A year on Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail - January 2012, Part 1

My first walk of the section in the first week of January, was on a morning following a night of strong winds and heavy rain. It was dry on my arrival at Heavenfield layby but there was still some strong gusts of wind, as I prepared for my walk on the section.

The field at Heavenfield was full of sheep and they all moved closer to the gate, probably thinking I was the owner with some feed! They quickly moved away to the corner of the field as I started to walk east.

Hadrian's Wall National Trail Way markers - 05/01/2012

The moles had been busy in Heavenfield and it took me sometime to remove the earth mounds and pick up the litter that had been blown into the fence and wall bottom. Today it took me about two hours to walk half a mile, my progress was delayed by the work of the moles on the trail. 

St. Oswald's Church, Heavenfield - 05/01/2012.

The wind started to get up again by mid morning and by the time I reached the half way point it was very strong and coming from a north westerly direction. This pushed me along as it was in my back as I walked east but on the return journey I struggled to walk against some of the stronger gusts.

At this time of year the trail is very wet and muddy. You never know who you might meet on the trail, but I was the only person out today. The strong winds made it very difficult to walk and although I picked up the litter, I am sure there will be more for my next visit to the section.

Victim of the strong winds - 05/01/2012.

My second visit of January began with some early rain, this soon stopped and the strong north westerly wind started again. The moles had been busy again and the wind had blown litter and plastic bottles into the wall ditch. I made quicker progress along the trail than my first visit.  The mole activity tends to stop at the half way point beside the Military Road crossing at Errington Hill Head. Before reaching Stanley Plantation the trail was blocked by a fallen tree. I reported this and the two lengthsmen will be coming out to remove it.

Fallen tree blocking trail - 09/01/2012.

After climbing over the fallen tree, I made good progress through Stanley Plantation, the wind had brought down small branches, but the trail was relatively clear. After a period of rain the trail gets very muddy here, I was surprised at its dry condition for this time of year. On reaching The Errington Arms, I turned for the return journey, a low level jet screamed overhead and quickly vanished to the south!

My return journey is normally a casual walk back to Heavenfield, today I had to get into the wall ditch at various points to collect some more litter.The strong wind again made walking west hard. The rain had passed over and there was blue sky and sunshine.

View of the trail walking west - 09/01/2012.

Beside the site of Milecastle 24, looking west - 09/01/2012.

My third visit was during the period of hard frosts we experienced in the middle of the month. The one good thing about the cold weather, was to harden up the muddy areas along the trail and make the walking easier. The moles had been busy! After so many hard frosts, I managed to completely lift some of the mounds of earth. Some were frozen solid and I had to leave them for when the weather warms up.

Frost on the trail, beside the Vallum - 17/01/2012.

The fallen tree discovered on my second walk had been removed and the trail was back to normal. At this time of year it is unusal to see a large amount of footprints in the frost, there must have been quite a few people out over the last week as you could see where they had been walking. Another piece of evidence to support this was the large amount of plastic bottles on and beside the trail.

On the trail looking east, towards Errington Hill Head - 17/01/2012.

During my walk there continued to be a stream of low flying RAF jets at low level heading north to the ranges at Otterburn and heading south after their sorties. Even if I kept my camera at the ready, I doubt I would be fast enough to get a picture.

At the B6318 Military Road Crossing - 17/01/2012.

The temperature was low and it was a day when I kept moving. On reaching Port gate at The Errington Arms I quickly turned around and briskly walked back to Heavenfield. I had just gone through the gate at Heavenfield when I was to meet a lone walker. This was the first person I have seen, in three visits to the section in January.

I made my last visit at the end of January and although the temperature was low and there had been a sprinkling of snow, the trail was very waterlogged. Again it was a walk interrupted by picking up small amounts of litter and dealing with the molehills.

Waterlogged section of Trail - 27/01/2012.

At various points along the trail there are still patches of gorse bushes in flower. It was again not a day to stop for long and I completed the first leg to The Errington Arms in about two hours.

Gorse bushes in flower beside the Vallum - 27/01/2012.

On my return leg to Heavenfield I decided to leave my gear at my car and go and take some photographs of St. Oswald's church. As I was walking over the field five walkers appeared and made their way to the church as well.

The weather in this month has allowed me to get out once a week and it has been needed to keep on top of the litter and the numerous molehills. Although the trail is waterlogged there are small signs that spring is not far off.

St. Oswald's Church, Heavenfield - 27/01/2012.

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.

Walk of Section: 11th October 2011

 This was to be my final official walk and monitoring visit for the 2011 season. The season will finish at the end of October. Weather permitting, I will continue to visit during the winter months and ensure all is well for the new season in 2012.

The weather forecast for today indicated rain and sunny periods. I started my walk of the section at Heavenfield at about 8.30 a.m. and was on my return journey when it started to rain at about 11.00 a.m. It was quite a heavy shower so I had to resort to my waterproofs.

Vegetation is starting to die off, so I did not spend as much time as usual cutting back along the Trail and under the gates and stiles.

The rain of the last few months has made the Trail waterlogged and in places very muddy. It is good that the season is rapidly coming to an end, so that it can get a rest from the thousands of walkers feet.

Molehills are starting to appear along the path again. These will need to be monitored and raked over in the next few months.

In total, I only met and talked to six walkers completing the full Trail today.

