Haydon Bridge

Many thanks to Scotch Corner Holiday Cottage's for facilitating this camera's location and capitally funding its installation. The River South Tyne originates in Alston Moor, Cumbria, and meanders through the towns of Haltwhistle and Haydon Bridge, traversing a valley commonly referred to as the Tyne Gap. Notably, Hadrian's Wall lies to the north of this picturesque stretch. Interestingly, the source of the South Tyne is in close proximity to the origins of two other prominent rivers in the industrial north-east region, namely the Tees and the Wear. The South Tyne Valley falls within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the second-largest among the 40 AONBs in England and Wales.The etymology of the name "Haydon Bridge" remains somewhat elusive. While it is commonly believed that the name signifies the valley where hay is produced, no definitive interpretation exists. Other theories propose a combination of the Old English words "Hay," meaning an enclosure, and "Don," denoting a valley or hill. It could also potentially be related to "Hay (ton)," representing an enclosed farmstead or village, or "Hay (den)," signifying an enclosed forest.The origin of the designation "Tyne" is shrouded in uncertainty, and the river itself wasn't known by that name until the Saxon period. Tynemouth is recorded in Anglo-Saxon as "Tinanmuðe" (likely in the dative case). On the Roman map of Britain, the "Vedra" may refer to either the Tyne or the River Wear, although it remains uncertain. Ptolemy's mention of "Tína" could be a misplaced reference to either this river or the Tyne in East Lothian. Some theories propose that "*tīn" was a word denoting "river" in the local Celtic language or a language spoken in England before the arrival of the Celts, reminiscent of the term "Tardebigge." Another suggested etymology is a pre-Celtic root "*tei," meaning "to melt" or "to flow," which could explain the origin of the Tyne and similarly named rivers. Additionally, a Brittonic derivative of Indo-European "*teihx," signifying "to be dirty" (as seen in Welsh "tail," meaning "manure"), has also been put forth as a possible explanation for the name.