The threshers were out last night, huge farm machines travelling up and down the lane with trailers filled to capacity with cut grass. I'm almost sure this was for silage making, and we did wonder if this would go on well into the night. I'm not sure when we became aware of the silence, but boy was it quiet. Not even the hooting of an owl, and we went to bed secure in the knowledge of getting a good nights sleep.
It was about 6 am when we heard the sound of sliding van doors being opened and shut. Not just once, but several times. Sometime during the evening a small camper van had arrived and without a thought of whom they may wake, decided that if they were up so should everyone else be!
We hadn't planned much for the morning, an early afternoon slot had been booked at Housestead Fort, so what to do. We were parked by a disused railway track, at a large lay-by type section, presumably a siding and made into a small car park. On a directional board almost obscured by dirt and with fading letters, we spied Lamley Viaduct. Intrigued, we just had to go and see, so the bikes came off the back of MB and we cycled the mile and half along a fabulously level track with not an incline in sight.
The rail track took us past the old Coanwood Station with the remains of the old weighing scales and also a buffer in a siding.
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| Coanwood station platform |
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| Weighing scales |
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| The buffer |
Arriving at the viaduct we were dismayed to see gates at the far end. No longer a right of way, it was at the owner's discretion to allow bikers and walkers through. He wasn't around so we couldn't ask, but what we really wanted to see was the viaduct from below in all its glory. Steep steps lead to the bottom, so abandoning the bikes at the top, we headed down. If you fancy a bit of history about it, click HERE
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| That footbridge was where we were aiming for. |
The river was low and slow and the viaduct with the reflections looked stunning.
The above photo was taken from Ian's phone, and I tried a panoramic on the camera with interesting results.
All we had now to do was climb back up! Gosh, those steps were deep and steep, and the short gravel bit wasn't any better. I certainly felt it on the back of my calves once back at the top.
Back at MB and with the time marching toward noon, we set off for Housestead Fort. Only just managed to get parked, so busy it was. Not especially for the Roman Fort, but because more of Hadrian's wall could be walked from this point. Our mission was to go around the Roman ruins, and I must say there was nothing really different from any of the others we have been to, although in the literature it states this is the most complete Fort to be seen. Lay-outs are very similar, but this one has a slight edge on the others because the wall joins the Fort in two places.
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| At the top of this photo you can see the wall stretching yonder going east and west. |
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| East wall |
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| Granary |
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| The latrine |
We chose the West wall to walk along, not to far, just to the first stile, although if we had time and known about Sycamore Gap we would have walked the two miles to see it. This tree became famous when Kevin Costner was filmed in Prince of Thieves rescuing a boy being chased by Deerhounds. No photos of it, although if I had been a bit more savvie I could have taken a photograph as we travelled on the B6318 as it was very visible from there. If you fancy a look, click HERE
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| Stretching way out in the distance. |
And today's wildlife, bit meagre I'm sorry to say.
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