The major problems found today were: stones removed from a wall and a flooded section of the Trail.

The following photographs were taken as I was out on the section:

View of trail looking west.

Victim to the recent high winds!

View towards Stanley Plantation.

Trail in Stanley Plantation.

Problem area.

Near to site of Milecastle 24.

View of Trail looking west near to Heavenfield.

Vegetation starting to die off.

Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail - The 2011 season coming an end!

The 2011 walking season on Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail is rapidly coming to an end. The six month season will see approximately 10000 walkers completing the full Trail, coast to coast. As one of the many National Trail Volunteer Rangers, I have been out at least once a month to monitor the Trail and the sensitive archaeology, on my section of Hadrian's Wall.

Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail - Heavenfield.

My section of the Trail covers a distance of three and a quarter miles and begins at the Errington Arms, Stagshaw roundabout and finishes at Heavenfield. On a monitoring visit, I will walk this section in both an easterly and westerly direction. The six and a half miles will take me approximately three to four hours, depending on how much maintenance work needs to be carried out, on that day and on how many walkers I see and talk to.

My first monitoring walk of the new season was in early May and the Trail was found to be in a reasonable condition considering the previous bad winter we had experienced.

Start of season, near to Heavenfield looking west- 10/05/2011.

On a fine day, the north and south views from the Trail are magnificent. Depending on the time and day of the week, I sometimes find I have the path all to myself. The amount of work we have to do depends on the time of year and weather. We have to spend sometime cutting back vegetation, nettles and brambles from beside the path and in and around the gates and stiles.

Near to the site of Milecastle 24, looking west - 06/06/2011.

The good weather in the early part of the season enabled the Trail to withstand the pounding from the large number of walkers. It also gave the grass and other vegetation ideal conditions in which to grow. The Trail needed some attention by the two full time lengthsmen to keep it looking at its best.

Newly mown path in Heavenfield - 01/07/2011.

Trail beside the Vallum, looking west - 01/07/2011.

Wet weather is a major problem in my section of the Trail. Dips and hollows can easily become waterlogged and as part of it passes through the wooded area of Stanley Plantation, the path can become very muddy. The wet weather of July and August was to give us all of the conditions mentioned above.

Stanley Plantation - 11/07/2011.

Wet weather problems on the Trail - 19/08/2011.

With the B6318 Military Road running parallel to my section of the Trail, there is always fast moving traffic near to walkers at various points. A  van recently, left the road, crashed through the dry stone wall and finished up on the path! Police had to divert walkers aound the site of the accident. It was very lucky that there were no walkers at the time of the accident.

Work also had to be carried out on a field drain to stop the path being flooded. At one point water was very deep and it was spread out over a wide area.

Flooded path - 05/09/2011.

As we move into Autumn, the Trail will be start to become quieter again, vegetation growth will be slower, but I  will continue to monitor the Trail throughout the winter months, weather permitting!

View east towards Stanley Plantation - 21/09/2011.

Our work on the trail is varied and interesting, The Volunteer Rangers across the Hadrian's Wall corridor spend a great deal of time keeping the path litter free and ensure it is clear and unobstructed for all of the walkers and visitors to the World Heritage Site. The most important feature of our work is monitoring the sensitive archaeology and reporting any problems. It may be a short season, but the work continues all of the year.

Walk of section - 22nd September 2011

Took advantage of the dry and sunny weather of late September to squeeze in another walk of the section. The rain of the last three months still continues to cause problems on the Trail. The dips and hollows are still waterlogged with standing water in places. 

Plastic matting has been laid by our two lengths men on the most muddiest areas of my section. On my walk today I cut back the vegetation around all of the stiles and gates, I also cut back any brambles and nettles encroaching on the path. Molehills are also starting to appear on some grassed areas.

I met 24 walkers on the Trail today, 22 were completing the full Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail, the other two were day walkers out with their dog.

Whilst in the wooded area of Stanley Plantation I found the path blocked by a large branch. Moving it was quite difficult, as it was down in the narrowest section of the Trail. 

The following photographs were taken as I walked the six and a half mile return journey of my section:

Approaching Stanley Plantation walking west.

Beside Military Road Plantation.

Beside the Military Road Crossing looking west.

View of Trail looking west to Heavenfield

One of the problem areas on the Trail.

St. Oswald's Church at Heavenfield.

Walk of section: 5th September 2011

With the end of the season nearly upon us, it was time for another monthly monitoring report of my section. The weather forecast predicted sunshine and showers for this morning. I was lucky to complete the six and a half mile round trip without the need of my waterproofs.

I began my walk at Heavenfield in bright sunshine and reached Port gate at about 10.15 a.m. On the way, I cut back the vegetation around all of the gates and stiles on the Trail, picked up a wide variety of litter, cut back brambles and nettles near to the Trail and replaced one missing Acorn way marker which had been removed from a stile.

On the first leg my walk I met no walkers. it was only on my return leg that I met four people, who were completing the full Trail.

The recent wet weather has not helped the Trail as it was waterlogged, flooded and very muddy in places.

The following photographs were taken as I completed the walk of my section:

Example of one of the problem areas.

Walking East towards Portgate.

Trail looking West.

Trail looking West towards Stanley Plantation.

Flooded section of Trail.

Walking West towards Heavenfield.

Looking East.

Gate into Heavenfield, walking West.

Trail in Heavenfield, walking West.