Roadkill Ramble

Date: 23rd August 2012
Route: Willington - Brancepeth - Brandon - Broom Park - Ushaw Moor - Esh Winning - Waterhouses - Stanley Crook - Willington
Distance: - 17 miles

Weather: - Dry and bright

Back from cruising the Med I was carrying a few extra pounds and in need of a good walk out. The great British weather was its usual unpredictable self as Bob picked me up and drove the short distance to Willington to park down a side street opposite the church.
We began the short walk back into the town centre at 9.50am and the Co Op where we picked up the old railway line. There was plenty to talk about, certainly on the rugby front with the usual highs & lows of following Hull FC. A couple of wins including Catalan and a top 4 finish was in our mind. However this was blown away with a whooping at Widnes and a serious reality check. For the third season in a row all talk at the club is about the next season!

Rain + Sun = Beautiful English countryside

We passed through Brancepeth & Brandon and soon arrived at Broom Park, heading on towards Usher Moor & Esh Winning before stopping at our now familiar spot by the river near Rog Path woods for lunch. With all the rain & sun it was massively overgrown and Bob looked like a garden gnome sat amongst the wild rhubarb fronds! After half an hour we were packed up and heading off again through woodland as we followed the river through a series of small towns & villages on our way back to Willington. The size of some of the vegetation along the path was almost tropical in appearance. We had to take shelter as we were suddenly hit with a 30 second downpour before the sun came back out - how odd is our weather at the moment?!

Fern tree!

Wild rhubard trees!

Rugby continued to slip back into conversation as did talk of all the potential clients we have - fingers crossed some of them commit to dates in the diary. The walk had been surprisingly lacking in wildlife, plenty to be heard but little to be seen. We did however stumble across plenty of roadkill, or should that be pathkill!

Mr Mole

Mrs Mouse

We soon came of the railway track to hit the road back to Willington arriving back at the car at 3.30pm. The weather had held up for us and it had been a good run out after another long lay off from walking.

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.

Booze, Birds & Quizzes in Kettlewell

Date: 16th - 18th May 2012

Route 1: Arncliffe - Monks Road - Dewbottoms - Middlehouse - Low Midge Hills - Malham Tarn - Lings Plantation - Street Gate - Goredale Beck - High Lineseed Head - High Cotes Moor - Arncliffe Gate - Outgang Lane - Skirfare River - Arncliffe
Distance: - 12.5  miles
Weather: - Light rain to begin, drying out & warming up by lunch time

Route 2: Pately Bridge - Eagle Hall - Ladies Rigg - Hillend - Ashfold mines - Ashfold Side beck - Low Wood Caravan Park - Corn Close - River Nidd - Pately Bridge
Distance: - 6 miles
Weather: - Dry but overcast

Wednesday 16th: -Once again it was time for the Kettlwell break with the FAC (Ferensway Adventurers Club) boys. I picked Bob up after tea and we drove across the dales arriving in Kettlewell around 8pm. After dumping our gear in the digs (Youth Hostel) we mosied on down to the local pub (Kings Head) to meet up with the rest of the guys and partake of the local sherberts. We returned to the hostel and meat pies & night caps all round whilst listening to classic "Derek & Clive".

Thursday 17th:- After a minor scare when the showers refused to give hot water (subsequently fixed when someone turned the boiler on!!) we headed to Zarina's for a cooked breakfast. Without our regular chef (Dudley the KR fan was away on a cruise) this was the easy option and as it turned out a very tasty one. Fully sated we drove the short distance to arrive at 10.00am in Arncliffe to begin our first walk.

Nathan the Twitcher leads the way

A steep climb soon gave us our height and the first views of the magnificent Dales. Leading the way was Paul Coates with his Smart phone Sat Nav - technology is great.

Bob snr

The drizzle was easing off as we headed towards Middlehouse where we found an old barn to shelter in for the first break of the day.

Mossy Old Barn

Tea up

 
Warmed up after our cuppa's we headed off towards Malham Tarn where the sun was now beginning to break through and warm the day up.

Malham Tarn

Bob snr, Me, Nathan, Bob jnr & Paul

It was during this part of the walk that resident twitcher Nathan began to educate us in the various bird life abundant around us including Oyster Catchers; Skylarks; Curlew; Wheatears; Sandpipers; Sandmartins; Great Crested Grebes and a Raven.
What did confuse Nathan was the cries of Hippo's, Monkeys & other jungle wildlife - all courtesy of Paul Holmes & his smartphone!



At Goreddale beck we found a place to stop for lunch and a well earned rest. Then it was a short climb back up before a long and surprisingly strenuous downhill trek that took around 45 mins and really took its toll on the knees.


