A year on Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail - August 2012, part 8

My first visit to the Trail in August was later than usual in the month. This was due to me being away on holiday in Suffolk. I dressed for fine weather and left my gaiters and waterproof trousers at home. At Heavenfield, the early morning mist shrouded St. Oswald's Church and the ground was damp with the dew.

Fingerpost at Stanley Plantation - 10/08/2012.

It did not take long before my walking boots and bottom of my trousers were wet. I was regretting leaving my gaiters at home. Heavenfield's grass had been cut for hay, it was waiting for some sun, the recent wet weather has made this very late this year.

On the three and a quarter mile walk east, I stopped at all of the gates, stiles and fingerposts to cut back the grass and vegetation, the mist did not burn off until mid morning, at eleven oclock I met my first walkers of the day, as I was cutting back at the last stile of my section. One of the walkers was an American who was on the fourth day of his walk travelling east and the other two were Dutch who had just started their walk at Corbridge today.

Fingerpost at Stanley Plantation - 10/08/2012.

I had completed all of the maintenance tasks on the eastward leg of my walk in just over three hours. After packing up all of my gear into my rucksack, I set off back to Heavenfield and got back to my car in just over one hour of walking. By the time I reached my car, the sky was a brilliant blue and the sun was shining brightly.

The Trail needs a long period of this kind of weather to recover from the rain of recent months. Walkers get such a tremendous experience on the Trail, it does make all the difference when they get to do the walk in fine weather.

On the return leg looking west- 10/08/2012.

Weather for the week of my next visit was to turn to heavy rain and strong winds, this was to be for the end of the week, so I made my second visit in August when there was some sun and no rain. Looking back at previous years walking seasons, the numbers of walkers I have met this year whilst out on the Trail is considerably down. The wet weather of the last few months seems to have put walkers off from coming to Northumberland.

Walking west - 14/08/2012.

Whilst out today I did not meet any walkers completing the full Trail. The only people I saw were some locals out with their dogs. My visit to my section today was more of a gentle walk, compared with some of my walks of recent weeks. Last week, I spent a great deal of time cutting back grass and vegetation. There was no need for me to do any work beside and underneath the gates, stiles and fingerposts.

Going into Heavenfield - 14/08/2012.

 My early start saw me complete the round trip to Heavenfield lay by, in just over three hours. My only task today was to pick up some litter dropped along the Trail. I also had to get down into the bottom of the Wall ditch and vallum to remove some fertiliser bags that had been blown there by the wind. Today's visit was to be my twenty eighth walk of the section. During that time, I have continued to document 2012 on Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail using my camera.

Beside the Wall vallum - 14/08/2012.

 With the weather forecasters predicting heavy rain for the Bank Holiday weekend, I collected all of my gear together and got out on the Trail again trying to complete my walk and get the photographs without getting wet. It took me just under three hours to do the walk of my section. Although the ground was still wet and waterlogged in places, I did not have to put on my waterproof gear.

August view looking east - 24/08/2012.

 The sky remained grey and threatening, at some points along the Trail, I felt some drops of rain. I only met two walkers today when I was out. They were walking the Trail from Carlisle to Heddon on the Wall. Compared with previous years, there seems to a large reduction in the amount of walkers this season. The weather seems to have put off walkers this year.

Walking west in Stanley Plantation - 24/08/2012.

Over the last few weeks I have had to cut back the grass and vegetation around gates and stiles. The warm wet weather is still making the grass grow and in some places, some time was spent tidying up. I even had to do a spot of dry stone walling near to St. Oswald's Tea Room, cows must have been in the field and dislodged the stones from the base of the wall, beside one of the gates.

Walking west back to Heavenfield - 24/08/2012.

 Saturday 13th March 2010, saw Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail illuminated with 500 points of light from gas burners and flares. In total, 1200 illuminators were stationed at 250 metre intervals along the 84 mile route. The 'line of light' started at Wallsend and travelled across the country until it reached Bowness on Solway.

The progress of the 'line of light' was filmed using a helicopter, the first beacon was lit at 5.45 p.m. and the last at just after 7.00 p.m.

Illuminating Hadrian's Wall 2010 - Steel Rigg, Northumberland.

Two years later, Hadrian's Wall will been seen in a whole new light on the 31st August and 1st September. Connecting Light arrives in Hadrian's Wall Country as part of the London 2012 Festival. The Wall will be illuminated by 400 - 6ft diameter weather balloons.

It is an interactive installation that will allow you to send messages in light over 73 miles. There are nine dramatic viewing locations where there will be help to get you involved.

For full location details go to www.hadrians-wall.org and click on 2012 Events.

You can watch it at home or on the move at  www.connectinglight.info