Diane

Cragside Car Park – Tumbleton Lake – Archimedes Screw – House – Gun Drive – Cragend Quarry – Nelly’s Moss Lakes – Timber Flume – Trim Trail – Visitor Centre.

Sunny throughout. Warm in the woods and out of the wind. Rainbows visible.

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

Ashley - having a steroid injection in big toe

Michael - recovering from operation

Ken - unwell

Comments

It was a good walk for the time of year and the prevailing windy conditions. The car park was busy but the grounds were quieter. Entry would have cost us £19.80 each had we not all been members of the National Trust. There was a very polite gentleman at the entrance.

We passed the Archimedes screw before climbing up to the house and going along Gun Drive with its interesting rock formations to Cragend Quarry, where we had lunch in a sheltered spot, surrounded by majestic trees, and we watched the clouds scudding over.

It felt as if there was more uphill than downhill with Ruby determined to drag Sandy and the rest of us around as quickly as possible. The lower lakes had some ice on them while those higher up were overflowing. One looked like an infinity lake.

Our group photograph was taken at the entrance to the labyrinth, with Sandy and Diane scrambling up the climbing frame on the Trim Trail. We passed a party of volunteers burning out some rhododendron bushes.

We saw several engraved stones with profound statements and a small stone monument to a George Thompson, who had been killed in 1944 while serving in the RAF.
There were fantastic views over Rothbury as well as an interesting view of the house from above. We had hot drinks with generous portions of cakes and biscuits at the visitor centre afterwards.

There wasn't much wildlife although we did see a gosander on the lake early on. There were several small cyclamen plants at the side of the path as well as a strange plant which was trying to overgrow the path.

The Snowy Owl, Cramlington. Joined by Evelyn and Michael. Nice atmosphere, and the conversation ranged from getting lids off jam jars to malaria pills. Very helpful waitress. George did not have crumble.

MEAL OF THE YEAR

Cragside walkers

Tumbleton Lake

Past the Cottages

Debden Burn

Iron Bridge over Debden Burn

Convenient Seat

Cragside House

Simonside

Impressive Rocks - with Walkers

Nelly Moss Lake

The Flume

Walkers

Kids will be Kids!

Philosopher's Stone

The Tarn

Second Philosopher's Stone

Sunny Cragside

House from above