Lent Walk 7: Bede's Way Boldon to St Pauls Jarrow

Blackthorn Bridge at the start

Tunnel with graffiti

a bank of violets

And some cowslips

the path by the River Don

the River Don

Entrance to the Tyne Tunnels

Graffiti bridges

walking under the A19

lovely mosaic on the path

St Pauls, Jarrow

I knew I had to do this walk today (Good Friday) to complete the course during Lent.  So, having put it off for a day or two and despite the not so good weather, I caught the bus to Boldon and set off.  Once I get out there walking, it's great.  I could see how the trees are greener than they were two weeks ago - the leaves are really coming through now.  I'd almost completely forgotten this part of the walk and was pleasantly surprised by the path along the river Don.  It may not be the most scenic and I certainly wouldn't like to be down there of an evening, but it has got something about it, a definite little treasure in this urban environment.  I also had the distinction of walking over and then under the A19.  There were violets and cowslips along the way too.  I finished the walk in St Paul's church - atmospheric as ever - and there was just time for tea and scone at Jarrow Hall before walking back home in the now persistent rain.

Lent Walk 5: Bede's Way Whitburn to Boldon

I feel as though I'm making heavy weather of Bede's Way, but with my current work pattern anything but a short walk is difficult, so this is the middle section of the walk.  I caught the bus to Whitburn, once again marvelling at how good the public transport system is in these parts (let no-one tell you otherwise) and then promptly retraced my path from Front Street back through a housing estate to the footpath over the Cleadon Hills.  It was here that the purpose of this walk became apparent:  confront your fears.  I was walking past a farmyard, would there be dogs?  Indeed a dog did bark from a yard but it must have been tethered as I didn't see it.  Relieved I passed on over the stile to the field path.  Then I looked back, a man is a red jacket was just passing through the yard and appeared to be heading for the path.  I felt anxious, should I continue?  I strode out along the field edge forcing myself to enjoy the scenery and put all thoughts of serial killers to the back of my mind.  At the next stile I paused, I couldn't see him and the day and the scenery were so nice that I thought a photograph would be good.  Then I spotted a glimpse of red through the hedge and I was off, up the path, thinking how far from civilisation I was.  At the crest of the hill he overtook me, nodded in a friendly way and continued along the path.  Not a serial killer then, just another walker (I think he was following the Linnet Way).
The views round here are fab, down to Sunderland, across to Penshaw, and what with the skylarks singing and the trees in bud, it was a truly lovely day for a walk.  There was a bit of a geography lesson going on at the windmill, and from there the path wound down past the water tower to Occupation Road.  More fears to confront, someone was murdered here within the last few years.  A young man dead, two others convicted, at least three lives shattered.  Did they go intending to kill?  Are we just filled with information about violence which makes us think that it is not real, just a game, press reset and nothing will have changed?

They put the red(ish) carpet out for me!

Cleadon water tower

The path to West Harton mineral line

Signpost  West Harton mineral line

I followed the path past the allotments, and Tilesheds nature reserve, and along the West Harton mineral line to the level crossing.  Then I walked along New Road towards the school and the bus stop to wait for the bus back to Shields.

Lent Walk 3: Bede's Way Whitburn to Monkwearmouth

Because I have only half days to walk in at the moment, I've split Bede's Way up into three sections to be walked over Lent.  This is the first bit and the others will follow not necessarily in order.  I wanted to walk from Whitburn to Monkwearmouth so that I could finish up at the church and the cafe. 

So I bussed out of Shields to Front Street and then followed the instructions on the Bede's Way leaflet - down past the church, along the footpath by the park to the coast road.  Then followed what is rapidly becoming one of my favourite walks in the north east - all along the seafront at Seaburn and Roker.  It was a fine but breezy day and the sea and sand looked glorious.  I wanted more than anything to be able to share it with a friend of mine who is grieving at the moment, maybe one day I will. 

I continued down to the marina and then past the National Glass Centre and the university to St Peter's church.  Due to the limited time I didn't explore the church as I might have done, but I did manage tea in the cafe.

Bede's Way signpost at Whitburn

Seaburn

Bede's Cross

beach with Dog and Cat cafe

rare cannonball rock formation

Bede's book sculpture

a Bede's Way marker and my foot

St Peter's church