August

Route

	Walk Leader		Carol
	Route		Newbiggin-on-Lune - Smardale Viaduct – Smardale – Smardale Bridge. Evelyn and Carol returned to Newbiggin by direct route. The rest returned via Ravenstonedale and Greenside.
	Weather		Bright and sunny, occassionally cloudy and a cool breeze.
	Walkers		Carol, Ashley, Bernie, Michael, Michelle, Ron, Sandy, George B and Evelyn
	Excuses		Alyx - theory driving test (passed!) Beth - finishing a Harry Potter book
	Comments		Good turn out. Carol’s timing was immaculate throughout. Lost after 5 minutes –did not know which way to turn – had to go through fierce gates. Old railway line covered in flowers, lots of butterflies, which were positively identified by Carol as a “thingie” (probably a Scotch Argus). Interesting information board with nice diagrams and pictures, several of which we photographed. We were in limestone country – saw a disused limestone kiln and large quarry. Encountered two amazing viaducts. One had 14 arches and had been designed by the engineer who built the first Tay Bridge. Had lunch under the second viaduct on the Settle and Carlisle line. Sandy found a corpse on the railway embankment, which turned out to be a sheep. Two trains passed while we were having lunch on some logs. Walked over an old railway bridge with a water slide at the side and passed the site of a train crash in 1959, the debris from which had not been cleared until 2004. Smardale had some lovely houses, including a farmhouse with turrets and a finely converted railway station. Saw four minature horses in a field – very friendly. After several decades of walking we still struggle to tell the difference between a sheep, a calf and a large stone. Met a cyclist with a spare tyre and repairing first puncture in three days. Our second break was at Smardale Bridge, a lovely pack horse bridge known locally as the “Countie” bridge because sheep were counted through its narrow gangway. Evelyn and Carol headed straight back to the cars via a teashop, while the rest of us walked to Ravenstonedale. Met an old couple just past Smardale Bridge who followed us to the village, the old lady complaining that it was not the first time that she had been misled by her husband. Arrived in Ravenstonedale to find that we just missed the American tennis tournament. Walked through this attractive village with its large graveyard and had a drink at the Black Swan. Sandy bought a comb and Bernie bought some stamps. Bernie was devastated to find out that the West Brom vs Newcastle match was on the television and she had not recorded it. Returned to Newbiggin via Greenside encountering a troublesome heifer and a friendly ancient cat en route. We walked 9.4miles at an average speed of 2.5mph. We were on the move for 3.47h and stood still / sitting for 2.42h, giving an overall speed of 1.4mph. Wildlife: Butterflies: Cabbage white, Scotch argus, Northern argus, painted lady, possible tortoiseshell and peacock. Birds: Swallows, swifts, buzzards, herons, kestrel. Flowers: Great burnett, scabius, two types of thistle, two types of orchid, raspberries, lots of rowan berries – sign of a bad winter to come ?
	Meal
	Meal		South Causey Inn by Tanfield Lea. Large main courses. Friendly service.
	Photo Gallery		Gate with style