Catch-up part 5

Nearly there just a few more photographs then I'm upto date.
By then I'd like to think it will have stopped raining so I can get out for a few sunrises.

Cuddys Crag June 2010 (grid ref: NY783686)

Cuddys Crag June 2010 (grid ref NY782686)

View to Housesteads July 2010 (grid ref:NY783682)

Kings Hill August 2010 (grid ref: NY795692)

Hotbank Crag June 2010 ( grid ref: NY774683)

Walltown Quarry July 2010 (grid ref: NY669659)

Up in the mornings and out at night.

Well my sunrise, sunset season is well and truly under way.
Getting up at 4.40am at the moment and making a decision whether or not to go out, it's actually a hard call to make as cloud comes and goes quickly so I can get up and get out and before I've got the car off the drive things have changed completely.
Still you have to be out there to get a photograph and at least I'm lucky that I don't have hours to drive to my viewpoints.

Headed off to Steel Rigg a few mornings ago, the weather people kept promising a dramatic sunrise with the volcanic ash, the cloud was patchy so I had high hopes.

Steel Rigg (NY749677)

No one around, just me and the sheep with their lambs.
 I stood looking at the view and watching a patch of cloud build to my left but moving quite quickly to the right.
There's a group of trees near the top of Hotbank Crag and I noticed a light shining through the trees.
My first thought was that another photographer was up there with a red torch, well it was early and I was half asleep, but then I realised it was the sun rising.
And rise it did straight into the patch of thickening cloud, so it goes.
I did get some photographs to share with you, but not the fiery gem I was hoping for.

Steel Rigg (NY752675)

Sunset is another hit and miss afair but it's not as difficult to motivate myself to go out during the evening.
A trip to Walltown is easy and I can be there in minutes. I love wandering about up there, the views are spectacular, right across to Criffel on the Scottish Solway coast, looking over the plain that takes you past Longbyre and Gilsland following the route that Hadrian's Wall takes to the sea.

From Walltown to the sea (NY672662)

While I was up there a family came to enjoy the sunset, of course the first thing they did was stand on the Wall.
 I got chatting and asked them why, they told me it felt like they were walking in the footsteps of the Romans.
Maybe a viewing platform over the Wall, would solve the problem, then I'd complain it was ruining my views of course.

Walltown sunset (NY672662)

There's work ongoing to preserve the Wall, it's done using lime mortar exactly as would have been used in Roman times.
It takes much longer to 'set' and so is covered with tarpaulins, not pretty but necessary.
Heritage Consolidation Ltd, a local company, have been restoring this stretch at Walltown, plus they've cleared out the grass growing on the footings of the Wall and you can see from my photograph how much better that looks.

Walltown Crags

Night before last I picked up my camera and headed off to Housesteads, arriving just as everyone else was leaving. I wanted to get the criss cross bit of the Wall with the lowering sunlight catching the Wall stones.
I'd left home with clear blue skies and arrived to find cloud covering the sun.
Rang home and TT told me it was still clear to the west.
What to do?
Should I stay, or head back west, midges were biting but I could see a clear patch under the cloud.
I decided to wait until the sun dropped below the cloud. 
The sun was much further over than I had anticipated so if I missed my photograph tonight it would  be another 11 months before I got another chance.
In this shot I'm standing up on the only bit of the Wall that you are allowed to walk on, I would have liked to be to the north side of the Wall but couldn't see any way that I could safely get there, oh for the agility of a gazelle.
After 30 minutes the sun broke through and hit the scene in front of me exactly where I wanted it to, for once patience paid off.

Housestead Crag (NY786687)

Before the sun disappeared completely I set off back down the hill, lambs were gamboling, and seemed to be having such fun, don't know why they have such a burst of energy as the sun sets, but it's lovely to see.
Good weekend is forecast - hope you enjoy it.
Catch you later.

March on Hadrian's Wall in photographs

I'm not up to scratch at the minute, my brain is all over the place so I thought I'd load some photographs taken in the last week or so and just do you a description of each.

Sunset over Crag Lough, the sun has started to move again and the camera was pointing directly at the sun, I had to wait for it to set before I could take a photograph without masses of flare.

