Bell Hill

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

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.

Several instances of bank erosion can be noted along this stretch of the River South Tyne from Featherstone to Lambley - a reminder that this river isn't always so passive. This photograph was taken during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020/21/22.

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.

A view of this impressive structure on the former Alston Branch railway from Bowden's Banks. Upon crossing the viaduct, the cyclist has to dismount and carry the bike down steps, under the viaduct and back up steps to rejoin the route of the former railway. On this instance, I diverted via Lambley village but altogether this is an easier route. This photograph was taken during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020/21/22.

A majestic oak tree shown on Ordnance Survey 1:25k mapping and on mapping as far back as 1865. Forum entries at Link debate the reasons for the naming but fail to draw a definitive conclusion. This photograph was taken during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020/21/22.

Lambley viaduct crosses the River South Tyne as a series of elegant stone arches. More than 850 feet long, it once carried the Haltwhistle to Alston railway. The railway, which was opened in 1852 to haul coal and lead from the Alston mines, closed in 1976, and the viaduct was allowed to decay. In 1991 the British Rail Property Board agreed to repair the viaduct and hand it over to the North Pennine Heritage Trust which would maintain it in the future; however the Trust went into administration in 2011. The viaduct was probably designed by George Barclay Bruce, a Victorian engineer who was involved in the Alston line before leaving for India to pioneer railway construction there. It is a particularly elegant example of Victorian engineering: the river is crossed by nine 56 foot wide arches which support a deck at least 108 feet above the river. (source Wikipedia)