This turned out to be the first proper Autumn walk of our 2018 programme. The weather was crisp and clear and the leaves had started to change colour; this all contributed to a lovely afternoon walk in the Tyne Valley.

We started out near the cemetery at Haydon Bridge just under the A69 bypass. Sounds idyllic, right? Actually it is quite a nice quiet little spot with a spacious parking area and access to a couple of footpaths and a nearby playground(!). We walked through Haydon Bridge itself, noticing the crumbling remains of a high wall or maybe an old bastle before crossing the South Tyne. Continuing through the town we negotiated the level crossing over the Tyne Valley railway line and headed up into the surrounding countryside via a narrow lane.

Crossing a sloping sheep pasture we came upon Old Haydon Church, a beautiful little church that once served the original settlement of Haydon before it migrated downhill to straddle the South Tyne. This is such a quiet and peaceful place with a tunnel of yew along the pathway leading to the old church. Inside it is simple and almost austere but a lovely place for a bit of quiet contemplation. The church was built using stone nicked from nearby Hadrian’s Wall.

Leaving the church, we followed the minor road through a nearby farm hamlet before descending a very steep field back down into the town.

4 miles