Up on Highshields Crag, just above Sycamore Gap, it's nice to be out on the Wall for sunset again, next week the clocks change and my photo outings start in earnest, anyone for a 3.30am start with me?

Probably my favourite shot from that evening outing, the sun's not too bright and is just catching the mosses on the rocks of Highshield Crags. Hadrian's Wall Path runs along the top by the fence.

A bright sunny day, not my favourite conditions for photographs but a joy to be out in the fresh air.

 Lot's of people Walking the Wall, like this couple coming down from Winshields Crag, it's certainly becoming a year round activity.

The sun was playing hide and seek with the clouds, I'm not too unhappy to have to stand around and wait for the light when I'm looking at a view like this from Winshields Crag.

The wide bit of Hadrian's Wall tapers down to a single wall over the original wide foundation before heading down towards Steel Rigg and the crags beyond.

Heading down Winshields Crag you get a view of the Great Ditch to the north of Hadrian's Wall. The stones here are covered in green lichen making a lovely patchwork effect.

I know I'm always going on about NOT walking on the Wall, well there's one bit you can walk on, it goes through the woods to the north of Housesteads Fort and is a small stretch of the turfed Wall, this is the view you get as you come out of the woods heading west.

Coming down Cuddys Crag before the climb up to Housesteads, lots of lovely Wall curves.

Hadrian's Wall is covered with lichens and mosses while the turf topping has a mass of tiny plants growing in it. I'm setting myself a little task to photograph and identify the various plants growing on the Wall.

Another lichen on the Wall stones, they're an amazing plant and I'm determined to learn more about them. I guess I should photograph a ruler next to them to give an idea of scale, can't work out how to get it to stay put on a vertical wall though.

Off to the Doc's tomorrow so hopefully normal service will soon be resumed.

Catch you later.

Hadrian's Wall in lights

Just two days to go until the Illuminating of Hadrian's Wall.

I hope that by now you've all worked out where your going to be for this unique event.

There are car parks at Once Brewed Visitor Centre, Cawfields and Walltown to cover the cragys bit of Hadrian's Wall. 
Alison's 'Walltown Cafe' will be open this weekend for snacks and drinks.

Steel Rigg, Housesteads, Birdoswald and Brocolitia Car Parks are accessible to ticket holders only.

 

From Kennel Crag looking towards Housesteads

I'm still exploring possibilities and went out to Housesteads earlier in the week.
I went up the track east towards Sewingshields Crag. This is a nice 'bumpy' bit of landscape with the line of the Wall snaking across the curves.

The Curvy bits of Hadrian's Wall looking east to Sewingshields

While it's not a big wide chunky Wall it is nevertheless Hadrian's Wall.

The view west from Kings Hill

Sewingshields Crag

As I've said in previous blogs, I was put off photographing the event actually on Hadrian's Wall because of the way those bright green HiViz jackets seemed to dominate my pictures.

Shining green jackets - very distracting I think.

Today I wanted to see what the view was like from the footpath that goes through the gate at Kings Wicket and then turns back west parallel to the Hadrian's Wall Path.
Nice views but very, very muddy underfoot.

View from  footpath, access via Kings Wicket but very muddy

It's also a long way from the car parking area.
Nevertheless with the correct gear, waterproof boots and a strong torch (bring spare batteries) it's a viewpoint that has possibilities.

I'm still in favour of the viewpoint from Barcombe Fell and if you're undecided I'd urge you to consider it.

At Bowness on Solway a contigent of Roman Soldiers will be firing flaming arrows over the Solway - now that'll make a great photograph.

Wherever you go have a great time, park safely, please don't climb on the ancient monument and I look forward to seeing some of your photographs on the  Official  'Illuminating Hadrian's Wall' Flickr site.

Please be aware that big chunks of this area don't have mobile phone coverage - don't take unnecessary risks

Guidlines from Hadrian's Wall Heritage.
As the Line of Light will span 84 miles there will be many other

opportunities for people to view this spectacle across the country.
There are many parts of the countryside from which the Wall can be seen.
Please be aware that anyone travelling to view the Illumination of
Hadrian's Wall does so completely at their own risk. As such we would
urge people to behave responsibly and to take utmost care for the health
and safety of themselves and other members of the public. Please do not
park on roadside verges or trespass onto private land. Please take care
when crossing roads, especially in the dark. For health and safety
reasons our advice is that visitors are strongly advised not to try and
access the Wall at any point other than the designated viewing areas, or
to wander onto the Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail or adjacent land.

