Mid Winter walk of Section - January 24th 2011

The snow of November and December 2010 has gone, to be replaced by very hard ground frosts. Over the last few days the temperatures have started to rise and with this in mind I decided to make a visit to the section. My aim was to see how the trail had stood up to the coldest winter in this area for a number of years.



National Trail - Looking East towards Portgate.

The Trail on grazing land was in good condition, it was fairly dry, the only problem encountered was dozens of molehills.




Molehills across the Trail.

The path through Stanley Plantation was very wet and muddy in places. This may be a problem when  the season opens again in May. Some maintenance has been carried out since my last walk: wood chippings have been spread over the problem areas.




Stanley Plantation.

Generally speaking, the Trail is is good condition, despite the harshness of the winter weather we have experienced.  

General Views of the Trail

Portgate

No above ground evidence remains for the Portgate. It would have been a major crossing point in the Wall for people travelling North and South. Located just North of Corbridge. Grid reference: NY 987 686

Information plaque at Stagshaw Roundabout.


How the Portgate may have looked?:




Reconstruction of typical gateway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portgate

 The Portgate would have been the most important crossing point of Hadrian's Wall, in the east, during Roman occupation.

Nothing remains of this crossing point, its general position can be taken as underneath the Stagshaw roundabout where two important roads meet.




Stagshaw roundabout looking North.

The two roads are the B6318 Military road, running east to west and the A68 road, running north to south.

The B6318 Military Road was first constructed in the 18th Century and the A68 follows closely the route of the Roman Road named Dere Street. Long sections of the A68 travel in a straight line.