A year on Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail - October 2012, part 10

The last month of the 2012 walking season on Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail is now upon us. More wet weather continues to make large sections of the path waterlogged and very muddy. This has certainly been the worst year for weather since I started, as a Volunteer Ranger.

Vallum beside the site of Milecastle 24 - 05/10/2012.

Normally when visiting this section, I am out early, today was an exception as I started out at Heavenfield just before twelve o'clock. The moles had been busy since my last visit and I had to rake out their mounds of earth.

I did not come prepared to cut back any grass or vegetation. I am hoping that this task will not now be necessary as we get closer to the end of the year. The Trail has had to cope with a large amount of rainfall over the last few months. Sections of the Wall ditch and Vallum are starting to fill up with water again; as well as dips and hollows in the ground.

Stone flagged area walking east - 05/10/2012.

Stanley Plantation was very wet and muddy. You could see where the walkers had been trying to find a better route to avoid the quagmire. A small amount of litter needed to be picked up along the section. I reached The Errington Arms without meeting any walkers and returned back to Heavenfield wihout meeting any! This is the first time this year, I have had the six and a half mile walk all to myself.

Fungi around a tree - 05/10/2012.

After another night of heavy rain, I ventured out out again, with the prospect of getting very wet and muddy. The worst of the rain had stopped as I started, and a brisk westerly wind was clearing  away the dark clouds.

The moles had been busy in the grassland at Heavenfield. As we are reaching the end of the walking season, the trees are starting to turn into their autumnal colours and the grass and vegetation growth is starting to slow down.

After the overnight rain - 12/10/2012.

The already waterlogged ground is unable to cope with any more rain and all of the dips and hollows are filling up with water. In some places, all you can do is walk straight  through. The Wall ditch and Vallum are the perfect places for water to collect as it runs off the grassland.

Dressed for rain in full waterproof gear, I was lucky to complete the walk of the section in a break between the showers. On my walk last week, I saw no other people, today I met two American walkers completing the full Trail and two dog walkers.

 

Ordnance Survey Grid Reference: NY963 691 - 12/10/2012.

Two areas completely flooded had to be reported to Hadrian's Wall Heritage Limited and some sightings of Waxcaps growing in the Wall ditch to the Northumberland National Park Ranger responsible.

I completed the round trip in just under three hours, very wet and muddy! My tasks for today only included picking up a small amount of litter and raking flat the mole hills encroaching on the Trail.

I am looking forward to some colder but drier weather for the end of the year. This hopefully will allow the wet and muddy areas, particularly Stanley Plantation, to recover from such a wet year.

Ordnance Survey Grid Reference NY966 691 - 12/10/2012.

Out for the third time this month and getting closer to the end of October. The weekend was certainly drier than it has been for sometime and and we experienced some long sunny spells. It was too much to hope that it would last and the day started damp and very foggy.

Foggy morning - 22/10/2012.

It was to be another walk, where I had my section all to myself. There were no other walkers to be seen. Visibility was very poor with the fog, it was down to about 100 yards, and there was no chance of seeing the magnificent views of the north and south today.

Livestock in the fog, near to the Trail - 22/10/2012.

It had been ten days since my last visit. I was expecting no real change to the condition of the Trail. It was as muddy out on the grassland where the livestock cross to get to the Wall ditch. The western end of Stanley Plantation continues to be completely waterlogged and ankle deep in mud. The trees and vegetation on either side of the narrow path channels all walkers into the muddy morass. You literally have nowhere else to walk!

In parts of the Wall ditch and Vallum, the water is standing and creating large and deep ponds. I was not looking forward to reaching the part of my section that was flooded on my last visit. The only route was to walk straight through the ankle deep water. I was surprised to reach the area and find that all of the water had gone.

Problem area drying out - 22/10/2012.

