Synod Pilgrimage

Saturday August 4

Here we are back in Rothbury, just gone 4.00 pm – but, the day’s not ended!

At Ladys Well

So far, it’s been another magnificent day’s walking, from the moment the bus put us down back at the end of yesterday’s walk at Holystone. Our first reflective moment was at St Mungo’s Well, just beyond the church, but then we retraced our steps and walked down to Lady’s Well where Rowena led us in a thoughtful act of worship as we gathered round this very atmospheric pool. Have we ever heard Hagar’s story told in church? Here this powerful narrative really resonated.

The walking through the forest that followed was surprisingly hard going, and I think took longer than planned. Then Linda, nearly as welcome as the angel at the well, met us as we came to the road, and carried weary walkers’ burdens in the back of her car for the next leg of the journey, on to Harbottle.

More reflective moments in the car park below the ruined castle, and a time to eat lunch, before we were off again to Alwinton. There Dave took us on a detour to the old lime kilns, before we met up with the vicar in her magnificent church – wishing us well on the next and most challenging section of the walk so far.

Following the dead end road that leads into the hills we then took a footpath leading us still higher. The magnificent open views were accompanied throughout this section by the rumble of thunder over to the west, where dark clouds hovered while back down the valley behind us the afternoon sun continued to shine. Then we moved over a ridge and had a splendid view back down into the valley, where below us were all the signs of a deserted village – abandoned so Dave told us from at least the 16^th century.

The deserted village

From there it was downhill all the way. We saw the bus speeding up the tarred road below us, and 15 or 20 minutes later we were back in the valley, on board, and soon speeding back to Rothbury. An early meal has been booked at the Newcastle Hotel for 5.30. Yes, we’ll be ready for it – but the worry is, will we be ready for the next stage of the pilgrimage planned later this evening?