No doubt you’ll have heard that the weather at the end of February was exceptionally good and it just so happened to coincide with a planned walk on Hadrian’s Wall path from Burgh by Sands to Carlisle on 23rd February. We decided to walk from Thurstonfield via Burgh by Sands, ( about 8 miles) and got a cab back from Carlisle.
Walk from Thurstonfield to Burgh by Sands
This walk requires proper footwear, as the terrain is mixed at this time of year. The route to Burgh by Sands should only be attempted in dry weather. If in doubt, ask.
From The Tranquil Otter, take the gate that takes you out onto Chapelfield Lane. At the bottom of the hill, cross the road, turn left and then immediately right into the village. Go past the green and veer right, the road then becomes a rough track, which can be muddy at times, and it was. Carry on straight and after about 1/2 mile the track joins the road from Moorhouse to Burgh by Sands.
Burgh by Sands to Beaumont
At the crossroads in Burgh by Sands, turn right, you’ll see the St Michael’s Church on your right, go through the churchyard and come out at a gate on the far left. Take a few moments to read the granite time-line of events down the centuries, alongside the left-hand side of the churchyard path. Read more about
Burgh-by-sands and its connection to Kings and Romans.
Walk out of the gate with the Church behind you and cross the road. There is kissing gate to the right-hand side of the cemetery signposted for Beaumont. The waymarker for the Hadrian’s Wall path is the acorn and is well signposted once you have negotiated the diversions currently in place.
Walk along the field edge parallel to the road. The next gate leads onto a lay-by on the roadside. Continue in the same direction, there is a short section on the road for about 150 yards, then take a path on the left-hand side of the road, again signposted to Beaumont.
A fenced path leads to a footbridge. Cross the footbridge and aim for the line of trees in the middle of the field. Keep to the left of the line of trees and go through the kissing gate onto an enclosed track. Keep to the left-hand side, then onto a quiet lane into Beaumont Village.
Beaumont village has a triangular green with bench in the middle.
Beaumont to Kirkandrews-on-Eden
We had a short break at Beaumont village green admiring the Church which is on a mount.
Hadrian’s Wall path has a temporary diversion here. Follow the diversion, with the Church on your right, take the next road left, which is the road leading to the Beaumont Parish Hall.
This is a quiet road with the Parish Hall on the left-hand side. Just before the T junction with the main road in Kirkandrews-on-Eden, there is an old metal gate that leads onto the Churchyard.
Kirkandrews-on-Eden to Grinsdale
Go through the churchyard at Kirkandrews-on-Eden and turn right at the end, with the stream on your right-hand side.
Pick up a sign to Grinsdale on the left-hand side and go through the kissing gate.
The path has been repaired with flagstones, where the flagstones end, follow the line of the fence to the kissing gate.
Climb the stairs and go through the gate at the top. The trail swings up and around to the right. Go through another gate and turn left at the field edge.
Through the next gate, stay parallel with the fence and cross the Sour Milk Bridge at Doudle Beck.
The path veers slightly to the left continuing along the hedgerow on the right.
After the next stile, keep straight on the rough track.
Grinsdale to Carlisle
The approach to Grinsdale is dominated by a large Farmyard, to the right of which is a kissing gate onto a fenced lane. Turn right at the top, going out of the village, there is a kissing gate to the left-hand side.
Walk along the left-hand edge of the field and down to a footbridge over a stream and continue to the line of the trees.
With the trees on your left-hand side, you now enter a wooded path with the River Eden on the left. The path continues high above the river with bridges and stairs and still parallel to the river.
Very soon you approach a gate, turn left pass under the A689 road, picking up the path on the left-hand side. The main track swings to the right.
Back on the riverside walk with the River on the left all the way into Carlisle.
Keep to the left, ignoring paths on the right-hand side.
Pass Sheepmount Stadium on your right, then walk left outside of the car park at Sheepmount, cross the vehicle bridge, keep straight and then enter Bitts Park, with the Castle on the right-hand side.
Turn right at the near side of the Castle and cross the footbridge into Abbey Street and walk through the Cathedral into the centre of Carlisle.
Alternatively, pass the front of the Castle and use the underpass dominated by a stone that bears the curse from the Bishop of Glasgow. Or alternatively, cross at the lights into Castle Street.
