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January

 

Fields

Route

 

Walk leader

George

Route

Car park at south west end of Derwent Valley viaduct - Hamsterley Hall - Southfield Farm - Bradley Hall – West Billingside – Pontop Pike – Dipton – Hamsterley Hall gate (7 miles).

Weather

Brilliant sunshine and a cloudless sky all day. Very cold although there was some heat in the sun at times.

Walkers

George, Ashley, Bernie, Carol, Ron, Sandy, Olwen.

Excuses

Michael and Michelle - celebrating Michelle's birthday.

Evelyn - recuperating.

Comments

Fortunately ground conditions were generally very firm and crisp after a hard frost, although several stiles were very slippy with frost. Some ponds and baths were frozen.

We passed Hamsterley Hall, a mock Tudor residence. There was a beautiful oak tree in the grounds. The lunch spot overlooking Pontop Pike was sheltered, and we had a nice afternoon tea stop on Pontop Pike in the sunshine, with good views southwards.

There were spectacular views from several points, including the chipboard factory at Hexham, the wind turbines at Seaham, the “robots” on the coast to coast path near Lanchester, the blue Schmidt factory, Stanley, Gateshead and Tyneside. There were several stretches of attractive woodland, including the final leg from St Mary’s Church in Dipton towards the gatehouse (a particularly nice stone cottage) at the entrance to Hamsterley Hall. This path passed Carol’s friend’s house and also close to Pontop Hall, which was built about 1700 and is best known as the first home of the English College of Douai, a religious order expelled from France in 1793 during the Revolution.

We found an information board about the boundary marker stones of the Consett Iron Company. Sandy photographed an unusual road sign.

There wasn't a lot of wildlife to be seen, but Carol and Sandy spotted some deer tracks and we saw a horse and several dogs. Sandy and Ron went back to Carol’s for coffee after the walk. Sandy was mesmerised by Carol’s new fire.

Meal

Bowes Incline Hotel, joined by Evelyn. Large portions of lasagne, and equally large portions of apple crumble and sticky toffee pudding.

Photo Gallery

Discarded

January walkers

climb

Crossing fields

sheep

Tree

S and G

Woods

descent

The way through

Footprints

Lunch

Golf course

Pontop Pike

 

 

Afternoon tea

 

 

sunset

View

Road sign

 

 

 

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