tilework) and headed up Delaval Court to the Co-op to check the bank balance (shoulda known!).  From there, it was home via Dean Road and the back lanes of Mortimer Road.

Holiday day 4: A short walk to food

OK, not even a stroll this, but I did manage a walk from home along Hartington Terrace to Momo's restaurant at Westoe Fountain to meet a friend for tea.  Then I had to walk back, this time stuffed with sticky toffee pudding!  A good evening!

Around TheTown Walls, Newcastle upon Tyne. 3 miles. The walk of the week

Another day's holiday, another walk, and this one is my walk of the week.  I found the details on the Newcastle City Council website (http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/) and my lovely (but forceful) work colleague Christine said 'you could do that one!' and before I knew it, I had the printed notes in my hand!
It was a lovely crisp day for a walk and it turned into a bit of a time trial too as my car park ticket lasted until 3pm, giving me just under two hours to complete - I managed well within the time! 
Photos and a full description follow soon.  I have resisted the temptation to photograph all the bits of the wall that have been done before, hopefully you'll get something a bit more unusual.
Now, do I walk again this evening in the hope of seeing the northern lights?

OK, I missed the northern lights.  Now here's how this walk went.  The suggested start was the Quayside, so I started at Central Station and walked through the underpass to the section of the wall behind the station.  As I crossed the lane to begin descending the steps to the Close, I heard some loud birdsong.  There in a shrub was a wren twittering its little heart out, no doubt establishing territory for the breeding season.  Tiny bird, but by the noise it was making tough all the same.  The steps were slightly overgrown and I picked my way gingerly down to the roadway.

Then it was along the Close, under the Tyne Bridge and along the Quayside to Broad Chare.  The law courts must have been on lunchbreak judging by the number of blokes in pinstriped suits mooching about. Broad Chare looks rejuvenated now, with the new-look Live Theatre and a Tesco metro to boot.  My walk then took me up Dog Bank to All Saints church where the daffs are starting to come up and back under the railway to 55 degrees North via the underpass.

Next, Mosley Street into Grey Street, and then Market Street.  Round the Laing Art Gallery past Bewick Court on the walkway and via College Road to the Civic Centre and St Thomas Church.



Eldon Square

Down Northumberland Street and round Eldon Square - do the three sides please, not just walk along the front.  St Andrews church, Stowell Street.  More wall bits as you walk down to Westgate Road, though curiously the walk does direct you to Stowell Street and not along the lovely piece of wall just beyond it.




The side of the Wall dropping down to Westgate Road



From Westgate road, it was down Pink Lane and back to the station.  Could help but notice the building below set off by the sunshine.  We do live in a beautiful city.

A glorious facade by Central Station













Holiday Day 2: Westoe Road

OK, this was only a short walk, a stroll really, but every little counts.  I walked to St Michael and All Angels church on the corner of Westoe Road and Mowbray Road and back (pausing only to attend morning service).  It was a lovely morning - a mild contrast to last Sunday's frost.  Spotted snowdrops in a garden en route and listened to Westoe Rugby club practising their haka or whatever it is they get up to.

Holiday walk

I'm on a fortnight's holiday now!  Hurrah!  Could I walk every day for two weeks?  Alongside all the other things I have to do - five years' worth of shredding, lots of household dust to shift, a chair to re-upholster - the list goes on.  Well, I'm going to try! 
Today I walked from home to the metro, via the Co-op, and then down Grey Street to the bank and back up to Fenwicks, along Northumberland Street to Haymarket.  Then metro to West Jesmond, walk to St Georges church hall for a lovely afternoon of circle dancing.  Homeward bound, the walk was to the metro and then home.  On the way I met four people I knew, two of them I wouldn't have bumped into without the walk.
The walking and the holiday mood helped me to appreciate the blue sky, strong wind, early crocuses, amazing architecture in Graingertown.  It's been good, and not a walking pole or laminated ordnance survey map in sight.  This is walking as I remember it.

Shopping

I walked to the local shops today.  Crisp and cold it was, but generally good, though the pavements were icy in places.  I had a good mooch round Lidls, our local international supermarket (veg samosa and onion bhaji for lunch!) and the fruit and veg shop.  Felt very righteous for doing this, but it's only an option if I'm not working, and if I intend to buy cat litter again I shall have to invest in a shopping trolley!

Pier to Pier walk (South Shields to Sunderland) 8 miles

For my third walk, I decided to join a guided walk organised by South Tyneside Council.  It was free to join and all I had to do was ring up to book a place.  The brochure said that the walk lasted from 10am to 5pm.  Which route were we taking?  Did I need a torch to find my way after sunset?  In the event we had finished by 2pm.

Thirty one of us set off on a very cold and frosty morning from the Conversation Piece at Littlehaven.  Steam was rising from the sea, that's how cold it was, but once we got into our stride we soon warmed up.  I was wearing a massive amount of layers and although I maybe wasn't wearing the right gear for the keen ramblers, we were a mixed bag and so my trainers and lack of walking pole weren't particularly noticeable.



Looking over Marsden beach



People were friendly too, and I fell into step and conversation with a lady as we walked over the Leas to Marsden Grotto.  We stopped here for the toilet.  It proved a long stop as we all had to queue for the disabled toilet.  Marsden Rock is looking smaller and more vulnerable than ever but the view over the beach is still fab.

