Carol

Causey Arch Car Park – East Tanfield – Kip Hill – Carrickhill Wood – Coppy Lane – Causey Arch.

Sunny to start, overcast and chilly later.

Carol, George, Ron, Sandy, Michael and Michelle.

Ashley - Hash.

Evelyn - family.

Bernie - family.

Comments

A nice gentleman with friendly dog took our photo at the start. We waved at steam train and then crossed viaduct en route to East Tanfield. We sighted a large bird in the trees, which we thought initially was a red kite but turned out to be a kestrel. There were sounds of gunfire all around.

The going was varied, very muddy in places but relatively dry in others. There were lots of seats in Carrickhill Wood, where we saw a deer.

We had a civilised lunch stop in the grounds of Beamish Hotel. We sat at a circular table with loos to hand and ducks and hens feeding at our feet.

We passed a cottage in Coppy Lane with lights like red berries on the trees. We met Bobgins, the level crossing keeper at Causey Arch, who came out of his snug little hut to open the gates. We retired to the South Causey Inn for refreshment at the end of the walk and then went back to Carol’s for tea and coffee.

As well as the deer, ducks and hens mentioned above we saw a robin, a long tailed tit, a blue tit, several pheasants keeping their heads down, a magpie, blackbirds, sparrows, horses with their coats on and cows. We also saw a dead rat and a dead cow.

The Blue Bell Inn, by Stanley

Group at the start

Waymarker

Kestrel in the Trees

On the Bridge

Lunch

Joining us for Lunch

Beamish Hotel