 My fourth visit in October and the 2012 Walking Season is coming to an end. The snow and ice of last Saturday had disappeared as quickly as it came. It was great to start a walk on my section in brilliant sunshine. Passing St. Oswald's Hill Head Farm shortly after 8.15 a.m. the sun was shining onto the trees and gorse bushes. The sun was not to last as a bank of mist quickly moved parallel to the Military Road to the east. After this the sky became greyer and I had to walk back to Heavenfield in the rain, on my return journey.

Green and Gold on the Trail - 29/10/2012.

The Trail continues to be very wet and muddy. It is still bad in Stanley Plantation and out on the grassland livestock have been walking and have churned up the path. The trees are continuing to change colour and some trees have shed all of their leaves. The only other person I met today was a farmer out on his quad bike, feeding some of his cattle and sheep.

Autumn colours on the Trail - 29/10/2012.

Today was my thirtyeighth walk of my section, this year. The only maintenance work I had to carry out was to pick up a small amount of litter. The wet weather of recent months has made walking difficult and messy. It has also put off walkers, another day where I have not spoken to anyone on the Portgate to Heavenfield section of Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail.

No leaves left! - 29/10/2012.

I am still hoping that as the weather gets colder towards the end of the year, it also stops being as wet! The Trail needs a long period of dry weather, to recover from this season's poor weather.

A year on Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail - September 2012, part 9

Only two months left for the 2012 walking season on Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail. After the weekend of the Connecting Light art installation, I was out early on my section. A good weather forecast for all week will be welcome for all of the walkers out and about.

Errington Hill Head, half way point on my section - 03/09/2012.

The wettest Summer on record has made for miserable walking on the World Heritage Site. It was good to see walkers dressed in T shirts and shorts. Over the last few months the norm was full waterproofs! I even left them behind in my car, as I started my walk in brilliant sunshine with the temperature expected to reach 23 degrees later in the day.

Near to Heavenfield - 03/09/2012.

The wet warm weather has kept the Trail still green and in good condition. Normally at this time of year, it is showing signs of wear with the thousands of walkers completing the Trail.

I met eighteen walkers today and as usual they are impressed with the way the Trail is managed and signposted. During my walk of the section I cut back grass, nettles and brambles. I also had a large amount of litter to pick up. One area had to be reported as water from a blocked drain has collected and walkers have turned the path into a large muddy patch.

Problem area to be reported - 03/09/2012.

The sunny weather was not to last for my second visit , the sky was black and threatened rain. I started my work for the day at The Errington Arms car park picking up litter and cutting back the vegetation around the stile. As I was carrying out the work the rain came and I completed the work and set off to Heavenfield.

The dark clouds were moving in a north easterly direction and as I drove west the rain stopped. I was lucky to do the whole six and a half mile walk of the section without any more rain.

At The Errington Arms - 10/09/2012.

Litter on the Trail continues to be a problem on this section, especially where it is close to the Military Road. My litter bag was half full when I reached The Errington Arms car park again! Today the most common item to pick up was aluminium drink cans.

The sun of last week had certainly dried out some of the muddy areas and the Trail in Stanley Plantation is also improving after the washout out of the Summer.

 

Looking west - 10/09/2012.

I started my day at about eight oclock and it was about an hour and a half later when I met the first two walkers heading west. I was to meet a group of five walkers and one other walker as I returned to Heavenfield. The single walker was American and we had a good chat about the work that we do on the Trail. He was completing the full walk and I was the only Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail Volunteer Ranger that he had seen, so far on his journey.

Although the rain did not come, the cattle and sheep must have been expecting it to come, as they were lying down in a field. One cow was lying down in the middle of the path and I had to pass it twice as I walked east and west.

Not moving for anyone!!!! - 10/09/2012.

It was to be ten days since my last visit to my section of the National Trail. Overnight there was heavy rain moving south over the country. This heavy rain was to create some large puddles and waterlogged patches along the length of my section. It certainly was a lot cooler and I would not have been surprised if the temperature had dropped low enough in the early hours to create a ground frost.

