If you take Westgate Road from town up Westgate Hill and beyond the General Hospital, it turns into the West Road and will take you out to the A1. Just before you get to the A1, the West Road will take you down this incredibly steep, incredibly straight section. It’s an impressive sight.
The A1 roundabout is where the road ahead veers to the left. This pic was taken on a stormy evening at the end of June.
Awesome! I live in this photograph :D
A road I became very familiar with when visiting last year.
I always lived in High Heaton but went to school for 7 years just on the left of this photograph. I remember a couple of snowy winters we were sent home from school because the buses couldn’t get up or down the hill. Of course a walk home to Heaton from there was a bit of a trek.
Cool DaveR! I’m glad I posted it :)
Andrew - it’s a road I rarely use, but am becoming more familiar with.
PJF - that would be a walk and a half in the snow! Must have taken you ages to get home.
Straight because of the Romans I think as It follows the line of the wall. MikeM
Did you know Westgate Hill has its own website?
http://www.westgatehill.com/
Lots about motorbikes!
I did five years of travelling this road to St. Cuthbert’s on a trolley bus and trolley buses didn’t always make it up the hill in fine weather never mind the snow. I presume that travelling from Heaton you must have been at the same school PJF. I can’t think of any other reason for travelling that distance. I never had to walk home but on two occasions I had to walk up to school and that is one long walk. I love the glowering sky, Beth.
Yes Alf, I went to St. Cuthbert’s too. In my day I travelled on the 39/40 from town (when it wasn’t snowing). Looking at Google Earth the other day it seems that the much of the old school has now been demolished.
One Sunday in April 1947 my friend, Alan, and I cycled to the west end from Heddon-on-the- Wall to visit a friend. We pushed our bikes up this hill but on the way home we went down full speed hands free! What a foolish thrill, but that’s what you do when you’re ten years old, isn’t it? Of course there wasn’t much traffic in those days and even less on a Sunday. Happy memories.
I was in two minds whether to post this pic. I’m glad I did :)
I’ve really enjoyed reading all that! Thanks everyone.
Great shot of a wonderful straight hilly road (and great comments above!)
Dave - at some point I’ll take a pic from the bottom looking up :)
Thanks!