Route: Hury reservoir - Goldborough - Cotherstone Moor - Cotherstone - Romaldkirk - Hury reservoir
Distance: - ~12.5 miles
Weather: - Overcast and breezy
Date: Day 2 - 15th May 2015
Route: Langthwaite - Fremmington Edge - Reeth - Arkle beck - Langthwaite
Distance: - ~8.5 miles
Weather: - Bright and sunny, cool breeze
Route: Langthwaite - Fremmington Edge - Reeth - Arkle beck - Langthwaite
Distance: - ~8.5 miles
Weather: - Bright and sunny, cool breeze
So for the second year the FAC boyz travelled from the South (OK, Hull in East Yorkshire but everything is relative!) to sunny Barney for their spring jaunt around Teesdale. This year Bob had picked a route around Cotherstone in Teesdale followed by a short trip over to Arkengarthdale for the second day.
Unbeknowst to me on the Wednesday a few of the FAC boyz had been fooled into a "short walk" from Barney to Whorlton and back so when I picked up Bob and met them on the Thursday for my first walk there where a few aching limbs already!
We drove from Barnard Castle in convoy through Cotherstone and turned off the main road to park up by Hurey reservoir. No Dudley this year, my favourite Hull KR fan deciding a wedding anniversary was more important than trading abuse with me! The rest of the regulars where there: Bob snr, John, Colin, Holmesy, Chris, Ray, Stuart, Keith and of course Gadget-man!
Leaving the cars at 9.30am we set off away from the view of Hury and Blackton reservoirs, along a track, through a field and began to head for the short climb upto Goldsborough, 1300 feet above sea level. The wildlife count already included stoats, rabbits, goldfinches, lapwings and curlews and I hadn't even got my pen out to record anything yet!
By 10.10am we had "bagged" Goldborough. The views of the reservoirs in one direction and Cotherstone moor in the other where pretty impressive. Having purchased a new phone and not downloading the relevant maps, Gadget man was suffering withdrawal symptoms without his SatNav in his hands.
The descent down led us across the moor, skirting Battle Hill firing range which was providing a constant background noise as first bullets then shells rained down not too far from us. At this point we deided to send Ray ahead waving a white flag, just in case.........!
Continuing across Cotherstone moor we stopped for the obligatory pre-lunch pint bait stop in the shelter of a wall close to Booze Wood farm as it was 11.20am and stomachs were rumbling. I had now added swallows, grouse, wheatear and snipe to the list of wildlife. With the continuing sound of gunfire and shells we finished our 30 minute bait stop and headed back across the moor to meet the main road. Here we lost a couple of our intrepid walkers to the effects of aforementioned "short walk", though it could have been that John and Holmsey were keener for a pint than the rest of us!
The reduced group waded through Naby Farm and it's 6 inches of cow crap on every available surface - the general consensus from all concerned was that if there was an award for shittiest (excuse my french), run down farm then Naby farm would win hands down! The field we came to offered the welcome opportunity to clean boots! We continued through the fields taking care around the cows with calves and crossed over to join the disused railway track.
The reduced group waded through Naby Farm and it's 6 inches of cow crap on every available surface - the general consensus from all concerned was that if there was an award for shittiest (excuse my french), run down farm then Naby farm would win hands down! The field we came to offered the welcome opportunity to clean boots! We continued through the fields taking care around the cows with calves and crossed over to join the disused railway track.
The railway track led us into Cotherstone, the Fox & Hounds pub and a welcome sit-down and pint.
Refreshed, reenergised and another member down (Colin taking the bus back with the other two) we exited the pub at the front and with SatNav Garton leading the way we did a short circular walk to end up at the rear of the same pub - why use the backdoor when you can add some extra yardage to the route!
Heading across another field we again hit the disused railway track and as it was now 2.30pm the second bait stop was called.
20 mins later, refuelled, we struck out across another field towards West End farm which was at the other end of the spectrum to Naby farm!
Our route took us back towards Hurey reservoir and the opportunity to cross it and look down its length. A beautiful walk in reasonable weather conditions ended back at the cars at 3.30pm.
The day was rounded off with a cracking curry in Barnard Castle and a few pints in the local hostelry.
Day 2 again kicked off with picking up Bob jnr and Bob snr at 9.00am and meeting the rest of the FAC in Barney. We drove out of Barney, across the A66 and headed into Richmondshire to arrive in Langthwaite at 9.40am.
John decided to stay with the cars, though I personally think he had his eye on the somewhat elderly eye candy in the village!
The rest of the group walked into the village, crossed a bridge and walked along Arkle beck for a short distance. We then headed off into the woods, beginning our climb up to Fremmington Edge. It was slow going but the views were spectacular. By 10.45am we had reached the summit, passing a solitary Raven on the path up.
By 11.10am, after the group photo, we found a suitable hollow on the ridge to drop into and tuck into our bait. Poor old Paul was having to cut tiny slivers of apple with a knife, presumably because of difficulties chewing his food. Despite my offers to chew his apple for him he continued his laborious peeling, stopping only to empty the weevil from his crisp packet!
By 11.10am, after the group photo, we found a suitable hollow on the ridge to drop into and tuck into our bait. Poor old Paul was having to cut tiny slivers of apple with a knife, presumably because of difficulties chewing his food. Despite my offers to chew his apple for him he continued his laborious peeling, stopping only to empty the weevil from his crisp packet!
At 11.40am we set off along the top of the ridge with a fairly gusty breeze playing havoc with hair (I wish!). Once again SatNav Garton was on form and began our descent a little premature - rather than a gentle climb down a track we ended up picking a route through shale and rocks, clamouring along steep slopes to eventually pick up the aforementioned track!
From here we headed out of the wind and into civilisation to arrive in Reeth at 1pm, albeit via a slightly longer route than planned due to the removal of a bridge over the river! The Kings Arms provided the refreshment and wifi (my how things have changed!) and a well earned rest after our perilous descent of what felt like the North face of the Eiger!
By 2pm we were back on our feet and ice-creamed up we headed along the road out of Reeth and then joined a network of fields running along the opposite side of the Arkle beck. We eventually hit the rivers edge and crossed over a footbridge to retrace our steps back to Langthwaite and the cars.
We found John awaiting us with tales of graveyard visits, deep & meaningful discussions with locals over a pint and having his lunch with some birds he met (only chickens and not the eye-candy he had spotted in the morning!).
We found John awaiting us with tales of graveyard visits, deep & meaningful discussions with locals over a pint and having his lunch with some birds he met (only chickens and not the eye-candy he had spotted in the morning!).
It might only have been 8.5 miles but with a climb to 1500 feet and a descent we all knew we had done a walk!
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