Sometimes there's magic

I've been up for a sunrise two mornings in a row, not a particular hardship at this time of the year when the alarm's going off at 5.20am.

I was hoping to catch mist at Cawfields and when I got there it was misty but so much so you couldn't actually see anything. I kept on the Military Road and turned off for Steel Rigg, the sky was a wonderful red, and although there was no mist today it was worth a shot. There's a marquee on the field at Steel Rigg at the moment, the daughter of the Hotbank Farm family gets married today and the guests will all enjoy that wonderful view from Steel Rigg.

Took half a dozen shots until the sun started to rise then I headed back to Cawfields to wait for the sun to burn off enough of the mist for me to get a shot.

I drove along the road until I was above the mist, found a safe place to park and waited.

Cows came to see what I was up to but as it didn't involve fodder they quickly lost interest.

There are some wonderful bog areas along Blake Law, some rare mosses and plants grow there.

Being full of water as soon as you get a cold clear night the mist forms. I imagine it has done that since time began and I like to imagine the soldiers of Rome up there on the Wall surveying the mists in exactly the same way that I do today.

I took loads of photographs, mist twirls and dances across the landscape so each second is totally different - parts of Cawfield Crags appear and disappear from view making each photograph unique. The sun came up and tinged some of the mist with a golden glow and caught the spiders webs in the reeds at my feet. It was just magical, I wish you could have been there with me it's something money can't buy.

Catch you later...

www.joanthirlaway.com

Bellingham

Meandered off the Wall to Bellingham, it's about 10 miles from the Once Brewed Visitor Centre and one of the stopping places on the Pennine Way Walk. A thriving small Northumbrian Market Town although the cattle market is no longer there, there are pubs, cafe's and shops.
Fortunately I hadn't gone there to look for cows, but to walk to Hareshaw Linn a lovely waterfall at the head of a wooded gorge.
Managed by the Northumberland National Park Authority who have provide a small car park at the start of the walk, although if you find a spot in Bellingham keep it, as the walk starts just over the bridge by Barclays Bank, a five minute walk from the main street.
There's a picnic site with access to a small and very pretty waterfall, just before you enter the gorge proper. Much of the track has been paved at this point so you can look around without fear of tripping over tree roots, a perpetual hazard for photographers and nature lovers alike.
And nature lovers can happily rummage around looking at mosses and ferns, listening to bird song and enjoying many wildflowers. If like my husband you like to examine droppings and tracks then you'll be a happy bunny! Please remember this is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and don't be tempted to take samples home.
The wood itself hasn't been particularly 'managed' probably a policy of NNPA so there are lots of scrubby bushes and fallen trees, great for wildlife habitats but not so good for open views.
The first time I visited Hareshaw Linn, some 20 years ago it was a very strenuous walk, if the weather had been bad you couldn't get through some parts, now with bridges and boulder stairs it's much easier, today you can start out knowing you'll reach the waterfall at the end. There are even seats at intervals on the trail - a positive luxury.
Be aware though, it's not an easy stroll by any means and not suitable to anyone who has mobility problems.
There are a number of waterfalls along the way and I've known people not go far enough and miss the spectacular one. Keep going until you can go no further would be my advice. Access to the waterfall is very good and there are several good viewpoints so no matter how many visitors there are on a busy weekend you'll find a spot to get your shot.
You walk back the same way you came which, I normally don't like but in this case there's much to see and listen to, I was watching a flock of fieldfares in the tree tops, keeping just out of camera range.
There's a leaflet describing the walk to download and a GPS thingy if you're technically minded. http://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/visiting/thingstodo/walking/rangersfavouritewalks/hareshawlinnwalk.htm
A real gem so if you're looking to take a day off from Walking the Hadrian's Wall Trail this would make a good excuse.
Catch you later.

Hadrian's Wall webcam link

Gale force winds and rain showers today, not ideal for photographs but I've discovered there are webcams now at Cawfields and Walltown, great for checking what the weather is like on Hadrian's Wall.

http://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/parklive/webcams.htm

Picture of Cawfields Quarry on a summers day, obviously not today :(

10th March 2009

A great spring day, sunshine and lovely clouds - perfect day for a walk on Housesteads Crag with my camera.

I park in the 'red box' layby ( just west of Housesteads Fort), left over from those days when there were red telephone boxes, and head up past the restored lime kiln to Cuddy's Crag.

This footpath is part of the Pennine Way as well as a handy access point to Hadrian's wall.

The sheep of Bradley Farm, Cheviot ewe's watch me as I pass, they lamb in April and are being fed on the fells.

The view east from Housesteads is wonderful and on a crisp day like today you can see the line of the Wall as it climbs over the lumps and bumps of Kennel Crags, Kings Hill and onto Sewingshields Crag.

Someone had left a jolly little scarecrow, with green trousers and a straw bonnet, stuck into the ground and I wondered who and why, is it like the gnome who was photographed all over the world? Of course I took his photograph, who could resist that little happy face?

Something else that was in the picture is a white bag of stones, it's been lying in the dip between Cuddy's Crag and Housesteads Crag for a year now and look like a dead sheep. I'm going to see if I can get it moved but don't hold your breath.

The sunshine brought out plenty of visitors to the Fort at Housesteads, I hope it's a sign that we'll get plenty of visitors to our area this year, not just to walk the Hadrian's Wall Path but to visit our Roman sites and museums.

Larks were singing and one of my favourite signs of spring the bright yellow Coltsfoot was flowering as I headed back to the car, it's so nice to be out again.