What's left of Marsden Rock



 Next up was Souter lighthouse where we made use of the outdoor classroom to eat our lunch.

lunchtime at Souter



  Then we followed the clifftop path through Whitburn.  By now I was in conversation with another lady who was telling me about the local walking group she belongs to.  She made it sound so good that even I was tempted by the thought, although I've never really fancied the idea of joining such a thing.

We continued along the prom at Seaburn and did the final stretch from Dog and Cat steps to the pier along the sands which was a great way to end the walk.

By accident or design, we didn't have long to wait for the E1 bus back to Sea Road and our starting point.  I really enjoyed this walk and I'm looking forward to doing the Millers Trail with South Tyneside later in the year.                                 

There and back again

I've just walked to a friend's house and back again.  A short walk (ten minutes each way) but I know that before this new year's resolution the temptation would have been to think 'I don't want to walk past pubs on a Saturday night, and I don't want to go out in the cold - I'll take the car'.  Tonight I wrapped up warmly, crossed the road to avoid the pubs and enjoyed a crisp, safe evening walk and all the righteous feelings that go with that (I must admit I didn't take a bag with me though).  So that's my little contribution to reclaiming the streets!

Fenham Circular - no miles - no pedometer!!

So, week two and the resolution is still strong!  I took this walk during the afternoon, it lasted roughly an hour, allowing for dawdling and photography, so could be done in a lot less.  It felt good to be out pounding the streets!

Fenham Hall Drive, where it all began



I walked down Fenham Hall Drive towards the junction with Wingrove Road.  I stopped at the church of St Basil and St James and went in.  It must be one of the few churches that is open all day and it is lovely inside - quiet, airy, lovely stained glass - well worth a visit.

From there I continued up Wingrove Road towards the junction with Nuns Moor Road.  Some lovely houses along here, and I resdiscovered the pleasures of being nosy and seeing what people had in their gardens/front porches/drives.  I must make special mention of the householders that have made a tiny replica of Stonehenge around their ornamental toad (or did they make Stonehenge and then drop the toad into the centre?)

Then it was down Nuns Moor Road past shops selling gorgeous shalwar kameez, to the entrance to Nuns Moor Park.  I've noticed the long avenue of trees as I've driven past and thought it would be good to walk here, and indeed it was.  I didn't stop to admire the croquet lawn but there seemed to be plenty of seating, a play area, a wildlife area and in general a nice place to be during the day.  I had dog walkers for company and most of them were female so it must be considered a reasonably safe place.  Here too I spotted a crocus (I think) growing under the trees, so spring is on the way.

The darling buds of Nuns Moor

There were buds on the trees too.  And what a difference blue sky makes!  I crossed the road and made my way up to another avenue of trees with allotments to one side that led me up to Cowgate  Although you could hear traffic noise along the way, I couldn't help thinking how lucky Newcastle is to have all this green space on the edge of the town.

Cowgate mystery path

From here it should have been a short hop along the side of the road to Cowgate roundabout, but I was seduced by the sight of a path leading off to the left, so I followed it into a little area which seems to be where the good folk of Fenham go to light their illegal bonfires, dump their rubbish and abandon Morrisons trolleys.  I bet the kids have a fine old time here in the summer making dens and so forth, though.  And there was the Fenham Dragon - three grassy humps which form (intentionally or unintentionally) an obstacle course for bikes.


 

The short way to Cowgate




The Fenham Dragon



     

Like most mystery paths and other things that seem seductive, the path only led me round it a circle back to the main path.  But it was somewhere I'd never been before and as with life so with walking - sometimes the journey is the thing not the destination.  And there I was, on Two Ball Lonnen, heading back to Fenham Hall Drive and the end of my second week of walking!

Two Ball Lonnen





Babbacombe Circular Walk 3.5.miles

At last!  The first real walk of 2012, on a glorious sunny day.  My brother and I drove to St Marychurch in Torquay and had a quick walk down Petitor Road to see where great aunt Amy lived before emigrating to Canada.  Then we headed for Babbacombe Downs, and by the cliff railway we spotted an information board with this walk on it, so off we went.  (I do have photos and will add them as soon as I can download them).

We began at the top of the cliff railway, looking over the bay towards Exmouth.  It was really clear and you could pick out Golden Cap, even Portland Bill as shadowy presence in the distance.  Then came the steep descent to Babbacombe beach.  I'm reading a book about trees at the moment so at every turn of the tree-lined path I was wishing I knew what each tree was - one day!  Part of the beach was cordoned off as there had been a rock fall from the cliffs, tons and tons of good red Devon cliff collapsed.  The sea was calm and
lapped gently at the breakwater.

Babbacombe Beach

Following the breakwater and via a woodland path and a wooden walkway over rocks, we came to Odicombe beach.

Odicombe beach

  Plenty of activity here in the form of dog walkers, divers, walkers and visitors to the Cary Arms.  We walked up the steep path past the Cary Arms and then took steep steps and another woodland path leading to Walls Hill.

Steps from Odicombe

Path to Walls Hill

From Walls Hill there were yet more glorious views across the bay.  Here we cheated a bit and didn't walk all round the hill, but headed back to the Babbacombe theatre and a quick walk across the Downs to our starting place.

View from Walls Hill

Babbacombe Downs

I haven't been to Babbacombe for ages and this walk was an ideal way to see a bit more of the area than I would otherwise have done.  It was steep in parts but I didn't feel unduly puffed.

Happy New Year!

Well here we are in 2012, and I'd planned a little walk just to set the right tone.  But you know what? It rained!  So we didn't go.  The walk became a quick scamper along Teignmouth seafront back to the car and then home for coffee and cake.  Hope this isn't the shape of things to come!