Sorry about the copyright notice across the photo's, people have been pinching them to use on their own websites - very naughty.

catch you later.
Joan

Busy day on Hadrian's Wall

Yesterday was bright and clear perfect for setting off Hadrian's Wall in a good light.
I was down at Willowford Farm early in the morning to witness the announcement that Hadrian's Wall is the first World Heritage Site to be awarded Fair Trade Status.

Our Roman soldier has a cup of tea with a visisting  Indian Fair Trade Cotton producer

A happy group of people cavorted in the sunshine with various blow-up Fair Trade items while photographers recorded them for posterity.

Making the announcement that Hadrian's Wall has Fair Trade Status at Willowford.

We even had a 'proper' Roman Soldier on hand to keep the locals in line.

Then in the afternoon it was a rehearsal for the Hadrian's Wall Illumination event that takes place on the 13th of March.
For yesterday's rehearsal lights had been set up between Hotbank Crag and the milecastle 37, just west of Housesteads Fort.

 

 

Lighting the gas beacons on Hadrian's Wall

Goodness it was busy, it seems you could hardly move for television crews and newspaper photographers, hope some great publicity comes from it.

I got to see that nice young man from Country File,Matt Baker up close, he's a particular favourite of mine simply because he's a local lad and very unstarry.

Matt from Country File

Of course in all this exaulted company I managed to fall flat on my face! I was trying not to get in the way of any of the tv people and didn't look where I was going, always a mistake on the uneven ground that surrounds Hadrian's Wall.

My thanks to Neil Carney from Hadrian's Wall Heritage and two of the TV people for helping me get upright again.

I decided after that I'd get out of the way and headed to the viewpoint on Cuddy's Crag, once there I didn't have long to wait for things to begin.

Dusk falls over the Military Way on Hadrian's Wall

As the sun started to go down the gas beacons were lit.

While not quite as big as I'd thought they'd be they were still impressive against a night sky.

The gas beacon

Then the burners were extinguished and flares were lit. These burn very brightly and make lots of smoke, but show up really well against the darkening dusk sky.

Flares light the way along Hadrian's Wall

A few more goes with the gas lights and the flares until all the TV groups had got the pictures they wanted and it was over.

Burners and flares at Cuddys Crag

Light on Hadrian's Wall

It was bitterly cold by this time and I bet everyone was glad to be heading home for a warm cup of tea.

Very spectacular though I'm looking forward to the event proper.

More details HERE

Catch you later - I'm off to soak my bruises.

Housesteads s'il vous plaît

Beautiful clear day, cold and crisp but well wrapped up it was a joy to be out.

I'd taken myself off to Housesteads Fort.

As I said in an earlier blog it's one of the proposed visitor viewing areas for the 'Illuminating Hadrian's Wall' event and I wanted to see, well -  just how much you will see.

Housesteads stands proud on the hill, with trees to either side of it so the views are obstructed.

Housesteads Fort

I took it upon myself to clamber (not a pretty sight) around checking out viewpoints. Housesteads Fort is open all year, except two days at Christmas, and people were milling about the Fort. I came across one young man perched on a rock sketching.

His name is Dan, I think he was French and he's studying Architecture at Northumbria University.

Dan at Housesteads

The students were on a field trip and have a project in class to design a new museum for Housesteads. I'm not sure if this is an actual Housesteads Museum, or just something the tutor set but anyway that's what they were doing.

Looking across at Housesteads Fort, sitting there on a site that slopes away, built without the help of computer programmes or theodolites, not even sure about plans, yet is still hanging on there, all these years later.

To the west of Housesteads Fort

It makes me appreciate just what a tremendous achievement this mighty Wall and all it's milecastles, forts and turrets along the 84miles, was.