We eventually found ourselves alongside the river Skirfare which we followed back into Arncliffe.

Bridge over the river Skirfare

The two Bob's

A shower and chillax followed before we drove out for tea at the White Lion pub in Cray. Food was excellent and well received. We actually dined in the company of celebrities - the original "Calender Girls" had also chosen to dine there. Pretty sure a couple of the guys went over for autographs! Then it was back to the Kings Head in Kettlewell and time for us to partake of the local quiz. Splitting into 2 teams the first round proved very easy with even me being able to answer (correctly) all 10 questions! Several rounds later (and having won a couple of spot prizes) we proved victorious - probably due to the fact that Bob the quiz meister was in our team! As our winnings were delivered both Bob snr & jnr leapt on the quiz master to challenge his answers to the Afghanistan flag & the 100 years war - despite the fact that we comfortably WON!!! Back to the digs for more nightcaps and the creation of a list of all FAC members past and present which had gotten to 70 at the last count.

Friday 18th:- Zarina's again for brekky then back to pack bags and load cars before our final short walk. Left Wharfedale and headed over the top to Nidderdale and Pately Bridge where we parked up. It was a reasonably bright start to the walk.

What you looking at?

We climbed up to Eagle Hall, past Ladies Rigg towards Ashfold mines where we stopped for lunch.

Ashfold mine

Nathan pondering his sightings!

While eating we saw a Red Kite circling overhead presumably looking for left overs. Inspired by this sighting Nathan turned his binoculars on the forest by the river and 'alledgedly' spotted a Woodpecker and a Crossbill though he was unable to offer any corroborating evidence!



Heading back along Low Wood Caravan site, towards the river Nidd - a nice riverside walk back to the car park and a well deserved pint before the drive back home.

Another great walking break in some beautiful countryside.



For more photo's check out the FlickR link:


The Kettlewell gang:
Steve Dennis
Bob Garton (jnr)
Bob Garton (snr) FAC
Chris & Nathan Pickering FAC
Paul Coates FAC
Paul Holmes FAC
Paul Craggs FAC
Colin Hutchinson FAC
John Kendrew FAC

Avoiding the Puddles - Willington circular route

Date: 30th April 2012
Route: Willington - Brancepeth - Brandon - Broom Park - Ushaw Moor - Esh Winning - Waterhouses - Stanley Crook - Willington
Distance: - 17 miles

Weather: - Dry but overcast

After 3 weeks in China followed by Easter and incessant rain it seemed an eternity since our last wander out. With so much rain over the last week or so and lots of flooding our routes were severely restricted. Anywhere over grass would have been boggy and very wet so we decided our best bet was to head out along one of the railway tracks as they would be drier. So Bob picked me up and we drove the short distance to Willington to park up near the Co-Op store and repeat our first walk of the year.
With such a long time passing since our last venture out there was plenty to talk about, certainly on the rugby front - a good start to the season followed by a horrendous injury list (9 first team players out) meant a series of defeats to Huddersfield & Wigan in the league and knocked out the cup by Huddersfield again. Some promising displays from the miriad of youngsters who had been bloodied. Still, things were looking better for our impending visit of Leeds with most of the injuries cleared up.
The paths were incredibly free of puddles though there were plenty of signs of all the rain with the streams, becks & rivers all full and fast flowing.

Small becks become rivers

Fast flowing rivers

We passed through Brancepeth & Brandon and soon arrived at Broom Park, heading on towards Usher Moor & Esh Winning before stoping at the same spot by the river near Rog Path woods for lunch. As usual Bob kept our stop to a minimum and after 20 minutes we were packed up and heading off again.
The scenery changed to woodland as we followed the river through a series of small towns & villages on our way back to Willington.

The village of Waterhouses

Rugby continued to slip back into conversation as did talk of all the potential clients we have - fingers crossed some of them commit to dates in the diary. As we came of the railway track to hit the road back to Willington we were joined by a small flock of Goldfinches who accompanied us for half a mile or so. Bob also decided to taunt a large Alsatian dog through a fence as it tracked us barking at Bob's verbal - though this quickly stopped as he realised that there was an open gate & the dog was in fact not fenced in!
Starting at 10.50am we finally got back to the car at 4.15pm and incredibly the weather had remained dry, though the forecasted sun only appeared bang on 4pm (as predicted) for a full 2 mins!!
A good run out after such a long break from walking. Good preparation for our trip out with the Jolly Boys in a couple of weeks time in Kettlewell.

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

Sunny in Tow Law!

