Introduction

Pennine Way 2006

      > Day 1
      > Day 2
      > Day 3
      > Day 4
      > Day 5
      > Day 6
      > Day 7
      > Day 8
      > Day 9
      > Day 10
      > Day 11
      > Day 12
      > Day 13
      > Day 14
      > Day 15
      > Day 16
      > Day 17
      > Day 18
      > Day 19
      > Final Thoughts

Links on Walking Places

Thursday 18th May 2006 Day 16
Steel Rigg to Bellingham 14.9 miles

We enjoyed a good breakfast and got away early. One of the plus sides of having our B & B changed was that we got a lift back up to the top of the hill – big bonus.

We started again at Steel Rigg car park for the last short walk along Hadrians Wall until we reached Rapishaw Gap where we left the wall and headed across the moors to the start of the Border forests – an area we were not looking forward to. It is not as bad now as a lot of the trees have been felled and the countryside is more open but it is still pretty uninspiring.

Above Bellingham

The walking was quite easy but it felt like it was just a means to an end. By mid afternoon we climbed Shitlington Craggs and were looking down on the little town of Bellingham sitting on the North Tyne. It is a very picturesque little town which has quite a few visitors due to its close proximity to Kielder Water. As with lots of the Pennine way there is often a sting at the end of the day and this was no exception as we had a trek along the road to reach the river and cross the bridge. We reached our digs for the night and enjoyed tea and biscuits in the sunny conservatory.

It was a bit later as I put my foot to the floor that I realised there was a problem and could not stand any weight on it. It felt like a disaster was looming and that I would not be able to complete the final 45 miles. We had a very nice meal at the Cheviot Hotel and had an early night hoping everything would be OK by the morning.

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