Finn and Susan’s big adventure – Day 2 – Thursday 24 June 2010 – Knarsdale to Haltwhistle – 8 miles

Today’s transport shenanigans were solved by the manager lady at the campsite last night – and I’m ashamed to admit it was a nazi-run site too L My route today should have been Knarsdale to Greenhead. But she pointed out that I could get a bus to Knarsdale from Haltwhistle so I got the maps out and worked out whether I could walk to Haltwhistle instead of Greenhead, but didn’t really fancy a stroll along the A69 Carlisle to Newcastle road. I did, however, work out that it would be much cheaper to get the bus up to Knarsdale, walk to Greenhead and then get a taxi from there to Haltwhistle rather than a taxi all the way from Greenhead back to Knarsdale to the car. The logistics of this walking malarkey are far from easy. (Not to mention taxi fares – I got stung for FORTY-EIGHT QUID on Tuesday from Garrigill to Dufton – outrageous.)

So, at nine forty-five this morning, Finn and I were walking, but NOT along the Pennine Way! From my map, I could see that the South Tyne Way runs parallel to the Pennine Way and takes in lots of bridges, old disused railway stations and platforms, AND a viaduct. Need I say more? So, instead of fields and farmland, we had a fantastic day following the route of the railway from Knarsdale to Lambley Viaduct, where the path splits into lots of different paths, but stays true to one railway line or another. (I even had a thought, because we had such a brilliant walk, that the Government should close a few more railway lines and turn them into paths too. I may very well write a letter to David Cameron. I may even ask if he needs a PA?)

We had finished at twelve thirty today – how lovely! – so then went off to find our new campsite where we are staying for five nights – I’m going to walk out of sequence again, now I know that I won’t be struck down for this deviation from the plan, and have a couple of days off too this weekend – necessitated by England playing an afternoon game on Sunday, rather than an evening game on Saturday. The boys have earned me another day off!