Walk of Section: 7th November 2011

The 2011 season on Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail has finished, as a Volunteer Ranger I try to get out all year round, depending on the weather. The weather forecast was favourable and getting all my gear together the night before , I was prepared to walk my section on the 7th November.

The forecast was for a hard frost, sunny spells then turning cloudy. It was to be the first hard frost we have experienced. I try to get out early and it was about 8.15 am when I parked in the layby at Heavenfield. The temperature was -2oC.

Starting point of my walk of section.

This was the first picture I took. Making sure I had everything required I got onto the Trail and saw my first job of the day. The moles in the field had been busy and their molehills were dotted along the Trail at various points. It was hard work to rake them out as they were frozen solid.

Gate close to St. Oswald's Hill Head Farm.

Although still early, the sun was starting to break through and it had all the ingredients of a good morning.

Footprints in the frost on the Trail.

Looking back towards St. Oswald's Hill Head Farm, I saw my footprints in the frost. At this point the Wall ditch is on the right of the photograph, underneath the gorse bushes.

View looking north.

The next valley was shrouded in mist as I continued walking east towards Portgate.

Wall ditch.

The above image is one of my favourite points on my section. The tree is a good place to stop for lunch. I would not be stopping long today!

B6318 Military Road crossing.

I reached the middle of the outward leg of my walk at about 9.00 am. The sun was shining and the frost was starting to disappear in places.

Frost on stile

Near to Portgate looking west.

I reached Portgate about 10.00 a.m. and after a quick drink and check for litter around the last stile on my section set off on my return journey walking west. The sun was brilliant and areas not in the shade were starting to be free from the earlier frost.

The "dividing line"

Walking back I came across the above.  The area in the shade was still covered in frost!

Back at the halfway point.

Reaching the halfway point the next valley was still covered with mist.

View of Trail looking west

I was nearing the end of my walk pf the section. The frost had virtually all gone from the ground and it was unusal to spot some yellow flowers on the gorse bushes. The second flowering of the year!

Yellow flowers

It was not long after taking this photograph that I reached the layby at Heavenfield. The weather forecast was correct and the walk enabled me to monitor the condition of the Trail after the 2011 walking season.