Martin was going home today, so we had some sorting of supplies to do before leaving the hotel. We drove over to Clove Lodge and set out at 10:10. We didn't get very far before arriving at the Clove Lodge Coffee and tea shop which was well set up and we enjoyed speaking to the owner who is also a keen walker. As we left two young men heavily laden with backpacks arrived. They had stayed overnight at the shooting hut with shelter that I’d checked out yesterday. They were frozen and said it was incredibly cold during the night. I was sorry for them but greatly relieved I hadn’t camped there as planned.
Martin turned around at 10:30 having gone past Blackton reservoir and the glamping setup at Birkhat. A tearful parting on my part - again...I hate goodbyes. There were two ridges to surmount before getting to Middleton with plenty of sharp undulations.
On the second reservoir (Grassholme) there were 2 male and 1 female Wigeon on reservoir along with a common sandpiper. I was impressed again by the Tuck shop at high Withies Hill farm - I bought a Wispa, glad I’d got cash with me, and gratefully topped up my water - it was a hot day! There was a superb viewing point above Middleton below Harter Fell, so I stopped at 12:30 for that Wispa and drink.
There were beautiful wild pansies on the slopes dropping down to Middleton. I resisted going into the town and pushed on up the valley hoping to find a good spot to have lunch by the river. It took a lot longer to get to the river than I remembered keeping up in the fields for a considerable distance so I ended up stopping late on the banks of a small stream …. And wrote up yesterday’s notes - late again!
I loved the bluebells and bird cherry above Tees and more common sandpipers flying up and down the river. There were many smaller falls as I walked along the Tees, and having passed Low force, I entered an extensive area of juniper. There was lots of Yellow tormentil as I reached High force - as impressive as ever.
I passed the quarry as I climbed towards Bracken Rigg and was again relieved I'd not tried to wild camp here as there wasn’t a good place to pitch. A steep descent down to Cronkley Farm brought me to one of my favourite parts of the Pennine Way where a subsidiary joins the Tees at Wheysike House. It was on this stretch that I saw some birds eye primrose and a low lying type of Veronica.
Finally, I left the Pennine Way and made my way up to Intake Farm and the ford which would allow me to walk back up to the hotel. Another glorious day over.
Delighted you are avoiding wild camping - no fun at all in those conditions and that rough walking. Mum and I walked this part of Teesdale some years ago.
ReplyDeleteMuch love dad xx