Pennine Way - Day 13: Alston to Greenhead

A big boy and a big toy

We started by the old railways station with big boys playing with their big toys.

But steam engines are always interesting so we stopped for a chat and learned a bit of local history.

We had been warned that the moors of today's walk were very very very wet. We had seen very wet close up, some of us closer than others. So very very very wet was scary.

Luckily, an alternative had been constructed; the disused railway is an apparently much much much better alternative, and just as free. 

So we decided to do it the hard way. But took a political wrong turn and stayed on the railway. 

Accidentally, of course.

The New 'Way'

Flat yes, but you make your own entertainment and we weren’t bored on this ‘boring’ section. Really, we are never bored. There is always something to see, something to laugh at and definitely many things to complain about. Also, this meant route finding didn't need the help of a compass.

Our cheat –  has been going for so many years it may as well be classed as the official route. I have never met anyone who didn’t do it. I had 'cheated' twenty five years earlier. So the tales of bogs and water filled boots may not be accurate or might have simply been a wet Tuesday in 1965 when the walk was officially opened.

But the two routes run parallel so you don’t miss the scenery.

No canal!

There was a river, with a road bridge crossed by the rail bridge: we had been out there a long time so were impressed. Slaggyford, also raised a few laughs; all lost on Son. Too young and too innocent. If oxes crossed the river at Oxford…

We had asked the big boys if the steam ride would eventually get to Greenhead, they had said no. Someone had bought some land and was complaining about them constantly. When we got to the land in question and old railway station had been turned into a nice house and the track into a nice garden. A lack of historical foresight.

A bridge

We crossed the old railway bridge – a big viaduct, after having walked around the nice house with the nice garden. We were suitably impressed and had something to eat in the middle. It was high. With arches. But not 24.

This is the Lambley Viaduct, probably named after a Mr. Viaduct who apparently lived near here in Roman times. Or possibly not.

We got some nice views of the bridge in part thanks to the nice house and nice garden.

It's nice to look down from something like this gives a sense of scale, lets you appreciate the achievements of man. Sort of triumph over nature, albeit a temporary one. It also gives me a sort of scared giddy feeling so I don't spend too long look over. Rather enjoying the closeness of the sky. Not scared of heights, mind you. Oh no. Scared of depths is much more accurate.

There was a Roman Inscription on the bridge. That's how we know its name.

Roman Inscription

 Scary depths, but worth it.

A deep depth

		Cumulative
Distance Walked	26km	307km
Start Point	Alston
End Point	Greenhead / Haltwhistle
Via	The Old Railway
General Comments Cheated – missed the boggy bits and walked along the old railway A nice bridge The South Tyne

Our Other Walks

Walking Across Slovakia