Route: Middleton-in-Teesdale - Romaldkirk - Cotherstone - Barnard Castle
Distance: - ~11 miles
Weather: - Dry, bright and snowy underfoot
Is it really October since we were last out walking! All those weeks of rain and now a heavy fall of snow so the ground is hard enough for us to walk on - hoorah!
I drive through to Bob's as he has decided on a route from Middleton back to Barney along the old railway lines. The cold weather and snow should make it reasonable for walking.
So we catch the 9.55am bus from Barney to Middleton-in-Teesdale, kitted out in our warmest winter walking gear, and rucksacks full of Xmas biscuits & chocolate! Just outside of Middleton the bus is boarded by a gaggle of older women, one of whom stands in front of us staring Bob out. Am I about to discover some sordid secret for Bob's dark past? After several minutes of giving him the eye she says, in an accusatory tone "you work at GSK". Is that a bead of sweat on Bob's forehead! Alas it transpires that she remembered him from a retired staff trip to Blackpool that he had organised - no skeletons in this mans cupboard!
At the next stop we disembark and set off thru town, down to the river and then strike out across a field knee deep in snow. We pass a farm and foolishly follow a tractor track in snow, deep in conversation. Before we know it we have come to a dead end and have missed our path leading up to the road - Less than 15 minutes and we are lost! The sensible thing would be to head back and pick up the path but not for this intrepid action duo! Instead we climb the steep hill, several inches deep in snow, climb over wall and across another field knee deep in snow. Furtively we nip (or is that trespass!) through a farm to get back on to the road.
Heading up the road we soon rejoin the public footpath and the familiar surroundings of the railway track. It is surprisingly easy going as others have already been along this route and the snow has been trampled down somewhat for us.
The conversation unsurprisingly is all about FC's new signings and their chances of giving us something to smile about over the coming season. After so many seasons of optimism (only to be sadly disappointed each time) this year we are more careful with our optimism - particularly following a defeat to Rovers in the preseason friendly!
The scenery is pretty impressive with so much pristine, untouched snow surrounding the farms and houses dotted along the way.
At 12.20pm we hit Cotherstone and incredibly Bob suggests a pint - perhaps the woman on the bus incident has affected him more than I thought! Still not one to miss on such a rare opportunity we retire to the Rose & Crown, a lovely log fire and a pint.
Leaving the warmth and hospitality of the local inn we rejoin railway track and stop at the first bench we find for our lunch. Yes we could have had pie and chips in the warmth of a pub but then we would be chastising ourselves for becoming soft. So we scoop the snow of the bench, get our plastic bags out to sit on and have our butties and flasks of tea taking in the fantastic scenery. Surprisingly it is not that cold despite all the snow. Back to our standard 20 min lunch break we pack up and head back off towards Cotherstone.
Crossing a field and climbing over a style Bob catches his rucksack on a post and is left suspended in air as he jumps off the style. Should have got a picture of that one! The temptation was too leave him suspended for a few minutes but instead I did the honourable thing and unhooked him.
Crossing the road we head along a somewhat wetter path before finding ourselves with another field to cross before climbing a bank to join the final stretch of the railway line. The gamekeepers has been busy with a fine selection of recently deceased moles on display. I'm still not sure exactly why farmers feel the need to eradicate them.
The final leg of our journey takes us back towards Barnard Castle which we hit at 3.30pm. Back at Bob's there's a cuppa and time to reflect on the first walk of 2013, not that far but with the snow a good work out.
