December

Ron

Allendale Town – Stone Stile – Catton – Owlet Hall -The Haining – Allendale Town

Cloudy, windy and very cold (especially at lunch). Some sunny periods, but stayed dry.

Ron, Sandy, George, Michael, Michelle, Diane, Richard.

Ashley - in Thailand

Bernie - at the football match

Comments

It was very muddy with lots of puddles – claggy, watery and slippery. We crossed a lot of stiles in varying states of repair and slippiness. One had a step missing. One stone stile was almost invisible, being camouflaged by the stone wall it crossed and covered with lichen. The adjacent wooden bridge in the woods was treacherous, as it was covered in slippy moss.  A lot of trees were also covered in lichen.

There was an elegant metal farm sign at Stone Stile, consisting of a sheepdog and sheep. The gates were difficult to open. One had to be kicked open. The newer gates had very small waymark signs.

The walk was shortened when we had difficulty finding the right path – it involved negotiating a tricky narrow path alongside the river.

On the last stretch we found several metal mobiles hanging from tree branches e.g. a squirrel, a pheasant, as well as a rubber sole. We examined the entrance to a tunnel draining water from a mine at Allendale. We passed a sci-fi museum in Allendale with an original Dalek and Robbie the Robot.

Wildlife: Buzzard, herons, pheasants, rabbit. Three roe deer, merino sheep, cute highland calves.

Highlander at Belsay. Recently re-opened, nice meal. Service slightly disorganised.

Walkers, December

Pause on the hills

Ruined Chapel

Cross Country

Invisible Stile

Sole Tree Art

Needing a Haircut

Deneholme Wood

Howling

Blackett Level Sign

Phantom Stag

Stag Information

Robbie

Dr. Who's Arch Enemy!

Not just any old Phone Box!

Merry Christmas