Date: 31st January 2017

Route: Barnard Castle - Whorlton - Barnard Castle

Distance: - 9.1 miles

Weather: - Misty

So our first walk of the new year and despite the poor weather forecast (rain!) I made my way to Barnard Castle and Bob's gaff. After a couple of hours work related stuff we looked out the window and decided to chance a walk.
So at 12pm with a light drizzle we left Bob's and walked through the town and onto the Demenses. The ground wasn't as bad as we expected other than where dog walkers or sheep had churned it up and we headed along the river Tees towards Abbey Bridge.

Tees in full flow

Lime Kiln

Footbridge

It wasn't long before the drizzle stopped but the mist was hanging around as we crossed the road and continued along the river towards Whorlton. The Tees was in full flow and the roar of the river was a continual background noise.

Misty Sheep

As with most of our walks the conversation started with a preview of the latest Hull FC team and their chances of success for the coming season. It wasn't long before talk turned to the soap opera that is Donald Trump and that quickly put a smile on our faces - thank god we aren't American!

We mad good time and by 1.50pm we had reached Whorlton. We stopped en-route to the bridge for lunch with a great view over the river with the suspension bridge below us.

Lunch break

Whorlton suspension bridge

Whorlton suspension bridge

Feeling suitably refreshed we descended down to the bridge and crossed the Tees. I have to say if you haven't seen it then Whorlton suspension bridge is quite impressive.

Tees from Barney

Tees towards Darlo

We entered a series of fields and headed back along the other side of the river bank heading towards Mortham Towers. 

Mortham Towers

It wasn't long before we entered their grounds and followed the road out to a bridge over the river Greta at a point known as the Meeting of the Waters - where the Greta joins the Tees.

Greta joining the Tees

River Greta

After stopping for a few photos we followed the road out and then headed into the woods and along the riverbank towards Abbey Bridge.

Stepping Stones

Wind damage

Abbey Bridge

A slippy climb up the muddy path and we then had a short walk along the road, past Egglestone Abbey and then into another field heading towards the caravan park. A short walk amongst the caravans and we were back along the riverside. We had seen a bit of wildlife this time around - Heron's, Dippers, a tree-creeper and Goosander.

Egglestone Abbey

River Tees

Green Bridge

Crossing the Green Bridge, we walked back up through Barnard Castle arriving back at Bob's at 4pm. A great walk out, with plenty of sights - beats sitting in the house!

Silence isn't Golden

Date: 25th November 2016

Route: Mickleton - Romaldkirk - Cotherstone - Lartington - Barnard Castle

Distance: - 8.2 miles

Weather: - Bright, sunny day

Who would have believed that at the end of November the sun would be out in a blue sky with an absence of wind, rain and clouds!

So this walk we decided to get the bus to Mickleton and walk back so I headed up to Bob's to catch the 10.55am bus from Barnard Castle to Mickleton. A short ride and we were walking by 11.15am, after a short walk up the road to join the railway track.

Dusting of snow on the tops

Fabulous views

Sunglasses in November!

The weather was glorious and we both commented on how lucky we are to have this scenery on our doorstep.

By 12..00pm we had covered 2 miles and hit Romaldkirk. As always we had the obligatory talk covering Hull FC's new kit, their squad numbers and the introduction of Toronto Wolfpack, a team from Canada playing in the lower leagues!!

Seat with a view

.... and what a view of Egglestone

Frosty in the shade

In between our conversations we both commented on how quiet it was, there was no noise, no sounds of wildlife, nothing. It was a bit surreal and initially I thought it was my hearing which was suffering from attending a Limehouse Lizzy concert the night before!!

At 12.30pm we found a bench and stopped for lunch, again straining to catch a sound of something, anything!

Tea up

At 1pm we set off along the railway track, noticing that even the sheep were quiet. We passed through Cotherstone, our only deviation off the railway track. I regained Bob with my tales of my visit to see Sunderland thrash Hull City at the Stadium of Light (ironically plunged into darkness due to a power cut!).

We hit Lartington next, crossing the road to rejoin the railway track to Barney. The only muddy bit of the walk, everywhere else being firm underfoot with frost.

View down from the viaduct

The viaduct

Back on the track

As we arrived at the edge of Barney we followed the river along up to the castle - I never tire of this view. There was even some colour still left in the trees and great reflections in the river.

Last Autumn colours

The Tees

The only noise we had heard all day was a solitary motorbike passing by and the river Tees itself.

The weather had been so nice we even forgot about our usual Victor Meldrew moan about the state of the country!

Almost home

What a view!

Barnard Castle

A great day out and beautiful 3 hours walking in fantastic weather with gorgeous scenery.

Walking backwards

Date: 19th November 2014

Route: Stanley Crook - Waterhouses - Ushermoor - Bear Park - Ushermoor - Waterhouses - Stanley Crook

Distance: - 16 miles

Weather: - Overcast, showers, sun

Another 10am start and drive (with the hounds) to Stanley Crook to start our walk where we normally end it. It felt a bit odd walking the route backwards and daft as it sounds you see the same sights differently - it certainly messed with my OCD mind!!

