Meeting of the Tyne

Route Details

7.5km (2.5 hours)
Map OS Explorer OL43
Parking Free (Some spaces require parking disc)

Pulling up to the vast Waitrose car park,

We set our parking disc to our arrival time of 1PM and popped it into the car window. Consulting the guide, I decided we should walk the route in reverse as it was already the afternoon on a Sunday and there might be things to see in Hexham if we head there first before everything inevitably closes at 4PM.

‘We will be back for half 3’ I said confidently, grossly overestimating my parents walking speed.

Upon arriving into the ghost town that was Hexham centre that day, it was clear that Coronavirus fears were still in full effect. The famed Abbey along with the vast majority of shops and businesses were closed.

As we began to make our way to the golf course, we stumbled upon Hexham House Grounds. As it was open and unlike the rest of the town centre had actual people in it, we decided to take a small detour through. 

As we made our way towards the golf course past the old Bus Depot that my dad particularly enjoyed seeing, Google Maps foretold of Café Enna which was open and trading to take a quick pit stop.

After crossing the railway tracks to get to Café Enna, which accompanies Tynedale Golf Club, We took our first proper break and my dad, his first beer. It was at this point my parents told me they were used to much more frequent breaks on the walks they do, a small hint that I can’t simply expect them to keep up with my usual military pace!

After finishing our drinks, the wife and I had our first disagreement about the route ahead. I forced us to cross the tracks again when she said we could simply walk the outskirts of the golf course. In hindsight, she was right and both she and my parents ridiculed me for it appropriately. 

As rejoined the golf course and headed down the longest path known to man adjacent to the railway, my dad handled his camera frantically to record a Cross Country rail service as it sped past whilst Rachael and I took a cheeky selfie by the Tyne.  

As we progressed down this very long path with no benches, much to the dismay of my parents, we encountered what I believe to be the ruins of 📄 Hexham Old Bridge which was completed in 1770.

After reassuring my parents it wasn’t too much farther to our halfway point, we passed underneath the A69 and under the train tracks once again to see some stunningly secluded properties with some gorgeous scenery.

Suitably rested, we headed back across Warden Bridge and back down the country lane we had already seen. The guide spoke of a path that ran right along the river, but I was unable to spot it. I got as far as my dream house when I turned to see my parents and Rachael stood with smug faces as they pointed towards the correct path 50 metres back down the lane. 

Now on the correct riverside path, we went under the steel railway bridge, crossing its path for the 5th and final time.

Three and a half hours after setting off, Rachael and I finally made it to The Meeting of the Tyne rivers to take our obligatory selfie.

As we officially began heading back to the car, sensing their old bones were struggling, I insisted my parents set the pace for the return journey.

Partly, to stop me from going too fast for them and partly to be able to act as supervision to avoid any further mishaps.

As we navigated this woodland stretch, the train tracks came back into sight once again and my dad excitedly doubled his pace in an attempt to get back to the tracks before the next train passed by. 

We rejoined the path we’d walked previous alongside the railway tracks to find my dad panting for air, sweaty and disappointed as he’d missed a train passing by mere seconds 🤣.

Luckily for him, a few minutes later another train went past which solicited a victory fist bump from my dad as it sounded its horn for him. Best day ever!

Upon returning to the golf course, 25 minutes from the car and 4 hours after initially setting off, my parents threw in the towel and asked us to pick them up from Café Enna where we had taken a break earlier in the day.

Double-timing it to the car, we jealously passed a small park with families having fully-fledged picnics and BBQs before arriving back at the main road and across onto the Waitrose car park ready to jump in the car, pick up the broken old people and drive home.