Return to Whittle Wanderer

Hadrian's Wall, Lanercost, Walton, Newtown, Carlisle Airport, Cumbria.
 [22.6 km]  Thu 03 Mar 2016
OS Grid ref: NY 54087 64587
Lat/Long: 54.973765, -02.718798

I had an easy drive north along the M6 to Carlisle then off the motorway to Brampton then Walton to a minor lane to the start of my walk. There was no surfaced lay-by but I found a wide verge which was out of the way and left my car causing no obstruction. I walked along the lanes to Lanercost and then headed north up the minor track to Haytongate. It is here where I joined the line of Hadrian's Wall and set off across the fields to the west.
Lanercost
The map shows an ancient relic of some kind as a cross is marked but nothing is showing on the ground. I descended to Burtholm Beck and crossed it via a Footbridge then up the hill to re-join the minor road I’d used earlier. I crossed the road and headed back into the fields passing the site of turret 54 but didn’t see any evidence of it. Then I crossed a farmtrack and continued through the fields.
Haytongate and dummy postbox
I could just see the wall ditch and then emerged onto the road again by descending some wooden steps. The map shows a bridleway crossing the fields on the line of the wall ahead but a note on the gate said there was no access to Hadrian's Wall and I needed to continue along the road. At the property called Dovecote I stopped where the track would have emerged onto the road. And a large 4 wheel drive Rangers vehicle stopped and the driver asked about my walk along the wall. We discussed what the map shows and doesn't show and he mentioned a short length of sandstone wall which is now covered up by Dovecote Bridge.
Wet fields on the wall

I suspect temporary = permanent
He left and set off walking down the lane to Dovecote Bridge where I crossed and inspected the length of wall that is now covered to protect it. I had a look at it when walking here in 1977 and commented how soft the stone was.
Dovecote Bridge
Until 1983 the only visible part of Hadrian's Wall (AD122) made of Cumbrian red sandstone was here at Dovecote Bridge, Walton. Due to weather erosion it is now protected under this earth mound.
I left the wall and walked up the lane into the village of Walton. This is where I finished my walk along the wall with Charlie on Wed 27 July 1977. We camped on the village green and spent the evening in the Centurion Inn drinking rather too much. I left the road here to follow the line of Hadrian's Wall Path towards the buildings of Sandsyke.
Covered sandstone wall
A minor path took me around the buildings to a farm track and then across a very muddy field near Swainsteads. Here I descended the wet field to Cam Beck where a where is weir. No bridge is shown on the map and I found this strange as there was an excellent footbridge. Here I stopped to have my sandwiches.
Cam Beck weir

Footbridge over Cam Beck
Path by the midden

Village awards
The route continued through the fields and round the farm buildings of The Beck Farm. I eventually emerged in Newtown. It is strange that part of the path has been diverted around someone's garden and emerges from the back of a midden. I follow the road to Whiteflat then headed off into the fields again along a very nice sunken Lane with trees either side.
Lovely sunken path
Eventually I emerged at Oldwall and joined the road and the approach to Carlisle Airport. As I walked along the road I noticed some old jets which are part of the collection of the Solway Aviation Museum.
Jets at the Solway Aviation Museum

Avro Vulcan B.2 XJ823
It was flown into Carlisle Airport in January 1983 after the Falklands War

Avro Vulcan B.2 XJ823
To my Delight they also have a Vulcan bomber which I was able to inspect quite closely as the road to it is open. The museum is closed but opens at Easter for the summer period.
Avro Vulcan XJ823
 
Avro Vulcan XJ823
Avro Vulcan XJ823
I continued along the road through Irthington to eventually emerge on the main A607 then left the main road to follow the minor road towards Walton. I left the road to follow a farm track to Kellywood Farm which became extremely muddy as I left the farm on the east side. The first field was very wet but soon the walking became easier as I approached Dovecote Bridge again. I emerged onto the road and turn right to follow it back to my car.
St Kentigern, Irthington