Signs of Spring

Date: 8th March 2012
Route: Barnard Castle - Cotherstone Hag - Egglestone - Romaldkirk - Railway line back to Barnard Castle via Cotherstone & Lartington
Distance: - 13 miles
Weather: -Bright & sunny

We left Bob's at Barnard Castle and headed up past GSK to the golf course before heading off up a lane towards some farm houses.

Raby estate farm buildings

From there we headed across fields making our way slowly towards the river Tees and Cotherstone. For once we were both in a good mood concerning rugby. FC had made an impressive start to the season not only gaining results but playing well into the bargain - it had been a long time coming!

One of many small bridges

It wasn't long before we caught sight of the river and we descended down towards the Hag at Cotherstone.

From here we climbed back up through a caravan park heading towards Egglestone. The weather was improving with glimpses of sun as we navigated back down to a path near the river at Egglestone. Finding a bench on the front of a hut we stopped for lunch in the sun. We were visited by a colleague from GSK who was out walking her 3 sheepdogs. One being incredibly "friendly" and attempting to remove our bait from our hands, rucksacks & pockets! Fending off the unwanted attentions we finished lunch (a leisurely one by Bob's usual 15min standard!) and headed back towards Barney. To our delight (!) the fields had been covered with a generous coating of fresh manure; just what you need to aid the digestion!

Bob negotiating the dung

We headed across the fields to pick up the railway line that would take us back to Cotherstone and on through Lartington and finally Barnard Castle

Bob 'mincing' over another bridge

Everywhere around us where signs of Spring as the warmer weather had started to bring out the flowers and the greenery on the trees & bushes.

Signs of Spring - Snowdrops

Fungi

Finally with the sun shining we completed what was a good walk in glorious conditions.

Barnard Castle bathed in sun