Day 5/6 Northumberland 151km Circular Walk - Wooler to Alwinton - 19 Mar 2008

Toughest day of my 6 days walk...There was fear for this day all along. Had to complete 20.5miles / 33km (assuming no detours and off-tracks) through a remote countryside terrain with few landmarks. Mark warns: "Navigation may be difficult in poor weather - take a compass and OS map with you on this walk....There are no facilities along this walk - take sufficient food, water and provisions with you."

By the 5th day, exhaustion had set in slowly. Abrasions, foot blisters, shoulder aches (from the heavy backpack) had worsened. Despite these, today's walk had one of the highest ascents (nearly 400m). Till today, I questioned myself how I managed to do it. I had no idea. I guess it was because there was no turning back and I had a very clear goal in my mind all along. So it was really Mind Over Body. No one to rely on, except myself. At least I could rest assure that if anything happened, I had enough provisions for one full day.

The walk commenced with a southern uphill climb out of Wooler. Roads were going up and down, tiring! And because of that, I saw quite a few dead rabbits lying in the middle of the road. Obviously ran over by fast speeding vehicles. How scary!

From the remote farmhouse of Alnhammoor, I followed a wide grassy path skirting across the flanks of Shill Moor, a clearly discernable ribbon of darker green snaking its way through a landscape of rounded hills, bleached grass and far horizons; this is the 'White Lands' at the very heart of the lonely Cheviot Hills. Other than the ever-changing view, there was nothing; nothing but the faint sound of my heart beating and the gentle breeze and the distant bleat of sheep. Nothing but the soft sound of the hills. This is the Cheviot Hills.....








The whole walk was indeed super remote and isolated. I could count the number of humans I met with 1 hand. It was that bad... Also, getting lost was obviously unavoidable in my case of inexperience. Expected that, but what else could I do? There was no mobile reception, no GPS, nothing... HAHA....also no proper training in hill walking navigation lol...

Did several dangerous stunts along the way: Crossed deep valleys, rivers, waterfalls... Got lost about 4-5 times, so I was on the wrong track and encountered many barriers/ fences which I had no choice but to climb over them despite how sharp the barbed wires were. Thinking of it now....I am amusingly speechless!!!








I think I walked continuously for 12 hours without rest that day. I was so afraid that I would be stranded in the middle of the hills at night. Fortunately and luckily and thank goodness, I reached Alwinton just before nightfall. I was so relieved and when I finally sat down in Rose & Thistle pub for dinner, my whole body just shivered. I could feel the heat and blood circulating from head to toe. Socks were slightly damped with mud. Feet painful.




Accommodation was a problem when i reached Alwinton. Was supposed to stay in a caravan park, which I realised it did not accept tents. ONLY CARAVANS! Lol...Lack of research again!! The one and only Rose & Thistle pub had no vacancies as well! Very fortunately, the staff at the bar counter helped to phone a few nearby B&Bs....tada!!! Found one! It was not really very near, but the lady owner of the B&B offered to drive down to Alwinton to pick me up. How nice! Twin sharing room for just 25 pounds...including breakfast of course...not bad after all! :)