Teesdale Jaunt

Date: 15th May 2014

Route: Langdon Beck -High Force

Distance: - 9 miles

Weather: - Hot & Sunny

So breaking with tradition the Jolly Boys (FAC) decided to swap their Summer camp at Kettlewell and spend a couple of days in Teesdale. Due to work commitments (bad planning on my part) I was only able to make the first days walk and even then only the afternoon part.

However, I duly arrived at Langdon Beck at 12.30pm, grabbed a pint from the bar and sat to await the arrival of the Hull lads. It wasn't long before the first of them appeared around a corner with the rest of the gang snaked out behind them.

Suitably knackered after a mornings walking they hit the bar for liquid refreshment and a tirade of abuse for the youngest person there who could only manage half a walk! After a couple of beers, some dubious exchanging of money (for what favours I shudder to think) they were ready to leave. Their high spirits had been slightly dampened by the Victor Meldrew attitude of the bar man reluctant to top up flasks with hot water!

So off we set heading to High Force, following the lovely river Tees and drinking in the beautiful Teesdale countryside. We soon arrived at Whatgarth Bridge, and began the short but tiring climb up to the tops where we settled for lunch. This has to be one of my favourite views around here and the weather was superb. So out came the plastic bags to sit on, various butties and cakes and another opportunity to abuse the half-dayer! 

From here it was a sort walk back to High Force, which was as impressive as always followed by the descent down to the bridge. Then the killer steps up to the High Force Hotel which had chosen to close its doors - so no refreshment for us then!

To scupper our evening plans there had been a serious accident on the road to Barney and the police had shut it off. The only route back to Barney, and in my case Bishop, was a long detour through Alston. The upshot of this meant I was unable to join the gents for their evening meal (which they had to put back to allow for the drive time back).

So after hitching a lift back to Langdon Beck to collect my car I began my scenic extended ride home. Despite the end to the day it had been another spectacular and beautiful day.

Mincing round Teesdale

Date: 12th October 2012
Route: Bowlees - Dirt Pit Farm - Caves via Ettersgill - Valence Lodge - Langeden Beck - Sayer Hill Farm - Whatgarth Bridge -  High Force - Low Force - Bowlees
Distance: - ~12 miles
Weather: - Dry, bright and windy with some showers later on

A combination of workload, dyer wet English weather and a major house rebuild at chez Garton meant it had been a few weeks since our last venture out. So when our diaries chucked out a free day and the forecasters predicted a dry day we donned our walking gear and headed up the Dales.
Starting at Bowlees at 10.45am in the sun we heade off up towards Dirt Pit Farm. Although the fields were wet the tracks weren'e too bad.

The Dales

Conversation as always started with a review of FC's season which we felt had been pretty good all things considered (made sweeter by Rovers poor season ans subsequent loss of players!). Optimism for 2013 is high - but then it always is prior to the first game!!! Feelings were mixed over Leeds victory over the Wire but hey, Wigan got nowt of note ;0)

Time to check the map

We carried on along the farm tracks into a head on strong wind towards the caves. it was still bright and sunny but the going was made difficult due to the stength of the wind. After briefly discussin Jimmy Saville we turned our attention to putting the world to rights. In particular all the waste we keep observing in all walks of industry. What is frustrating is the knowledge that we could save so many different organisation money and improve their efficiency if they just asked for help.

Flooded fields

Anyway we reached the caves and after a quick map stop we headed across a large field towards Langden Beck. With all the rain we'd had the field was absolutely sodden with not a dry spot to be found. Standing stationary for more than 4 secs resulted in you sinking into the swamp-like ground. The only way to cross the field was to hop, skip & jump our way from tuft to tuft, trying not to stop for more than a second or two. anyone watching would have seen a couple of large blue blobs 'mincing' their way across a farmers field. It was all to no avail as after 10 mins of poncing around we arrived at a gate and track with our feet well and truly soaked.

Who'd want to be a mole?

Langden Beck

Bob @ Langden Beck

We were now on more firm ground as we walked towards the Langden Beck pub (no chance of Bob letting us stop for a drink there!) and then off along the river bank. At 12.50pm we found a nice sheltered spot behind a stone wall were we stopped for a 20 minute lunch break. Within 5 minutes of setting off again the rain came down. It wouldn't have been too bad had it not been for the driving wind which ensured we got a soaking down one side of our bodies.

Looking back down to Wattgarth Bridge

We followed the river to Wattgarth Bridge before climbing up heading towards High Force. The rain and sun were competing to see who was going to win as we began to slowly dry out.

The water falls were all in full flow and and as we descended towards the quarry our path became more difficult due to flooding. Some of the stepping stones across the becks were under water meaning a bit of deft footwork across fence wires.

High Force

We hit High Force which was quite impressive with all the rain fall.

High Force

The paths here were a bit better with less surface water and we made good time along the Tees to Low Force ending up back at the car at 3.10pm.

Juniper trees

 Although the sun had won the battle and we had dried out, our feet were still soaking - thank god for the spare pair of socks in the boot!

Bob heading towards High Force

High Force

High Force

High Force

High Force

Low Force

Low Force

Low Force

A good run out despite the conditions.

Fortune favours the Brave!

Date: 11th July 2012
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.

Low Force

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?

High Force

High Force

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!

Seriously ugly sheep

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.