And that doesn't count the Cumbrian Sea-Wall that makes a left turn at Bowness and heads down to Maryport.

I've read that Hadrian's Wall was built over a ten year period, by 30,000 soldiers using in excess of 24 million stones and I've no idea how that number was arrived at but I'm quite willing to believe it's there or thereabouts.

Of course they didn't have Local Planning Departments or Building Regulations and certainly no Health and Safety they just got on and built it.

Let's hope the students come up with some great and inspiring designs.

The jury is out on the views from Housesteads, depends on where they let people stand, see what you think.

From Housesteads to Sewingshields

Catch you later.

Hadrian's Wall Illuminations on the 13th of March 2010

 I've been looking through Google Analytics at the search questions that have brought people to my blog and thought I'd do a quick entry that covers some of those questions.

On the 13th of March 2010 Hadrian's Wall will be lit by gas beacons, a once in a lifetime event that will never be repeated.
From Wallsend on the east coast to Bowness on the West, approximately 500 beacons spaced every 250metres will cover the 84 miles of the Hadrian's Wall.
The first beacon will be lit at Wallsend at approx 5.35pm and lighting will progress in sequence east to west with a six second delay between each beacon firing up so, 50 minutes later the last beacon will be lit.
Beacons when lit will be about 10ft high.
They will burn for approximately 75 minutes. 
There is a plan to extinguish all of the lights at the same time to mark the anniversary of the end of Roman Occupation in 410AD

You can apply to be one of the team who light the beacons and will receive a certificate to say you were an 'Illuminator', to date there have been 1500 applications, Sign up here.



Audience  participation events are planned in Wallsend/Newcastle and in Carlisle Celebrations in Carlisle
Organizers are hoping the main visitor focus will be at these two events.
(But when you think about Hadrian's wall Newcastle or Carlisle don't immediately spring to mind do they?)

A lot of the Hadrian's Wall Path is relatively flat and, in the dark, not terribly interesting but it's not hard to see that the high crags part of Hadrian's Wall from Sewingshields to Birdoswald is going to look spectacular.

Steel Rigg

On Hadrian's Wall itself there will be three main viewing areas at Steel Rigg (NY750676) (NE47 7AN)

 at Housesteads (NY790687)

and Birdoswald(NY618663)(CA8 7DD)

You must apply for a ticket to park at these points. Apply here for free tickets organizers anticipate 500-800 people at each viewing point.
Disability parking will be available at Brocolitia (not exactly an exciting view point!)

It is possible that all other car parks on Hadrian's Wall will be locked and laybys will be cordoned off. (They cite health and safety reasons)
The roads are very, very narrow and the grass verges are boggy with hidden ditches so parking is going to be a problem if you haven't got a ticket for the official parking sites.
Park and Ride may be available depending on demand.

The highest point on Hadrian's Wall is Winshields Crag and that can be accessed from Steel Rigg, there is normally a parking fee but on the 13th tickets will be free.

The view from Winshields Crag

There is no additional entertainment planned for any of the viewing areas at this point in time, for me it will be enough to be able to say 'I was there when Hadrian's Wall was illuminated', but maybe you should think of taking a flask of coffee and extra warm clothing as there'll be a lot of standing around.
At Steel Rigg you're near to the Twice Brewed pub and there are toilets in the Once Brewed Visitor Centre. Housesteads has toilets and the cafe/toilets at Birdoswald may be open during the event.


Take a torch, the ground is uneven and the rocks are slippery.
Remember you are walking on farm land and as it's lambing time, keep dogs on a lead and do close gates, please respect the countryside don't leave litter.

Hadrian's Wall itself is an ancient monument - don't climb up on it for a better view.

Posted at the request of HW Trails officer

Photographers - my website has a grid reference on each of the photographs that should show you, on the centre of the relevant multimap, where I was standing when I took the shot. Please plan well in advance how you are going to get to your chosen spot.
If I learn anything more I will blog it here for you.

Vindolanda will be open that weekend and in my opinion it's the most interesting site on Hadrian's Wall and well worth a visit.
NB The Vindolanda Museum is currently being upgraded and won't be open to visitors.

For accomodation in this area try here. B and B's are already filling up so don't dither.