October

Diane

Bolam Church – Mill Green – River  Wansbeck – Middleton Mill (nearly) – Middleton Bank Top – edge of Shaftoe Crags – Bolam West Houses – Bolam Lake – Bolam Church

Overcast, cloudy and cold. A few drops of rain.

Diane, Richard, Ron, George, Michelle, Michael

Ken - recovering from a hand operation

Bernie - family

Sandy - giving a presentation 

Comments

The walk started at Bolam Church, which dates from the twelfth century. In 1942 it survived a ditched German bomb coming through the wall in the aftermath of a raid. The hole was filled with a commemorative window. Evidently the pilot came back many years later to apologise.

Distance: about 8 miles over several poorly-defined and little-used paths. Navigation was hindered by out-of-date maps and conflicting opinions on the route. George demolished a couple of gates but was correct once on the route ahead. We crossed the river Wansbeck over wobbly stepping stones. We passed through fields with lots of cows with very young (and very cute) calves. Many of the cows were frisky and curious. Lots of autumn colours.

We stopped for lunch on an eroded bank of the river.

At Middleton Bank Top we were confronted by a tractor spraying waste silage liquors – very odiferous. We had a pleasant conversation with the driver.

We also had a short stop at Bolam Lake, and a discussion as to why the ice-cream van was pink.

We didn't meet any other walkers.

Wildlife: 2 egrets, a heron, fieldfares, grey wagtail and ducks. Dead Badger. Three well equipped rams.

The White Swan, Dinnington. Joined by Evelyn and Sandy. Good food, and the steak pies were popular.

October Walkers

October Walkers #2

Bolam Church

Visiting the Church

Family photo

Clean calf!

A pair of cuties!

String of walkers

Dinner time