Walk of Section - 11th July 2011

During the month of July I make two visits the Portgate to Heavenfield section to inspect the Trail and return a monitoring report. Today was to be the second visit and I started at Heavenfield at about 8.15 a.m. It was a beautifully sunny morning and the majority of my time on the outward journey east to Portgate was spent cutting back vegetation around the gates and stiles.

The path continues to be in good condition and as it was recently mown it stands out in the fields probably being left for hay making.

Trail at Heavenfield looking West.

No problems were noted on the Trail as I reached the mid point. It was about 10.00 a.m. when I reached Stanley Plantation. As I walked through the wood, I cut back nettles and brambles encroaching on the path. It was to be at about 10.30 a.m. when I met the first two walkers travelling West.

Reaching The Errington Arms at about 11.00 a.m. I set back on the return leg back to Heavenfield. The sun continued to shine, but there was a few spots of rain and gathering dark clouds in the west. There was very liitle litter to pick up along the Trail this visit. On my way back I met a further 12 walkers travelling east. They had experienced no problems whilst on the Trail and were very complimentary about the condition of the path.

The following photographs were taken throughout the morning:

Trail looking West

Trail looking West

Colour in the Gorse bushes beside Stanley Plantation

Trail through Stanley Plantation looking West

Trail beside the Wall ditch looking West

Well mown Path looking West

Walk of Section - 1st July 2011

As it was the first of July and a fine day, I took the opportunity of going out to do my third monitoring report of the 2011 season on Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail. It was quite early when I started at Heavenfield and it soon became clear that the recent rain and warm weather was the ideal conditions for the vegetation to grow in the fields and in and around the gates and stiles on the Trail. I had only walked about 100 metres before I had to cut back nettles and grass from around the gate into Heavenfield.

Heavenfield from gate looking West.

The Trail had been recently cut by the two lengthsmen who cover the entire length of the walk. I was to find that this was the case over the whole of the section from Heavenfield to Portgate. As well as marking out the Trail it also will help the tired walker.

As I reached each gate and stile I had to spend a small amount of time ensuring that they were in a state of good repair and clear away any nettles etc.

Near to St. Oswald's Tea Room, looking West.

On the Trail leading to the middle of the section, there were a few molehills, that needed to be spread out. It was only a fraction of the amount that was there during the months of January and February.

View of well maintained Trail, looking West.

I reached the centre point of my section by mid morning after working on every gate and stile. It was unusual that I had not met any walkers travelling west. Parts of the Trail had been repaired and new grass seed sown. I had been informed earlier in the week about a vehicle that had crashed through the wall and ended up on the Trail beside the Military Road plantation. The two lengthmen had removed all of the stone obstructing the Trail. The damaged wall and fence will be repaired by the necessary authorities in the future.

Looking West towards Stanley Plantation, near to site of Milecastle 23.

End of section, looking East towards The Errington Arms (Portgate).

I reached the The Errington Arms by about 11.00 a.m. and had a full bag of litter that I had picked up along the Trail. After a short rest and spot of refreshment, I set off on the return walk to Heavenfield. 

Trail beside the Vallum, looking West.

Trail beside the Vallum looking East.

 It was not until I was in Stanley Plantation and at about 11.30 a.m. when I met my first walker, he was only doing small parts of the Trail over a period of time. It was to be about another half an hour before I met two Canadian families doing the whole Trail. They were having a great time and they were all surprised at how well the path is maintained.

I finally reached Heavenfield about noon after only having to cut back some brambles encroaching onto the Trail. It definitely was unsual to met only 8 walkers at this time of year.

Packing everything away, I set off home in my car, and as I passed the middle of the section a very large group of walkers were making their way West!