Getting out and about in nature is one of the best ways to improve our health, both mentally and physically. These benefits include increased self-esteem and energy, stronger heart and lungs, reduced stress and anxiety, and strengthened immune systems.
These are things we all need to keep us healthy, but perhaps more so as we get older. However, getting out and about in nature often becomes more difficult as we age and become less mobile.
This article shares five lovely nature walks in and around the Morpeth area that are accessible to those who have a slower spring in their step as well as those who need a bit of extra support.
(Please ensure you make your own assessment of the suitability of any route in line with your own needs and abilities. The walks described are outdoors and subject to constant change, so whether or not they are accessible can change quickly depending on factors such as erosion and the weather)
1. Morpeth riverside walk
The river Wansbeck winds its way through Morpeth and provides the opportunity for lovely walks along its banks. Some parts of the riverside are easier to walk along than others, but there’s a good stretch that is accessible to everyone.
If you park in Newmarket car park, head over the footbridge and turn right, there’s a lovely stretch which is about half a mile long. You can enjoy the river wildlife, and further along, after you've passed under the road bridge, you can admire the beautiful gardens that slope down to the river on the opposite side of the bank.
This part of the riverside has a lovely smooth new path which makes it very accessible to those who use a stick or rollator. If you want to go as far as the next footbridge over the river, you can then either turn back the way you’ve come or go over the river, turn right and right again, and then walk down Newgate Street back to the car park.
If you’re feeling full of energy, you could take a detour off Newgate Street to the secret garden at the Old Bakehouse Millenium Green.
There’s plenty of nature to enjoy along the way depending on the season, including ducks, swans, herons and you might even spot a kingfisher.
Most of this stretch of the river is accessible with sticks, rollators, and wheelchairs. The section from the footbridge to the underpass has some uneven paving stones to watch out for.
If you’d like to see what the walk is like before you go, you could watch the first five minutes or so of this video of a longer walk which shows part of the walk in reverse.
2. Old Bakehouse Millenium Green
If you’re looking for a shorter walk in the heart of Morpeth that still gives you plenty to look at, the award-winning Old Bakehouse Millenium Green is ideal. Created by local residents in 2000, it’s open every day until dusk and provides plenty of colour and interest for everyone.
The best place to park is at Stanley Terrace car park which has disabled parking bays. You can then cross Newgate Street at the Pelican crossing and down an alleyway near the Old Bakehouse Café into the secret garden.
The walk is accessible to walkers who need the support of sticks or a rollator.
3. Postern Woods
Postern Woods is a lovely place to enjoy some fresh air and be close to nature. It’s the perfect spot for an accessible bluebell hunt but it’s a beautiful place to visit all year round.
The woods have an enchanted feel to them particularly when the sunbeams flash through the trees creating puddles of light. You are transported to a wonderful wild and natural woodland, even though it’s only a few minutes from the hustle and bustle of Morpeth Town Centre.
You can park either in the Waterford Pub if you’re going to have some refreshments before or after your walk, or in the Goose Hill car park. This is a long-stay car park situated on the A192 which you can cross via a pelican crossing near the car park entrance.
The woodland walks are generally accessible, but parts of the path are quite narrow and it’s best to be cautious when it’s been raining as the path edges in particular can be slippery. So, take your time and if you want to take in the view or look for a particular bird that you can hear singing in the trees above, stop and make sure you’re on firm footing before you look up.
The beauty of this location for a nature walk is that you can go as far as you feel able, and then turn around and go back. If you feel like something a bit more strenuous, you could take the zigzag path up to the castle and then go back past the war memorial and down Castle Bank.
4. Druridge Bay
If you fancy the sea breeze in your face, one of the best accessible beaches close to Morpeth is Druridge Bay. It’s a 20-minute drive in the car from Morpeth or about an hour on the X18 or X20 bus.
The beach road provides stunning views of the sea and has plenty of parking near the viewpoint which is also close to some benches. There are accessible parking bays at the Visitor Centre with an accessible toilet inside the centre. You can park there for free for an hour.
There are several ways down to the beach either via steps and a handrail, or using one of the two inclined paths. One is a sandy path and the other is the concreted slope used for boat launches. This path is quite steep.
The beach is accessible for people able to walk with support or sticks, and possibly those in wheelchairs, depending on how long the tide has been out, the dryness of the sand and whether recent storms have churned up the sand and pebbles. It’s a lovely place to enjoy some fresh sea air and wildlife, with plenty of places to sit and admire the views.
5. Bolam Lake
If you have access to a car, Bolam Lake, which is about 9 miles west of Morpeth, is a great place to visit.
There are three car parks each with disabled parking bays. The café and toilets are located in the Boathouse Wood car park which is to the north of the lake so it’s probably best to try and park there then everything you need is close by.
The main walk around the lake is about a mile long and is fully accessible for wheelchairs. There are also a number of different woodland and lakeside paths to try.
There’s plenty of wildlife to see in and around the lake such as roe deer, red squirrels, nuthatches, swans and other birds. If you’re visiting during breeding season which is spring and early summer, there are restrictions on some activities on the lake so that the wildlife isn’t disturbed.
For those who are keen birdwatchers, there’s a new bird hide with seating benches overlooking the lake.
Head over to my blog page to read the latest articles about the help and support available in and around Morpeth, and how And Wiser can help people to live well at home, with or without carers.
If you’d like to find out more about And Wiser’s services, bridging the gap between independence and care, have a look at my services page or get in touch for a chat.
Comments