Ron (for Ken)

Gelt Bridge – Hill House Farm-Talkin – Talkin Tarn – Unity Farm – Gelt Bridge

Very warm, still and sunny. The forecast weather front did not arrive.

Ron, Sandy, George.

Ken - injured knee

Michelle and Michael - visiting friends

Ashley - injured

Evelyn - teaching

Bernie - last days of school

Carol - family commitments

A CD lesson on birdsong on the way over on the car proved to be most bird singing that we heard. Most of the wildlife was sheltering from the heat.

We started walking up through the woods beside the river Gelt – we met several dogs and their walkers including a very friendly four-month-old black labrador. We passed a couple of Roman quarries whose stone had been used in construction of the wall. We walked under the railway viaduct carrying the Newcastle – Carlisle line. The Latin inscription plate stated that the bridge had been built between 1832 and 1835. The sign indicating the footpath that we wanted was difficult to find because of foliage and the footpath went along someone’s driveway and across their lawn before crossing the river by an impressive wooden bridge. Then we had to go through a field with a lot of cows and calves in it, before spotting a large number of cows in another field at Hill House Farm – waiting to go to market perhaps? In the farm sheds were a lot of young calves.

We lost track of the yellow footpath arrows going across the fields and had to negotiate string across the track and tied gates before finding the yellow markers again and coming out as planned beside the pub in Talkin. We had lunch on a seat in the middle of the village and admired the attractive buildings including a red sandstone chapel. After lunch we walked to Talkin Tarn and spotted golfers on buggies. We saw a dinghy capsize despite there being practically no wind. An obedient golden labrador was having fun retrieving a stick from the water. We ate delicious ice creams at the visitor centre. On the way back we were delayed by a train at the level crossing, and were directed back on to the path against the wall by a lady resident. We walked along a pleasant path through the woods which came out beside the Brampton by-pass.

Wildlife:

Lots of ducks at Talkin Tarn and also two swans with four cygnets. Pair of seagulls on fenceposts, bantam hens in farm, chaffinch, wren, dipper, wagtails, a pheasant and several butterflies.

Lots of flowers including pink poppies and pink wild roses.

Highlander Inn, Belsay – nice meal

 July Walkers

By the river

Milestone

Through the woods

Tall trees

Viaduct

Inscription

Cows in the fields

Calves

Chapel

Village pub

Wild orchid

Ducks