After a night of heavy rain - 21/09/2012.

 The rain clouds soon cleared to the south and as usual on my walk east from Heavenfield I carried out my usual maintenance tasks. The path had been recently mown and was in good condition except for the areas affected by the rain. Along the first mile of my walk a few molehills had appeared and I had to pick up some litter.

Reaching the well defined Wall ditch near to Errington Hill Head, I caught a glimpse of something gold in the grass. On closer inspection I found it was a Golden Waxcap and I got out my camera to take a picture and note down the Ordnance Survey Grid Reference of its location. The picture and information would be sent to the Northumberland Park Ranger responsible for such sightings.

Golden Waxcap beside the Wall ditch - 21/09/2012.

On my walk east today, I met only one walker as I reached Stanley Plantation. On my return journey to Heavenfield, I met another fourteen walkers completing the full Trail. Two were a Canadian couple who were looking for St. Oswald's Tea Room. After giving them directions, they asked about the work that we carry out. They thought that the Trail is well signposted and maintained and very complimentary about the work that the Volunteer Rangers carry out. It had been a memorable experience for them to visit such a historic site.

Back at Heavenfield - 21/09/2012.

The final week in September continues to see more heavy rain, the ground continues to become more waterlogged and muddy. We are now getting closer to the last month of the 2012 walking season, it will be interesting to see the final count of walkers for this year on the Trail.

Looking back to some of my photographs of September 2012, I decided to finish this post with one image of the Trail taken during better weather. 

A sunny end of September day - 22/09/2011.

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

A year on Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail - July 2012, Part 7

My first visit to my section in July was to be on the second day of the month. After the torrential rain we have experienced, I made sure I was carrying all of my waterproof  clothing and I was expecting to have to walk through large areas of wet and muddy ground.

Starting off, waterproofs were to stay in my rucksack and the Trail on the grassland was drying out and not as bad as I expected. It was not to last though, I had to walk through some showers and try to get through some large waterlogged and muddy areas.

Waterlogged Vallum beside the Trail - 02/07/2012.

 During my walk of the section, I am always on the lookout for litter and as usual, there was some to pick up! I also had to cut back the vegetation around the gates, stiles and fingerposts. The wet and warm weather certainly is making everything grow fast.

Being a Monday, I tend not to meet many walkers, today I met and talked to ten walkers completing the full Trail. Four were Dutch and two were Australian. Moving off the grassland, it was not long before I came across the rain affected areas. The Trail became waterlogged and very muddy. In some places there was no option but to walk straight through it.

Mud on the Trail - 02/07/2012.

The worst part of my section was found to be the Trail in Stanley Plantation. Walking up the slight gradient to the highest point was quite difficult because of the mud. You could see where the walkers have got off the path to avoid the mud. In my time as a Volunteer Ranger, I have not seen the Trail in such a poor condition. Worse was to come as I came to the gate out of Stanley Plantation travelling east. The heavy rain had made the path a quagmire.

Waterlogged Path in Stanley Plantation - 02/07/2012.

Before going out for my second visit of the month I watched an early morning weather forecast. The presenter after describing where the rain would be, said, "It was more like October than July!" It was again waterproofs weather as I started off from Heavenfield.

I had only walked about a hundred yards when the rain started to fall steadily and my walking boots were starting to get very wet and muddy. Over my last few visits there has not been a great deal of litter to pick up. Today there was a large amount of litter over the whole of the three and a half miles to The Errington Arms car park. I picked up four plastic water bottles discarded on the path. It surprises me how walkers can carry a full bottle, but are unable to carry them when they are empty!

View of waterlogged Vallum - 09/07/2012.

I had my section of the Trail all to myself for at least two hours. As I was walking east I stopped at each gate, stile and fingerpost to cut back the grass, nettles and other kinds of vegetation. It was while I was cutting the grass on the last stile that I was to meet five walkers with a large black labrador dog.

