Old Moss

View from south.

Lambley Viaduct on the Alston Branch Railway crosses the River South Tyne between Alston and Haltwhistle in a series of tall and elegant arches and was the engineering centrepiece of the Newcastle & Carlisle Railway's branch line to Alston. The viaduct opened in November 1852, a few months after the rest of the line, and was closed in 1976 when the viaduct fell into decay with some of its stonework falling into the river. The structure was Grade II* listed in August 1985. A survey was carried out in 1994; it was restored over the following two years and much of the masonry replaced, repointed with lime mortar imported from France. The 260m long viaduct is thought to have been designed by Sir George Barclay Bruce (1821-1908), an eminent Victorian engineer. The river is crossed by nine 17-metre (56 ft) wide arches, with three 20-foot arches to the north side and four on a curve at the southern end, supporting a deck 32 metres (105 ft) above the river but, as it carried a single track, only 3.5 metres (11 ft) wide. The piers to the arches are built of massive rough-faced stones each weighing up to 500 kilograms (1,100 lb), with similar-sized stones in ashlar to the main arch voussoirs. The spandrels and piers to the 6-metre (20 ft) wide approach arches are built of coursed rubble masonry. At one time, a pedestrian footbridge crossed the water, supported by the viaduct's piers. Today Lambley Viaduct accommodates the South Tyne Trail although the west end has been fenced off to stop people straying into the former Lambley Railway Station which is now a private house. Access to that end of the viaduct is by a series of steps leading down from the north side. The South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society have acquired both the Lambley Viaduct and Alston Arches and have an ambitious aim to reopen the entire line from Alston to Haltwhistle by 2022 Link Wikipedia: Link Bridges on the Tyne: Link The Transport Trust: Link

A natural mound, which has been enhanced for defensive purposes. The ditch in the foreground would have provided additional protection Link

This track is part of the River Tyne Trail and is a section of National Cycle Network route 68.

The road climbs from the A689 at Halton Lea Gate to Hartleyburn Common through a rectangular area of what OS maps show as a coniferous plantation, although the plantings don't cover its whole area. Attitudes to access by the road have changed: the Knarsdale Estate notice in view gives a welcoming message to visitors. They were not always wanted: out of view in the image there's an old, broken sign discouraging entry.

The general area of moorland appears to be known as Hartleyburn Common (South Side), with the nearer ground more specifically named Haltonlea Fell. The coniferous plantation is shown on the OS Landranger map as extending further to the north, (left in the image), reaching the A689. The distant moorland is on the eastern side of the valley of the River South Tyne.

The slope with the trees declines gradually reaching the Glendue Burn in the valley named Glen Due - unusual south of the border! The distant moorland is on the eastern side of the valley of the River South Tyne.

A quiet mid-May Sunday afternoon at Lambley Viaduct. This view is looking north-east along the upstream face of the viaduct. This photograph was taken during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020/21/22.

A Grey Squirrel feeding, as viewed from the Lambley Viaduct. This photograph was taken during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020/21/22.

It is easy to miss the Pennine Way turning half right off this track.

Lambley is small hamlet in the South Tyne valley. This photograph was taken during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020/21/22.