Itinerary attached.
Let Roger Jermy know (01665 606168) if you would like to take part.
He can fit three into his car if you’d like a lift from Alnwick or nearby.
Times are approximate!
RCTS NORTH EAST BRANCH VISIT TO CENTRAL NORTHUMBERLAND:
Itinerary:
- Meet at Bellingham Heritage Centre in time for visit at 10.30am (when Centre opens). Admission fee. Toilets available.
- Travel from Bellingham via West Woodburn to Knowesgate Inn (on A696 just to north west of Kirkwhelpington).
- Lunch break at Knowesgate Inn (approx 12.00 noon to 1.00pm): ‘roasts’, ‘ploughman’s’, hot baguettes, soup & sandwich meals available. Toilets available.
- Travel from Knowesgate Inn towards Cambo and then Scots Gap (via unclassified road, then B6342 and B6343)
- Visit Scots Gap station at approx 1.30pm (courtesy of Harry Beamish and the National Trust); see the station buildings, yard, trackbeds etc. No admission fee but donations to National Trust. Toilets available.
- Travel via Cambo to Rothley via B6343 and B6342. Follow unclassified road to Greenleighton, then on to Longwitton station site.
- Visit Greenleighton quarry, routes of former industrial railways & site of Longwitton station (approx 2.45pm).
- Travel via B6342 in direction of Rothbury to visit Fontburn reservoir and viaduct site (signposted turning on left after Ewesley). Park in car park adjacent to reservoir.
- Visit site of Fontburn reservoir and Northumbrian Water office (approx. 3.15pm) to inspect their Archive pictures (including many of railway interest) of the building of the reservoir. View the Fontburn viaduct (NBR).
- Travel via B6342 in direction of Rothbury to visit railway sites near to Ritton White House: Ewesley and White House quarries, Fontburn Halt etc. Take signposted track on left at small crossroads and park on hard-standing at entrance to Ewesley Quarry on right hand side of track.
- Visit Ewesley Quarry (approx. 4.30pm), walk along railway trackbed, see Whitehouse Quarry, walk along tramway trackbed, visit limekilns and site of exchange sidings, see site of Fontburn Halt and former railway cottages (‘Daisy Cottages’). No toilets.
- Visits should end by approx. 6.00pm.
- Make own way home: best routes to Newcastle and the south is via B6342 and Cambo/Wallington to A 696, then direct towards Newcastle via Ponteland; best route towards Morpeth, Blyth and Ashington is via B6342 to Scots Gap, then B6343 towards Hartburn and Morpeth, then A192/A197 or A196; best route to Alnwick is via B6342 to Rothbury and then B6341 to Alnwick.