Churches together

This month we did something different and had a sponsored round trip from Newburn to Wylam to raise funds for placing a Christmas advert in the local magazine. Unfortunately your blogger forgot to bring his camera this time! We (11 + dog) had a great walk in autumn sunshine and finished up at the Keelmans pub.
The next walk is on October 5th (Embleton to Craster). I am unlikely to be available so I may ask someone to be a guest blogger!

Happy Valley

After a week of wet and cloud we enjoyed a delightful summer day in the Cheviots although the clouds obscured the Cheviot itself at the start.

The recent downpours made for a muddy walk but Mary was in the lead at the start..

A lot of fine views were had...

After a bit of climbing and muddiness we had lunch on a ruined barn wall and watched the butterflies fluttering over the meadow- perfect!

It was then time to descend to the valley floor

A lichen encrusted seat

Apart from the muddy bits this was certainly a 'happy' valley. Thanks to John & Marie who led us today and did the walk before sometime in the 20th century! Things had not changed too much. Afterwards we stopped for refreshments just outside Wooler.
The next walk on Sept 14th is going to be different from our usual Saturday outings- the plan is to get together with other Churches on a fund raising walk so keep a look out for notices. There is also a Monday walk planned for 12th August starting from Stella (Fred has agreed to lead it).

A weekend in Eden

Our annual weekend away was spent in the Eden district starting at Allenheads.  As we assembled and took refreshments ....

This sort of thing was going on.....

I think we generally like that sort of thing. We had to drag ourselves away to start the first walk led by John & Marie. Most of it was in the upland reaches with a lot of deserted barns and hovels.

The long and winding road

A wonky cairn was a good lunch spot

We descended to the valley...

At the end we had drinks at the pub in Allenhead but were plagued by the Eden midges( which nobody told us about!). We then checked in at the Nent hall country house which did us proud providing our evening meal and were helpful and friendly.

Before our dinner we went to mass in Alston where we were made most welcome especially as we had probably doubled the mass attendance! The church (more a chapel really) was shared with the Methodists who attend on Sunday morning.

Back at the hotel Pre-meal drinks...

Caption competition time anyone?

After an enjoyable meal (sorry the photos were bad) and more drinks we retired to bed.

On Sunday we checked out and headed to Alston steam railway where Ken finally found someone on the same wavelength...

The first part of the Sunday walk was along the South Tyne trail. Cue passing train

We briefly left the historic (i.e. defunct) county of Cumberland - but not for long.

We left the South Tyne trail to join the Pennine way back to Alston and things got hilly, rocky and Sheepy. Some of the sheep were quite friendly and approached some of us in order to eat our clothing.

Beyond yonder wall is the site of the Epiacum Roman Fort also known as Whitley castle. This was used to protect the lead mines from marauding barbarians.

Lunch time. Although cloudy for a bit it was sunny most of the time.

I think the path was supposed to go through this thing

The view from a bridge before starting another climb- you certainly knew you had been for a walk by the time we arrived back in Alston. After refreshments at the station some of the party went for a drink at a nearby country pub before returning home.
It was a great weekend with splendid weather (again). It was nice to see Andrea join us for the evening at the hotel. Roll on next year.
Next walk is 3rd August probably in  happy Valley (sounds promising).

Rothbury

June is splendid when it is not raining and today we had fine weather for a great walk starting in Rothbury and led by Marie.

Here are some cows. They had horns.

Below is Sharp's folly. No more needs to be said because there was a sign.

Sheep and the Cheviots

Lunch by the Simonside hills. There were a lot of  people (all Women) briskly striding past us around here, doing something organised by the Sheperds  walks organisation.

Cup and Ring markings (plus natural deposits). Seen much better ones at Ford.

There are high stiles around here - a problem for some of us!

One to add to the spooky trees collection!

This geezer is not often seen in this blog (Photo credit to John).

On return to Rothbury we had refreshment at the Queen's head whose barperson kindly took the group snap

Another fine walk - thanks to Marie & John. The countryside around Rothbury certainly knows how to charm at this time of year. Next blog entry will be the weekend away- cannot wait!

Bolam Lake etc

The May 11th walk had to be postponed so an alternative was put together for the 18th.

That was interesting. The idea was that we would have a six mile round trip of Bolam lake and Shaftoe Craggs in the usual fine Stella strollers weather. Five of us made it and with some photoshoppery I have got us all in.

In fact it rained and we got lost! Even looking at the maps on the computer afterward I am baffled as to where we ended up. With the rain persisting we just backtracked to Bolam Lake by which time the rain stopped and we took our lunch and did the short circuit of the lake . In all we did about 3 miles.

The view for lunch

We did not offer our lunch to this hopeful specimen

Afterward we went to the Capheaton tea room for tea & cakes - worth a visit if you have not been.

I think we enjoyed ourselves but my take home message is never to lead a group walk without a recce first,  no matter how clear the instructions seem to be. Apologies for the lack of photos- it just turned out that way.

The next scheduled walk is on Monday June 3rd and will be through woods and fields near Prudhoe. I will be leading it and will be doing a recce as I can get there by public transport.