The conversation as always began with rugby and our hopes for a new season, the good thing being the announcement of the Magic Weekend in Newcastle.
We also had a gig at a business conference in Newcastle where we had agreed to do a talk on Business Improvement. Unfortunately in some fit of madness we had decided to make it an interactive session and do some role play / acting so our minds were working overtime trying to sort out how that would work!

What was surprising was the lack of wildlife observed on this walk, normally we see the usual birds and the odd surprise but we struggled this time to see anything.

We stopped for lunch for half an hour at the picnic tables at Bear Park before beginning the walk back, conversation must have been good as I never actually got round to taking any photo's on this walk!

We arrived back at the car for 3.30pm, a most pleasant if what uneventful walk.

Butterflies and caterpillars

Date: 16th July 2014

Route: Bishop Auckland - Hunwick - Willington - Brancepeth - River Wear - Hunwick - Bishop Auckland

Distance: - 15 miles

Weather: - Warm, Humid & Sunny

What a glorious Summer we have been having and yet another fantastic day for a walk. Bob drove over to mine and we loaded the dogs into my car and drove the short distance to the viaduct car park. From here we headed along the railway track to Hunwick and eventually Willington, dogs in tow. 

The main topic of conversation as always was Hull FC’s performances. Another season the had promised sooooo much and again failed to deliver. Still, being the optimists we FC fans are we focused on the excellent development of our young players and convinced ourselves that next season would be “The One”!

Bob was also happy as his daughter had fixed a date for her wedding so I took great delight in reminding old Ebineezer of the extortionate costs of weddings!

Despite my winding him up I still had an invite to his brother-in-laws BBQ which was billed as “The not-to-be-missed Event of the Year”. Beer was free so I was sold from that point onwards!

We soon found ourselves at Brancepeth and Bob graciously allowed us a 10 minute pitstop to water the dogs and grab a banana. Then it was back up along the railway track before branching off towards the river Wear.

With all the good weather, sprinkled with a bit of rain, the local flora had really benefitted. We were blessed with a plethora of gorgeous flowers which in turn attracted the butterflies. We hit one field where the thistles had really took off and the surrounding air was alive with numerous species of butterflies - I’d never seen so many.

We found a nice spot by the river and stopped for lunch. The dogs were well knackered by now, little knowing how much further we still had left to go!

After a pleasant 30 minute break we resumed our walk along the river noticing how some particular plants were alive with caterpillars - that explained all the butterflies!

As the riverside path ran out we climbed up and away and re-joined the railway track at Hunwick and 20 minutes later arrived back at the car.

This was without doubt the best walk we’d had this year.

(NOTE: Once home the dogs never moved all afternoon / evening and had to be forced to go out for their evening walk!)

Unleash the Hell Hounds

Date: 20th June 2014

Route: Barnard castle - Cotherstone circular

Distance: - 8 miles

Weather: - Hot & Sunny

The timing of this walk was based around the two latest additions to the Dennis household. I’d lost my Springer Spaniel, Jess, to cancer at the beginning of the year but after a couple of months of mourning (and not just us but Cass the Westie also) had decided to get another puppy. So welcome to Amber my German Short-haired Pointer and her pal, Ella, the Floodle! I know what the hell is a Floodle? - A Poodle crossed with a Flat-haired Retriever (my wife loves to be different).

So this was their first walk out with us and I’d brought Cass along as well as even at 12 years old she was fit and I thought might show the other two how to behave!

So after driving to Bob’s and unloaded the dogs we walked through Barney down to the river to begin our walk through the forest and along the river. Once again we were blessed with a glorious sunny day and there is no better place to be when everyone else is working than in the great outdoors! We gained some height, climbing up above the river and heading towards the couple of farms that lay on our route. 

An interesting experience man-handling the dogs over a style, particularly given Bob had recently undergone surgery on his arm and wasn’t supposed to do any heavy lifting! Then through a field of cows which again posed a challenge for the hounds and us! 

Having negotiated our way through farmland we hit the river trail again and began our descent towards the Cragg and a well earned rest. we found a seat and broke out our lunch while the dogs collapsed in the shade.

The regulation Garton 15 minute lunch break was back but little did I expect the surprise he sprung on me. As we packed up our bait and began the walk into Cotherstone, Bob suggested a stop for a pint - didst mine ears deceive me! Was this the medication affecting his judgement? Not one to miss an opportunity we hit the beer garden at the back of the pub and partook of a well earned drink. This also allowed us some time to review FC’s season (which could be summed up as “pants!”) as again the dogs had collapsed in a heap.

All too soon it was time to leave and begin the walk back. We headed through Cotherstone and picked up the railway track. Some coaxing of the dogs was required as they had passed their previous best for distance (though Cass was still going strong!).

We followed the railway track back to Barney - another cracking walk and a good run out for the dogs who got to experience cows, styles, sheep & beer gardens!