© Haltwhistle Walking Festival

Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall

March 13th, 2010

Guided walks from Haltwhistle

“Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall” was so popular that car parking spaces were snapped up and all the car parks were full.  Many more people wanted to see the lights, so the volunteers who organise the walks for the Haltwhistle Walking Festival offered to help by leading guided walks from Haltwhistle to and from excellent viewing points north of the Town.  

Within 36 hours all 120 places were snapped up with many more disappointed applicants.  People assembled in Haltwhistle Market Place on a fine afternoon and were divided into groups of 20. The first two groups set off up Haltwhistle Burn, taking a slightly longer route towards the Mare and Foal, north east of the Milecastle Inn.  Later groups went from the Burn to a vantage point near Markham Cottage.

Walks leaders took the opportunity to talk about the industrial history of the Haltwhistle Burn whilst en route.  All walkers were in place in good time and waited with eager anticipation to see the first beacons lit in the east. There was some consternation when beacons to the west of Cawfields Quarry were lit before those to the east - a slight glitch in the plan, thought to be due to the arrival overhead of a light aircraft which illuminators took to be the helicopter due to film the lights!  (Unless you know a different story that is...)

There was a beautiful sunset before the beacons were lit.

The lights looked fairly insignificant until dusk fell, when they appeared to glow more brightly.  By 6.30 pm most people were rather cold and we returned to Haltwhistle in good time for the trains home. (The fish and chip shop and Chinese take-away did great business!)

The first group - a very jolly bunch!*

Group 1 team: Del, Marj and Malcolm*

In the distance illuminators wait to light their beacons

The lights, visible at last!

Here are some of the comments from the people who came on the walks:

“Just wanted to say a big thank you for the great time we had on Saturday.  The organisation was really good and we were so delighted to meet the tremendously friendly and knowledgeable members of the walking group.”

“Many thanks for your mail and also thanks to your fellow walkers for a great evening on Saturday night.  I met some lovely people and had a fantastic time, special thanks to our group leader.”

“Many thanks for letting us join your and your party of very fine people, Please give our thanks to these people for donating there time to what was a memorable evening, our party enjoyed it very much would love for you to forward any other information regarding any other walks. Look forward to hearing from you in the near future.”

“Thank you so much for the walk on Saturday, it was fantastic. The guides were very friendly and it was all very well organised.”

See videos of the illuminations at www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/home

* These photos by our “unofficial” photographer, Angela Carrington of The Bigger Picture who came along and joined in the fun