Day 1: Hadrian's Wall 4 miles

The weather had been warm over the weekend - and it was forecast to get warmer, with Wednesday possibly being England's hottest July day since 1911 - not ideal weather for walking in the hills, though we already had some ideas for coping with the heat. In the meantime, a little entertainment for the outward journey...

We parked at Housesteads and joined the wall for a stroll along perhaps the most scenic stretch - armed with the bus timetable (the appropriately-named AD122 service), we would head east, and return by public transport.

Hotbank Crags certainly earned their name on this afternoon; the rocky outcrop above Crag Lough provided a fine breezy place for a break. By the time we descended from Steel Rigg, the gentle stroll down to Once Brewed seemed infinitely preferable to our initial intentions to walk on to the Milestone Inn. We'd have time for a cool drink before the bus arrived too!

Our overnight accommodation for this trip was near Ingram, where the Breamish Valley leaves the hills and begins to broaden. The fine warm evenings provided some excellent opportunities for photography - so I'll end each day with a selection of the results

Day 2: Longhoughton to Seahouses 14 miles

The Cheviots will have to wait - it's going to be much too hot! We took the car to Seahouses, and joined the coastal bus service for a ride down to Longhoughton, where a short stroll along a quiet road would take us to the coastal path. Not that we needed to follow the path all the way - the low tide meant we could walk on the shore where that was possible.

First place of significance on the route is the little fishing harbour of Craster. Smoke billows from the roof of Robson's - and the aroma on the breeze reminds you that it's supposed to - sadly, none of the famous kippers appeared on any of the menus we were to see during our trip.

A gentle - and very popular - stroll from Craster leads to the dramatic remains of the isolated Dunstanburgh Castle. Photography is obligatory here!

Northwards again - now along the fine sands of Embleton bay. I have to admit that, for half-an-hour or so, the boots and socks came off and we had a paddle! Well, it was rather warm, despite the pleasant sea breezes. The aforementioned breezes, wafting in off the North Sea, gave some hints as to what lay in store for tomorrow, as mists began to form and drift eerily across the sands - a phenomenon that would accompany us for most of the route back to Seahouses.

After Low Newton-by-the-sea, to give it its correct title, the path leaves the shore, instead winding through the dunes, with their acres of ragwort and cinnabar moths. The separation from the sea, and that breeze, meant that we began to feel the heat now, and it was with some relief that we were able to rejoin the shore for the last stretch to Beadnell. We perhaps should have caught the bus from Beadnell - the last stretch, to Seahouses, despite a section of shoreline, was not the highlight of this walk. I think we'd walked far enough!

We've had a shower, and eaten - time for a few snaps before a well-earned pint. This evening we ventured a little further up the Breamish valley, where we were rewarded by this sight of a dipper - a young one, we thought, enjoying the evening sunshine

Day 4: A Cheviot Walk 11 miles

A dull, grey morning - the mist was down on the nearby hilltops as we had our breakfasts. Nevertheless, the forecast wasn't too bad - so we headed for the hills.

The river Coquet follows a long, winding course from its source high in the hills - we would follow a similar long, winding course on the road to Blindburn, where this walk would begin. From the small car park (one other car...) we began perhaps the steepest part of today's walk, following the "Border Country Ride" past sheep and (wild?) goats, onto the grassy slopes of Deel's Hill, and beyond to the Scottish border and the Pennine Way, perhaps a bit of a misnomer in these parts.

We followed the border northwards in the cool, damp air - a light drizzle had developed, but it never really came to anything, hardly worth the waterproofs. The border summits sound edible - there's Lamb Hill, then Beefstand Hill, then (perhaps a reversal of roles) Mozie Law. These are lonely hills - we saw just one person throughout the entire walk, a poor chap with ski-sticks looking desperately for some snow (and his skis). I would say quiet too - but that's not strictly true, for the MOD ranges are just the other side of the Coquet, and the distant artillery fire added a certain je ne sais quoi to the walk...

Shortly after Mozie Law, an old (Roman, I think) way - named on maps as "The Street" - crosses the ridge. We joined this as the weather brightened for our return route towards to the Coquet, finally turning right and descending to Blindburn and the car. A most enjoyable expedition.

Our last evening in Northumberland - the sun lowers towards the Cheviots, seen not far from Hedgeley

Day 5: Homeward

The weather was warm for our return journey, and we needed a little leg stretch (and perhaps some photographic opportunities). Neither of my colleagues had been to Brimham Rocks, near Pateley Bridge in Yorkshire, so we called in there for a wander and a few snaps (and an ice-cream) before heading westwards for the joy that is the M6...