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Widgos Survey

3XJuly 2021 by St25thompson

Route description

Gosforth to Wideopen Route Description: Beginning at the shopping centre at the heart of Gosforth High Street (with connecting public transport to Newcastle City centre, Ashington, Alnwick, Berwick and Morpeth) the route leads north following the Great North Road (footpath and cycle lane). Past the Pink lane bakery. After travelling north for 450m and crossing the metro railway line bear right into the large Asda superstore car park, heading for the North Eastern corner of the car park. Store car park can be very busy at peak times. Exiting the car park bear left then left again onto Harewood Road. Then immediately right onto Granville Road. The route now leave the busy great North road behind to traverse quiet terraced streets. At the end of Granville Road passing a school and entrance to Gosforth golf club to the right, we head right along the roadside footpath alongside whitebridge park. Crossing the whitebridge allows views over the Ouse burn river as it flows through Gosforth and down into Jesmond Dene and then the River Tyne. The whitebridge Park Estate is made up of place-names local to the Thirsk and Northallerton locale of North Yorkshire. Reaching Willerby drive bear rights and continue on the roadside footpaths until reaching Ferriby close cul-de-sac and leaving through a surfaced footpath into a small woodland area. At the end of the concrete path head left on a stone track through woodland with housing to the left and arable fields to the right Leaving the woodland and passing by a substation and litter bin. With a glimpse of Gosforth racecourse, the path bears left back into housing. Continue along Ferndale avenue. Turning left at the t junction onto Kingsley avenue. Diverting from the path across a small green to the left, lies the remains of the medieval North Gosforth Chapel, surrounded by mature oak trees. After returning to Kingsley avenue continue along for 500m, crossing over a small cannalised stream that flows through the housing and eventually into the Ouseburn. then turn right eventually emerging back on the busy Great North Road. Head right along a wide tarmaced path offset from the road. With woodland to the right the path rises uphill as we move toward the racecourse. Passing by grand entrance to the racecourse our route continues on for 100m then turns right into the Grand Hotel Gosforth Park. Walking directly through the car park keeping to the woodland boundary on the left. Continue until you reach a dilapidated tennis court and cross over a small stream. Then turn right onto a rough unsurfaced path. With tree routes and muddy patches. Remain on the main trunk through the woods ignoring branching paths. Heading up a slight incline and arriving at a tarmaced road. Bear left when reaching the road and then straight over a cross road passing between 2 green signs and following a gravel track along the right edge of the open field. Then head right at the next junction before going imediatly left on another woodland path with a good surface but muddy tenancies. Pass a central horse chestnut and move straight on through the woodland keeping the fields to your left. Turn left at woodland t junction and continue along a wide dirt track that heads slightly downhill. Reaching an area of wet woodland and marsh go right towards the sound of the A1056 Road emerging from the woodland (narrow opening 1m in fence) turn left joining a surfaced cycleway and crossing the A1056 at the designated crossing. Take the first right up a wide gravel track into a housing estate. Following the central gravel track through and then bear right approaching a bench and interpretation. Then cross the old mineral railway and road and move north towards a playing field. Following the track and hedge around the outside of the playing fields or cut straight across the field ( navigating a low gate obstacle). Concrete and gravel path lead around the playing field perimeter, narrowing at points turning left at Oak House. Follow wide gravel track and tarmac road into Wideopen, (transport links, refreshments)

About the surveyor

Coming soon.

Survey Contents

Grading

Path surface grading

3 Grade 3: Route includes rough surfaces that may include small boulders, potholes, shallow ruts, loose gravel, short muddy sections.

Accessibility grading

X Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users.

Photos

Photos from surveys are coming soon.

Facilities

  • Not present at time of survey Public toilet
  • Not present at time of survey Wheelchair accessible toilet
  • Present at time of survey Supermarket
  • Not present at time of survey Restaurant
  • Not present at time of survey Vegan restaurant
  • Maybe present Accommodation
  • Maybe present Accommodation < £50
  • Not present at time of survey Campsite
  • Not present at time of survey Bothy
  • Present at time of survey Free wifi
  • Present at time of survey Public phone
  • Present at time of survey Mobile Phone Coverage
  • Not present at time of survey Train station
  • Present at time of survey Bench
  • Not present at time of survey Picnic table
  • Present at time of survey Bus stop
  • Not present at time of survey Ferry

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Challenges

  • Not present at time of survey Scrambling
  • Not present at time of survey Wading
  • Not present at time of survey Swimming
  • Not present at time of survey Climbing
  • Not present at time of survey Stepping stones
  • Not present at time of survey Very slippery
  • Maybe present Very muddy
  • Not present at time of survey Very icy
  • Not present at time of survey Likely to flood
  • Not present at time of survey Long grass sections
  • Not present at time of survey Crops encroaching on path
  • Not present at time of survey Diverted path

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Obstacles

  • Not present at time of survey Stiles
  • Present at time of survey Step and kerbs
  • Maybe present Possible to avoid steps, if applicable
  • Not present at time of survey Flights of steps
  • Not present at time of survey Gates
  • Not present at time of survey Kissing gates
  • Not present at time of survey Locked gates
  • Not present at time of survey Disables access gates
  • Not present at time of survey Cycle barriers
  • Not present at time of survey Ladders
  • Not present at time of survey Cattle grids
  • Not present at time of survey Fords
  • Not present at time of survey Narrow bridges
  • Not present at time of survey Ferry required
  • Not present at time of survey Acceptable road walking
  • Not present at time of survey Unacceptable road walking
  • Not present at time of survey Dangerous road crossings
  • Present at time of survey Walking on paths beside roads
  • Not present at time of survey Walking on verges beside roads
  • Not present at time of survey Railway crossings
  • Not present at time of survey River crossings
  • Not present at time of survey Cattle possible
  • Not present at time of survey Horses possible
  • Not present at time of survey Tidal area
  • Not present at time of survey Potential falls
  • Not present at time of survey Exposed to elements
  • Not present at time of survey Remote area
  • Not present at time of survey Mountainous area
  • Not present at time of survey Military training area
  • Not present at time of survey No visible path
  • Not present at time of survey Seasonal nesting birds
  • Not present at time of survey Other hazards

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Accessibility

  • Present at time of survey Free of stiles
  • Not present at time of survey Free of single steps/kerbs
  • Present at time of survey Free of flights of steps
  • Not present at time of survey Free of other obstacles

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Measurements

The narrowest part of the path is 80.00cm

The steepest uphill gradient walking East 10.00%

The steepest uphill gradient walking West 10.00%

The steepest camber gradient across the path 5.00%

How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unclear in places

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Successfully completed

  • Small Pug-sized dog
  • Small Labrador-sized dog
  • Large St. Bernard-sized dog
  • Standard pram
  • Off-road rugged pram
  • Standard wheelchair
  • Off-road rugged wheelchair
  • Standard mobility scooter
  • Off-road rugged mobility scooter

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Expert recommendations

  • Small Pug-sized dog
  • Small Labrador-sized dog
  • Large St. Bernard-sized dog
  • Standard pram
  • Off-road rugged pram
  • Standard wheelchair
  • Off-road rugged wheelchair
  • Standard mobility scooter
  • Off-road rugged mobility scooter

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Terrain

60.00% of the route is on roads

60.00% of the route is paved

60.00% of the route is lit at night

15.00% of the route is muddy

25.00% of the route is over rough ground

There is no data on long grass

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