Finishing the job, I packed all my tools into my rucksack and set off on the return leg to Heavenfield. The rain had eased by eleven oclock and I made good time dodging the muddy and waterlogged areas.

View looking north - 09/07/2012.

If the rain continues, I suppose we will be on for the wettest July on record. It certainly is making the path hard to walk on. Stanley Plantation path is virtually muddy along its entire length. Even when you get out of the wooded area, there are other parts that are as muddy.

Another muddy section of the path - 09/07/2012.

What kind of weather would I experience for my third visit to my section? The week between my visits saw torrential rain again and we actually got some sunny and dry days towards the weekend. One thing for sure, I will make sure I carry all of my waterproof clothing, just in case. This time last year, the ground was dry and rock hard on the Trail. 2012 will probably be remembered as the wettest and muddiest!

Starting again at Heavenfield, the sky was full of dark clouds. It did not look as though I would do my walk without any rain. The path in Heavenfield had been cut since my visit last week. The ground was less muddy and further work had been carried out beside St. Oswald's Tea Room - vegetation that I had cut back to clear the path had been completely strimmed by the permanent lengthsmen.

Newly mown path in Heavenfield - 16/07/2012.

After I had been walking for half an hour the rain started, it passed over quite quickly and I was to complete the walk and work along the section without the need of putting on my waterproof gear. The path still continues to be very wet and muddy. At various points along the Trail you get small amounts of foxgloves growing in the Wall ditch, amongst the now flowerless gorse bushes.

Foxgloves on the Trail - 16/07/2012.

It was very quiet for walkers on the Trail today. I only spoke to four walkers in the three and a half hours I was out. As I was nearing Stanley Plantation, I came across the two lengthsmen from Hadrian's Wall Heritage Limited. They had been very busy cutting back vegetation, relaying stone flags and laying plastic boards on the muddy sections.

It was a transformation from what it was like last week. Walkers will be able to walk on this part keeping their feet dry and out of the mud. Hopefully the heavy rainfall we have experienced has finished and we can finish the season with some dry and sunny weather.

Maintenance of the Trail - 16/07/2012.

It was great to carry out my last visit in July in dry weather. I did not need my gaiters, waterproof jacket or over trousers. The Trail was drying out and I managed to finish with dry and mud free walking boots. Reaching Errington Hill Head I looked to the north and saw a rainbow, I quickly got out my camera and the following photograph.

Early morning rainbow - 23/07/2012.

The warm and wet weather has continued to make the grass and vegetation grow fast around the gates and stiles. I have managed to keep on top of this over the last few weeks and it is a relatively easy job to cut back. A small amount of litter was discarded by walkers and I picked this up on my walk travelling east.

On the trail return leg - 23/07/2012.

On this visit, I met fifteen walkers all completing the full trail. Over the last few weeks walkers have had to deal with the torrential rain and waterlogged and muddy areas. The walkers I met today included four Dutch and three Irish. Most of the time I was involved in carrying out the maintenance tasks when they came up to me. The walkers are very appreciative of the work that we Volunteer Rangers carry out and how well the trail is marked and maintained.

My last maintenance task of the day was to cut the grass under the stile close to The Errington Arms. My next visit to my section will be in August after I have been away on my annual holidays.

Last maintenance task - 23/07/2012.

A year on Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail - June 2012, Part 6

As we get closer to the longest day, the weather continues to be changeable and the number of walkers on the Trail are starting to increase. It is also at this time of year that the maintenance work we have to complete also increases, particularly cutting back the vegetation around the gates and stiles. 

A wet June morning, walking east on the Trail - 08/06/2012.

It was to be another early start for me as I started my first visit to my section in June. Full waterproofs were needed, as the rain was to fall steadily for all of the time I was out. The warm recent weather certainly makes the vegetation grow faster and you could see where the grass had needed to be cut on the Trail.

