Tapp's Travels

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On Thursday, we planned to walk on the fells behind Rothbury.  The weather was forecast to be fine after a slightly dodgy start.  So, Rothbury Golf Club for a bacon and egg sandwich while the morning shower passed!

Which it did!  A breakfast roll with a view AND a purpose (a 30 minute delay)!  Excellent!

There’s a wide track that runs in a big loop around the hilltop to the north of Rothbury.  Several miles of it.  A local told us it was known as “Victoria’s Carriageway”  But as we now know it’s really the “Cragside Carriageway”!  But first we have to climb to the top of the hill.  It isn’t like climbing Everest or anything, but for us, lovers of disused railway lines, canal tow paths and beaches, it comes as a bit of a shock.  Especially when the “uphill” route dives a couple of hundred feet down hill at one point!  But we had plenty of time to sit and admire the view.

During WW1, soldiers trained for digging trenches up here.  There are zig-zag scars where the effects of this work can still be seen over a hundred years later.

Then it was back into the “forest” which had been taken out by Storm Arwen in November 2021.  Recent tree clearing has left a magnificent view of Cragside.  A view which won’t have been seen for the last 30 or 40 years!

The final part of the walk brought us back down to Rothbury.   It proved almost as hard work as it had been going up.  But in a different way!

So that was our exercise for the day – possibly the week.  Nearly five miles.

I’ve discovered that when you have Polymyalgia,  you just can’t have enough drugs!  Having set off for three weeks and extended it to seven, I DIDN’T have enough.  It’s a long story, but in summary I contacted our surgery (electronically, as required in this digital age) for a top-up.  They replied two days later to say my requests had been declined!  After a bit of a panic, and a couple of urgent emails,  I was eventually told that the requests HAD in fact been approved and the relevant prescriptions had already been sent to Mr Boots in Morpeth.  It was just a technical glitch on their website.  Duh!  Anyway, the dedicated medication cupboard is now full again.  This lot should see us out till we get home!

Now, back to the programme.  Hexham and Corbridge, two neighbouring towns on the River Tyne are on the list!  Corbridge is closest, so first.  While Glenda bothered the shop keepers, I went for a walk to Hexham on the river-side (horizontal) path.  Well, strictly speaking TOWARDS Hexham.

There’s a pile stones beside the river at one point …

These needed investigation!  It transpires that the Romans, who were notably busy in the area back in the day, built a settlement on the North Bank of the river.  They called it Coriosopitum – Coria for short.  They also built a bridge to carry Dere Street – their motorway from York to Scotland.  Remnants of seven arch supports have been located on the river-bed.  More recently, a section of the approach ramp was uncovered on the south bank as the river changed its course.

In 2004, these building blocks were excavated, surveyed and then re-located a few metres above river level allegedly to prevent them being washed away by floods!  Really?  They look pretty heavy to me, and they have been there for a couple of millenia.  Anyway, this is my pile of stones!

The plaque on the current Corbridge bridge tells its history …

“The first medieval bridge built in 1235 replaced the ford and ferry.  It became ruinous and dangerous in the 17th century owing to frequent floods.  The current seven arch bridge was completed in 1674 and was the sole bridge from source to mouth of the Tyne to remain standing after the severe flood of 1771.”

Back to 2023…  Our coffee needs were met by the Corbridge Larder café.  A board promoted their 27 varieties of tea…

… but the interesting bit was the bottom left corner

Just like Amsterdam!  (CBD being cannabidiol.)  While it can be added to certain cosmetic products, I didn’t think adding CBD to foodstuffs was strictly legal in the UK!

So there you have it.  The tale of two bridges… plus a pair of posh cream boots, a pair of shoes, a new jumper, a pair of trousers, a bunch of dried pampas grass and a dress!  Oh, and a conveniently sized package containing a metal wall hanging!

We never got to Hexham.  But we did spend a very happy afternoon drinking coffee flavoured face lotions and hand cream tea!

zzzz!