Ron

Allendale – Housty – Stone Hall – Catton – Old Town – Oakpool – Isaac’s Tea Trail - Allendale

Overcast and dry, not as cold as anticipated.

Ron, Sandy, George, Michael and Michelle.

Ashley - celebrating his birthday with a fancy meal in Yorkshire with George G and Bernie.

Olwen - in Wales.

Evelyn - still recuperating.

Carol - shopping for wedding outfits in Harrogate.

Comments

Michael and Michelle had toasted teacakes in the tearoom in the square at Allendale before start. Everyone arrived early.

There were lots of stiles, many of them made of stone and well camouflaged against the surrounding stone walls. One stone still was also a bridge over a small stream.We twice met a friendly postman called Tom in his van, and also spoke to some friendly farmers.

We saw an attractive waterfall in an old quarry. There were some cute and curious calves at Catton. We found at least fifteen golfballs in a field, and a stone dovecot, which had an inscription dating from 1815, inserted into the wall of a nice stone house.

There was a strangely placed display board at Old Town describing an old “bastle” which we had just passed and not seen. We also saw an unusual sign, see picture, warning against vehicular access down a narrow lane.

Our lunch stop was short and slightly breezy, on the side of a hillock. We then walked along the riverside past several attractive houses, crossed “Maggie's Bridge”. The path took us through someone’s cabbage patch. There were several uprooted trees in the river as a result of the bank being washed away by flood water.

We saw a fish ladder under a bridge at Thornley. Towards the end of the walk, we found the entrance to a two mile long culvert in the hillside, which came from an old lead mine. There was a derelict building beside it, which had been an engine winding station.

We retired to the tearoom in Allendale at the end of the walk.

Wildlife/Flora/Animals:

Birds: dipper, fieldfares, female pheasant, tree creeper, bluetits, geese, long tailed tit.
Plants/Trees: lots of snowdrops and some interesting lichen patterns.
Mammals/others: brown Shetland pony, horse, Jacob’s sheep, cat and several dogs.

Nobody was available to go for a meal, but we went to the tearoom in Allendale immediately after the walk.

View

Walkers

Pony

Tractor

Guns banned

On the bridge

Bridge and ladder

Fish ladder

Isaac's Tea Trail

Stone armchair

Old Engine Winding Station