Craving an autumnal getaway from the city and exhausting student life? Well, the answer to this longing is Jesmond Dene, a characteristic park thriving with amber leaves, waterfalls and a cosy café.
From Haymarket Metro Station, you can grab a ticket to West Jesmond for just £1.00 using a student blue Pop Card, and from there you can use Google Maps to navigate your way to the park. If you’re feeling particularly restless and fancy a bit more of a hike, or you're unwilling to give up a couple pounds that could be put towards your morning coffee, I would suggest you walk via Town Moor to Jesmond Dene and enjoy a walk full of autumn colours and falling leaves.
When I went last weekend, I began at Armstrong Bridge, featuring Narnia-esque lampposts that just perfectly epitomise the approaching winter weather. Then I followed a path through Jesmond Dene gates to find myself surrounded by nature. At the bottom of the path there is a ‘Pets’ Corner’ with peacocks, goats, birds and pigs; it’s great to have a look around - and it's free. Then continuing past this, there is the widely acclaimed Jesmond Dene Falls featuring a gorgeous, cobbled bridge and water mill.
After a wander through the woods, you can eventually find yourself at a café. I visited Millfield House Café, situated in the heart of the park, enjoyed a coffee and a muffin. The café was great - and dog friendly.
So if you want a walk with waterfalls, mills, and cafes situated close to campus...
So if you want a walk with waterfalls, mills, and cafes situated close to campus, I’d highly recommend Jesmond to you.
Fancy exploring a North East treasure a little further out from the city? Then maybe you should seize the opportunity to visit Northumberland’s own Hadrian’s Wall.
I’ve done this walk a couple times: once with my family, and again with Newcastle University’s Fellwalking Society, and it is brilliant.
From Newcastle Station, you can catch a train to Bardon Mill, which is on the way to Haltwhistle, the final destination of the walk. Open return tickets tend to be around £11.35 so around £5-6.00 each way with a student railcard. From Bardon Mill, you can follow the cycle route 72 through Scrogg Wood, which has Birch trees that arch over the path that will look incredible now that it is autumn. Then you just follow this path until you reach the T-junction in Westwood, where you take a right and continue on the cycle route. Head towards Housesteads Roman Fort, then follow Hadrian’s wall to reach Cawfield Quarry. From here, follow Haltwhistle Burn, the river that leads to the village, and here, you can pop into one of the village pubs and then catch the train back to Newcastle.
Along the way are some amazing sites to gape at, like the Roman Fort, the Sycamore Gap Memorial and Cawfield Quarry, which has a cliff view of the miniature lake, and an astounding view level with the lake.
Get your walking boots on and head to Hadrian’s Wall. It’s definitely worth exploring while you’re here.
Love it! That landscape is stunning
It’s a brilliant article . Enjoy reading it & good guidelines of the routes.