April

Ron leading for Michelle who was on holiday

Simonburn – Tecket – Greenhaugh – Simonburn Common – Haggle Rigg – Fenwickfield – Simonburn

Wet and Windy with the odd sunny interval, but not cold

Ron, George, Diane, Richard, Ken

Michelle and Michael - in Devon

Sandy - preparing for Beth's wedding

Ashley - black eye and bad back following 5km run

Bernie - in Hampshire

Comments

The Car Park was not available as it was being used for logging operations. Ron and Diane both left their rucksacks behind in the car and had to go back to collect them.

The first part of the walk was along the road into the wind. We climbed up and turned off on to Simonburn Common, where the wind was even stronger. It was hard going across the moor as it was very boggy with no clear path and into the wind. It got worse when it started raining.

There were several awkward gates to go through. We found a sheltered spot in a small wood behind a wall. After discovering that we were not where we thought we were, we took a shorter route back to avoid the tufted grass, which was proving very tiring. The going was much easier on a grassy track although it was quite boggy in parts but we had the wind and rain behind us. Richard had a spectacular stumble but was none the worse for it. There was a nice descent down to Simonburn through the woods.

Wildlife: Curlew, skylarks, hawk, cows and calves, sheep and lambs, cock pheasant, merlin. Primroses.

Santana, Jesmond Road. Nice meal, fast service, helpful staff.

April Walkers minus one

The Long Road

Unusual house

Lunch

Sheltered spot

Tackling the terrain