Angel of the North Day Walk
20 people attending
10 places left
Join Dave, Kieren and the OutdoorLads for a walk that starts at what is claimed to be the worlds oldest railway, walking through various landscapes including very scarce Lowland Heath, (there is only an area equivalent to 3 football pitches in the whole of the Tyne & Wear region), Forest, Reed Beds, Ancient Woodland and riverside paths.
We will pass the Tyneside Locomotive Museum on our route to the lunch stop, which is at the feet of the Angel of the North, Antony Gormley's famous sculpture, now in it's 21st year, which is seen by approx 90,000 people per day.
From here we will head back towards the start point, pausing to take in the wide ranging views over Gateshead and Newcastle, before following the banks of Beamish Burn into the wooded gorge.
We then come to Causey Arch itself, the oldest surviving single arch railway bridge in the world, where if you stand beneath the arch it sounds as though the river is running above your head!
From here is is a short walk back to the start point and the tea room, where we can have a well earned cuppa and cake.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Please bring a packed lunch and liquid refreshments 2 litres is recommended as the route is longer.
There is Tea Room in the car park at the end of the walk where we can have cake.