I was only to walk a few hundred yards before I needed to cut back the nettles beside the gate into Heavenfield. I was not really looking forward to my next task, even if it had not been raining! On my last visit the grass and vegetation was starting to encroach onto the path beside St. Oswald's Tea Room at Hill Head Farm. You could only just see the steps and I started to cut back, armed only with garden shears.

It took me about half an hours work to clear the path. At least the walkers can now walk through the area without getting their legs soaked in this weather.

Steps at St. Oswald's Hill Head Farm - 08/06/2012

As it was only a temporary solution, I had to report that the lengthsmen from Hadrian's Wall Heritage Limited would have to make a visit with their strimmers to complete the job.

The major task for me was completed and I then made steady progress in the rain stopping to pick up litter, rake over some molehills and cut back brambles in Stanley Plantation.

On the six and a half mile round trip, I met ten walkers completing the full trail. It was not the day to stop and talk and it was heads down for the walkers in a wide variety of waterproof gear. The Trail was drying out, but this prolonged period of rain has made the path in Stanley Plantation very muddy and waterlogged in the dips and hollows out on the grassland.

The Trail beside the Wall ditch walking west - 08/06/2012.

My second visit of the month was to be on a sunny June morning, summer is not far off and of course the longest day. There was not any need for waterproofs today and the sky was blue, giving magnificent views of the countryside to the north and south.

On my last visit the wet weather made for a miserable walk and all along my section you could still see the effects of the heavy rain: Stanley Plantation was still very muddy, there was standing water in the Vallum and Wall Ditch and the grassland was still wet under foot.

Sunshine on the Trail, travelling east - 18/06/2012.

 On my last visit, I cut back vegetation around gates, stiles and fingerposts. It was to be more of the same today as the warm wet weather has certainly made the vegetation and grass grow quickly. Overall my six and a half mile walk of the section took me just over four hours as I was stopping frequently to use the shears on the growing vegetation.

Stile and fingerpost on trail, looking west - 18/06/2012.

Normally when I am out on a Monday, I do not see many walkers, today it was busier than usual, I met thirteen walkers completing the full trail and a dog walker. I am not picking up as much litter along my section. There is normally something that has to be reported to Hadrian's Wall Heritage Limited, and on my eastward leg I had to take a photograph of a problem area.

The entrance to Stanley Plantation used to have a gate, before it was stolen. Now the coping stones and other courses of the wall are being taken. In this day and age nothing surprises me, but the cost of replacement and building work has to found.

Missing stonework at Stanley Plantation - 18/06/2012.

The forecast was for it to be calmer until midweek, but more rain was predicted before the end of what has already been one of the wettest Junes on record. This spurred me on to make another visit to my section.

Evidence of the heavy weekend rain - 25/06/2012.

The torrential rain of the weekend was still in evidence, as I completed my usual round trip of Heavenfield to The Errington Arms. The ground was waterlogged, muddy and slippery underfoot in places. This heavy rainfall is not the type of weather for a National Trail that consists mainly of grassland. The heavy footfall of high numbers of walkers soon churns up the ground and makes it very muddy. Cattle and sheep also make the path very muddy in places.

Waterlogged area - 25/06/2012.

It was to remain dry for my walk and the sun even came out at times in a cloudy and overcast sky. The round trip took me just over three hours as I did not need to do any cutting back of vegetation at any points. All of the signs and way markers were intact and I met eight walkers in total - three Americans were completing the full trail one walking it from the west and two walking east.

When we stop and talk to walkers, It does not take them long to see the logos on our waterproofs and that we are volunteers. I always ask if they have experienced any problems whilst on the Trail, if there are any, I pass the information on to Hadrian's Wall Heritage Limited. One thing I do find is that the majority of walkers are very appreciative of the work that we do, this makes all of the hard work worthwhile. I consider myself very lucky and privileged to be able to be Volunteer  Ranger on this fantastic World Heritage site.

Muddy path in Stanley Plantation - 25/06/2012.