Route: Bowlees - Low Force - High Force - Whatgarth Bridge - Ettersgill - High Force - Low Force - Bowlees
Distance: - 9 miles
Weather: - Bright & sunny
With all the rain and poor weather along with work commitments our last walk out together had been the Kettlewell break. With a business meeting held first thing it was 11.30am before we put boots on at the layby near Bowlees. The forecast had been poor with rain showers but as we looked around it was dry and bright with the sun doing its best to get out - our luck with weather was holding out.
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| Low Force |
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| Low Force |
We struck off to Low Force and the swollen river Tees. Conversation obviously turned to rugby and our mood dipped as we discussed FC's continuing run of poor form. Yet again another season that promised so much is delivering so little. A top 4 side now struggling to stay in the top 8 - and worse still Rovers looking likely to finish above us, could it get any worse?
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| High Force |
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| High Force |
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| High Force in full flow |
Having depressed ourselves we stopped at High Force to take in the scenery before continuing along past the mine.
With all the rainfall there were several smaller waterfalls in full flow.
As we approached Whatgarth Bridge we stopped for lunch looking over the Dales and Cronkley Farm. Surprisingly it was a busy day for walkers with a lot of large walking parties out and about. Bob was clearly feeling unfit as our lunch break lasted almost 30 minutes!
We took a slightly different route back after Whatgarth Bridge heading towards Ettersgill trying to avoid the sodden fields where possible. After coming over the most ugly sheep I have ever seen we then encountered a cow who took a very defencive stance with her calf and blocked our way through the gate. Being the brave duo we were, we found an alternative route!
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| Seriously ugly sheep |
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| The Pitbull of the sheep world! |
It wasn't long before we hit the road and then across the fields to High Force Hotel. A pint would have been nice but we decided against the hospitality of the charismatic Landlord (heavy sarcasm here!) and climbed the steps down back to the river.
The sun was out and the walk back to Low Force was a leisurely one with Bob frequently stopping to identify the huge variety of flowers.
We eventually ended back up at Low Force and then the short walk back to Bowlees and the car. A short walk by our standards but just good to get outside in the sun and blow the cobwebs off.
