B6528
B6528 | ||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||
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From: | Horsley (NZ083658) | |||
To: | West Denton (NZ184659) | |||
Distance: | 6.4 miles (10.3 km) | |||
Meets: | A69, B6318, A6085, A69 | |||
Former Number(s): | A69 | |||
Highway Authorities | ||||
Traditional Counties | ||||
Route outline (key) | ||||
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The B6528 is the old A69 through Heddon-on-the-Wall and Throckley, which has now been bypassed. Along the way, it provides the endpoint for the B6318, which has fought its way along the Scottish Borders.
The road starts at a west-facing half-diamond on the A69, where traffic in both directions has to TOTSO as the main road becomes unclassified and heads north. Confusingly the junction is signposted for southbound B6309 traffic to U-turn as it cannot go straight across the A69 at its junction two miles west. Our road heads east and after a few fields reaches the village of Horsley. We run along the main street and soon return to open country.
We continue east along a wide, straight road, easily recognisable as a former trunk route. Shortly, at a crossroads, an unclassified road heads north to reach east-facing slip roads on the A69. A mile or so further on we reach Heddon-on-the-Wall. After entering town along Hexham Road the B6318 comes in from the left. There's a brief village bypass (the old road actually goes through the petrol station forecourt on our right) necessitating our having to TOTSO right (the unclassified road ahead leads to east-facing A69 sliproads). After rejoining the old road we run alongside Hadrian's Wall (which came in along the B6318), some of which is visible behind the hedge on the right. Maps then show the line of the wall continues across the fields as an earthwork but you need to know what you're looking for.
After a line of houses on the left the road becomes fully built-up as it enters Throckley, the largest place en route. We descend then cross the A6085 at a roundabout before going over a small wooded valley. We briefly come in sight of fields before we reach Walbottle; most of the village is to the right although our road is still built-up. After passing through Blucher the road comes alongside the A69, forcing us to bear right and run adjacent. After a surprising distance we reach journey's end at a grade-separated roundabout where we rejoin the A-road.