February

Ken

Barnard Castle – (Teesdale Way) along the south bank of the river Tees to Cotherstone via Towler Hill. Returned along the north bank of the river via Low Shipley and West and East Holme House - approx. 10 miles.

Wall to wall sunshine from start to finish. Warm in sheltered spots for time of year.

Ken, Diane, Michael, Michelle, Ron, Sandy, George, Ashley, Bernie.

Richard - on business

Comments

The walk was delayed until March 1st because of poor weather in February, but worth the wait. The walk was well navigated although longer than expected (10 miles vs. 8.5). The going was very muddy in places - our boots were covered in mud.

We passed the impressive remains of a stone railway viaduct. There was a stainless steel osprey in the middle of a small pond – perhaps to protect the fish from real birds. We also saw a small herd of belted Galloway cattle in a field.

We took our lunch under some trees – interrupted by a flock of nosey sheep.

There was an impressive display of crocuses in a garden at Cotherstone. We spied a blue plaque on a house in Cotherstone, marking where Hannah Hauxley stayed from 1998 to 2018. A man was up a ladder at the Fox and Hounds painting the fox while the painted hounds stretched up the bottom of the ladder to try and reach it. The path we walked along the north side of the river as we retuned to Barnard Castle was very up and down. One field had a lot of gambolling lambs, who were very interested in us. There were lots of dogs and walkers.

There were Victorian toilets in the basement of Barnard Castle, renovated in 2012. On the return journey we saw large herd of deer as we passed Raby Castle, several of which were white.

Wildlife:

Goosanders (male and female), mallards, buzzard, two magpies, heard oystercatchers. Two grey squirrels. Deer.

Oli and Joe’s Italian Restaurant in Westerhope. Joined by Dorothy, Evelyn and Richard. Nice meal.

Old railway bridge to nowhere

Sandy with a helping hand

Walkers minus one

Bernie and Michael decipher the stone

Metal osprey

Jack Scare Pool

Hannah Hauxwell Plaque

Fox and Hounds

Finger post