Monday morning found us on a coach from Rothbury to Wheldon Bridge to walk a stretch of St.Oswald's Way, a long distance walking route which links St.Cuthbert's Way at Holy Island to Heavenfield on the Hadrian's Wall Trail.
So who was St.Oswald then? Well, king of Northumbria no less. This was in the early 7th century and he played a major part in bringing Christianity to the area. He was born about 604 a.d. and converted to Christianity after the battle of Heavenfield about 633. Oswald gave Lindisfarne (Holy Island) to the Irish bishop Aiden. He died in battle against the Mercians in about 642. History lesson over. The tea room at Heavenfield is very good though.
We got a good sighting of a fox on our drive into Rothbury, and I knew my luck was in when I caught the flash of a kingfisher over the Coquet, minutes out of Wheldon Bridge.
Today's walk was a combination of country roads, footpaths over meadows (where we had a short standoff with some cows and calves) and finishing along a disused railway track. Not a demanding walk - largely flat, and in some very lush countryside. We got into discussion about the many types of grasses - helped by one of our company who was able to identify the varieties for us. Yorkshire Fog was Alison's favourite!
Martin, in his debut role as walks leader, kept us well informed and encouraged us in a game of "spot the pillbox" - the pillboxes being remnants of the WW2 Coquet defence line. A mixed group of walkers included a couple who had won the walk and 2 nights B + B in Rothbury at the Birmingham Outdoor Show, and Dorothy, who is in training for a trek to Annapurna in October.
We had been "severe weather-warned" by Radio Newcastle of thunderstorms and torrential rain, so were all prepared for the worst. However, we had our sarnies in glorious sunshine in the middle of a meadow and timed it nicely to get back into Rothbury before the rain. A cup of coffee in Harley's Tea Room went down a treat.
On the way home it absolutely stotted it down - forked lightening, flooded roads, the lot! Let's hope the sun shines on the righteous again tomorrow. I'll ask St.Os to look out for us.
Pedometer: 16,053 steps (cumulative 22,772)
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