Date: 16th February 2012
Route: Tow Law - Salters Ridge - Waskerley - Waskerley Reservoir - return
Distance: - 16 miles

Weather: -Bright & sunny to start (& finish), overcast & windy on the Moor

An early start saw Bob pick me up just after 9.15am for the short ride up to Tow Law. We parked up in a layby near High Houselop and with shades on set off to pick up the old railway line that would eventually get us up to Waskerley. The going was pleasant and the scenery impressive as we quickly discussed business before turning our attention to rugby.

Sunny in Tow Law - unheard of!

It wouldn't be Tow Law without wind turbines!

Reservoir

 











With FC's game against Catalan been called off the conversation was unusually short on this day. The focus was more on the mentality of groundsmen who "soften" pitches by watering them in minus 7c temperatures, and then wonder why the pitch is unplayable due to frozen surface water!!!! Deep in conversation we followed what we thought was the track only to find our way ahead halted by a large padlocked fence & gate. A trek back up the path (so a mile or more extra walking!) and subsequent review of the map did little to help.
It appeared that our way forward had been thwarted by some poor pre-walk assumptions about public footpaths! After 10 minutes of careful scrutiny we managed to find a detour around a large plantation of trees that would eventually meet up with Waskerley Way railway line. The interesting thing we noticed as we walked around the plantation was the large concrete fencing all around it - why?

"Who put this here?"

Who are you trying to keep out? Or should that be in!

We came to the conclusion that it maybe had something to do with the MoD or perhaps an old PoW camp. By now we were up on moorland and the scenery was much bleaker with little sign of wildlife other than the large numbers of Grouse. It wasn't long before we hit the railway line we had been aiming for and the going should have got easier. However, a constant steady climb up into a very strong headwind meant we were only making <2 mph and with the wind howling in our ears conversation was somewhat subdued.

The Waskerley Way

After what seemed an eternity (but was in fact only 45 mins) we managed to find the smallest bit of shelter and stopped for lunch.

Wind breaker!

As the windchill factor began to bite into our hands we wolfed our scran down in 10 mins and set off back on the return leg. Downhill with a tail-wind we made excellent time. As we left the Waskerley Way and headed back towards Tow Law the wind died down and once again the sun was out - a welcome warmth on the body. Incredibly we managed to get ourselves lost and ended up trekking across a field and over a wall to get ourselves back on the correct path. It never ceases to amaze me how different a route can look coming back the opposite way - why is that??!! We managed to find our way back to the car by 3.30pm and despite a cold spell it had been another cracking day for the time of the year.

Barney or Bust

Date: 7th February 2012
Route: Barnard Castle - Cotherstone Hag - Egglestone - Romaldkirk - Lartington - Barnard Castle
Distance: - 15 miles
Weather: -Bright & Sunny.

A late start (10.45am) this week due to an early morning business meeting in the Nest at Barney with a colleague of ours. We set off from Barney and headed along the river Tees towards the Hag at Cotherstone. How lucky have we been so far this year - yet another dry and occaisionally sunny day.
No surprise that the early conversation revolved around FC and how they seemed to be able to evaporate any optimism you managed to hold on to. Having watched their win against Wakey (and in fairness it was a poor performance) we were then treated to an away defeat to Salford. Every season we manage to lose daft games and this was one of them. Despite all the changes that have gone on at FC we still seem to be playing the same dull, up-the-middle, one man rugby we've seen for too many seasons. Despite this woe and doom & gloom the early signs of Spring cheered us up. Snowdrops, wild garlic and a variety of birds made the walk quite pleasant. After a bit of a climb from the Hag up to a caravan park we stopped for a couple of minutes to watch a couple of Buzzards circling as well as spotting long-tailed tits and goldcrests. We then headed towards Egglestone and a lunch stop. Finding a nice bench outside a large hut we sat sheltered from the breeze for dinner. Incredibly our break lasted nearly a full 30 minutes - though this was due to a dog walker we both knew stopping to talk to us for a while and not a softening on Mr Garton's behalf!
The return leg took us towards the old railway line and back through Cotherstone towards Barney. Like two grumpy old men we had a good old moan about the many inefficiencies we see around us every day; for example the carparking arrangements at the KC stadium. Why do you need stewards to stand at barriers that are down to stop cars entering?! Why is there only ONE bloody entrance in for the 12,000 fans? Why at the one entrance do you need two people - one to collect money & one to give you a ticket FOR GODS SAKE LET TWO CARS IN AT A TIME AND LET EACH PERSON GIVE A TICKET AND TAKE THE MONEY. Anyway with our ranting over we approached Barney and the best part of the day. The sun was out in full force and the Castle and river Tees looked resplendent. Another lovely day out.