The Telegraph journalist, Christopher Hope is presently walking Hadrians Wall at the moment for a good cause: https://twitter.com/christopherhope
He described his first day today as follows:
"22miles. Exhausted. 62miles to go. Please sponsor me at http://www.justgiving.com/christopherhope to walk Hadrian's Wall"
If you see a tired journo on a good cause please stop and say hello, buy him a pint, or better still sponsor him. I have walked the Wall several times, notably in 2011 for Tynedale Hospice at Home. I have not got the heart to tell him that the big challenge is ahead on the long march from Humshaugh to Twice Brewed and on down to Greenhead.
But think of the tea rooms, pubs and the grub along the way and all will be well.
To help him on his way I will resubmit my guide to the local pubs and beer originally found in more detail here: http://guyopperman.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/my-top-10-places-to-go-in.html
The key section is:
Where to eat:
If you want great pub food then I am a big fan of the Barrasford Arms,http://www.barrasfordarms.co.uk/
Tony is a brilliant chef, and the pub also has great beer and a bar where you will discuss everything from sheep prices to current affairs and who won the big race of the day. Great people and a top dining pub.
The Feathers in Hedley, and La Bouchon in Hexham are both prize winning and the destinations for fine dining but if you want a great south Asian experience then two restaurants will prove it is not just country fare up north.
The Valley in Corbridge is the ultimate Railway lovers restaurant, producing great food in an old railway station: http://www.valleyrestaurants.co.uk/
Also very good is Hexham's Diwan E- Am: http://diwaneam.com/?page_id=58
You will need a tea shop on your travels:
My friends say I am on a mission to try every tea shop in Tynedale but the county is justifiably famous: on your Pennine Way travels do not forget to stop at the Greenhead Tea Room: http://www.heartofhadrianswall.com/tea-rooms/60-greenhead-tea-rooms
Alison makes great cakes and scones.
Corbridge has more tea shops that any other but my favourite is Tea and Tipple, where you can while away an afternoon - they do great Northumberland Scones, including the normal cheese scone but also Blue Cheese and Caramelised Onion Scones: http://teaandtipple.blogspot.co.uk/
Their web site has a special "Sconage" section...
Beer: this is obviously essential. We have lots of brilliant brewers, but I have worked a lot with the Hadrian Border Brewery, who produce the deliciously summer ale which is Tyneside Blonde. But my favourite would be a pint of Golden Plover, made locally by the Allendale Brewery, and found in most of the pubs: http://www.allendaleale.com/index.htm
To my knowledge two of my MP colleagues are also intending to tramp the Wall this summer - they will get a warm welcome, great beer, sore feet and the views that rival Montana.
