Description
Prudhoe and Wylam
This is a short walk from the Tyne Riverside Country Park at Prudhoe to Wylam and then returning to Prudhoe. It takes in some lovely areas of the riverside, as well as the Spetchells, an artificial group of hills, created by ICI as a side effect of fertiliser production.
Details
Hills: | One small hill | |
Distance: | Short distance | |
Grade: | Easy | |
Map: | ||
This walk is on OS map 316 Newcastle upon Tyne. Click on map image to buy this map. | ||
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The start
We will start at the Tyne Riverside Country Park in Prudhoe, before walking along the riverside to Wylam.
The Spetchells
On the way to Wylam, we will walk via The Spetchells, which gives us a great opportunity to use our Nordic Walking skills uphill.
The Spetchells were created between the 1940s and the 1960s, when ICI were producing fertiliser. Calcium carbonate or chalk is a waste product of fertiliser production. Chalk geology does not occur naturally in this area. As a result, non native species of flora and fauna have colonised these artificial hills.
Even though the Spetchells are special in their own way, the view of the river and the surrounding area is also special. If we are lucky, we will find plenty of blackberries on the way.
Hagg Bank Bridge – Wylam
At the end of the Spetchells we will go back down towards the river and then take a route through fields to Hagg Pond. This is a great opportunity to forage some elderberries and hazelnuts.
At Hagg Bank we will walk onto the bridge, which is a great place to take a look at the river, if we are lucky we will see salmon jumping out of the water.
We will cross Hagg Bank Bridge and walk to Wylam via the disused railway line.
Hagg Bank Bridge is also known as West Wylam Bridge and Points Bridge. It is a footbridge over the River Tyne to the South West of Wylam. It was originally built in 1876 as a railway bridge, designed by William George Laws for the North-Eastern Railway Co. The wrought-iron bridge carried the Scotswood, Newburn and Wylam Railway, to connect the North Wylam Loop with the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway. The bridge was opened on 6th October 1876 and was in use for rail services up to 1968. In 1975, this grade II* listed bridge was converted into a footbridge and cyclepath, linking Wylam with the Tyne Riverside Country Park at Low Prudhoe.
The Riverside Path
We will return along the riverside path. This is a nice and relatively flat path but is does have some opportunities for foraging. There are plenty of blackthorn bushes, which of course produce sloe berries. There is also the odd apple tree and walnut tree.
The Tyne Riverside Cafe
On returning to Prudhoe, we will visit the Tyne Riverside Cafe. We definitely recommend the cheese scones
Hope to see you there.
Julie and Martin
Gallery – Wylam
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