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A railway path runs nearly all the way from Wylam to Newcastle and is followed by both Hadrian's Cycleway http://www.cycle-routes.org/HADRIANSCYCLEWAY/and Hadrian's Wall National Trail http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/hadrianswall/. The path is very popular with cyclists, walkers (especially dog walkers) and jogges.
©Oliver Dixon
Dist:0.1km<br/>Farmyard adjacent to the old railway path which carries both Hadrian's Cycleway http://www.cycle-routes.org/HADRIANSCYCLEWAY/and Hadrian's Wall National Trail http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/hadrianswall/.
©Oliver Dixon
Dist:0.1km<br/>Old Wagon way now part of Newburn Country park, leads to Wylam
©Newbiggin Hall Scouts
Dist:0.1km<br/>Newburn Country Park near the River Tyne
©P Glenwright
Dist:0.2km<br/>
©P Glenwright
Dist:0.2km<br/>Footpath along the river Tyne heading West
©Newbiggin Hall Scouts
Dist:0.3km<br/>The ‘three castles' emblem of Newcastle Corporation and the date 1783 are still just visible [[79774]] It is said that the engraver Thomas Bewick appealed to Newcastle Corporation on behalf of the illiterate stonemason who had not been paid for the carving. The 'tide stone' marked the limit upstream of the Port of Tyne Authority. Formerly, it marked the upper point at which the river was tidal; marked in the river by a shallow rapid known as the Hedwin Streams. Following dredging of the river and its embankment by the River Tyne Improvement Commission, it is now tidal as far as Wylam Bridge. The corporation of Newcastle used to survey the bounds from Tynemouth to Hedwin Streams in their barge every Ascension Day. Locals used to know the stone as the 'kissing stone', because here the Mayor of Newcastle would alight at the stone and kiss who he judged to be the prettiest Heddon girl from those assembled, presenting her with a golden sovereign. The last annual survey took place in 1851. Afterwards it was made every five years and then by the River Tyne Improvement Commission, every seven. http://heddonhistory.weebly.com/river-tyne.html http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/tide.html
©Andrew Curtis
Dist:0.3km<br/>A well-maintained railway path runs most of the way from Wylam to Newcastle and is followed by both Hadrian's Cycleway http://www.cycle-routes.org/HADRIANSCYCLEWAY/and Hadrian's Wall National Trail http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/hadrianswall/.
©Oliver Dixon
Dist:0.3km<br/>Near Newburn Haughs, by the side of river, the Tide Stone marks the tidal limit of the River Tyne, nineteen miles from the mouth of the river. The stone bears the ‘three castles' emblem of Newcastle and the date 1783. How badly this stone has deteriorated in the last 30 years can be seen by visiting: http://sine.ncl.ac.uk/view_image.asp?digital_doc_id=5022  
©Alan Fearon
Dist:0.3km<br/>This raised bank, apparently made from colliery waste (cut through in the foreground to allow the farmer easier access between fields) appears to be an old waggonway that branches off the Wylam Waggonway to the north-west, terminating close to the bank of the River Tyne. It could have provided access to the river for Heddon Margaret Colliery, situated just north, but old maps provide no evidence. There are also accounts that stone from Killiebrigs Quarry was transported by waggonway to a jetty on the River Tyne. The usual staithes on the river were at Lemington to the east. It is possible that the river here may have been deep enough, at least under some water conditions, for transport by flat bottomed craft, being close to the Tide Stone [[2688822]] Old photos show a tunnel opening on this stretch of the river bank although its location is now lost. http://heddonhistory.weebly.com/quarrying.html Cathouse Plantation was named after Cat House which used to stand in the vicinity and features in a contemporary report of the Ascension Day ceremony held at the Tide Stone in May 1818 http://heddonhistory.weebly.com/river-tyne.html
©Andrew Curtis
Dist:0.4km<br/>A fertile field on the river flood plain. The modern, white-fronted houses of Heddon on the Wall can be seen on the hill.
©Andrew Curtis
Dist:0.5km<br/>Trees on the left side were planted on an old pit heap of Isabella Colliery. There are often kingfishers here. Today there was a pair, chasing each other over the pond and into the neighbouring trees.
©Andrew Curtis
Dist:0.5km<br/>Looking at the West end of Reigh Pond Newburn Country Park
©Newbiggin Hall Scouts
Dist:0.5km<br/>This well-maintained path and cycleway also forms part of the Hadrian's Wall Path.
©Stephen McKay
Dist:0.5km<br/>Horses in field above Reigh Pond, Newburn Country park. (If you do go past them they like to be fed).
©Newbiggin Hall Scouts

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