June
Route
Walk leader | Lance |
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Route | Coronation Wood Car Park, Harthope Valley (Cheviots). Anticlockwise via Langlee Crags, Middleton Crags, Steel Crag, Middleton Dean, South Middleton, Middleton Old Town and Happy Valley. 9.5-miles with 1400ft of ascent. |
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Weather | The first 7 miles and the last 0.5 mile, mild with cloud cover and sunny intervals. And 2 miles of torrential rain in between! |
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Walkers | Ron, Sandy, Richard, Diane, Ken, Martin, Janette, Julie and Lance |
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Excuses | Ashley - shooting himself in the foot (or back) George and Evelyn - holidaying in Mull Bernie - holidaying in Cornwall Michelle and Michael - holidaying on the continent |
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Comments |
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Assembly at the car park had its moments: Ken arrived from a completely baffling direction - he then mentioned he had first driven down the valley before turning around. Martin dropped his spare wheel on Lance's fingers, which resulted in some interesting language! The ford across Coldgate river gave the folk driving north an interesting challenge. A varied walk, where all the climbing was in the first 2 miles (whilst everyone was fresh). We had the entire walk to ourselves, and got fabulous views of Cheviot and Hedgehope Hills, past several impressive crags - we had lunch at Langlee Crags. Martin tried out his skills as a newly appointed holiday guide for Ramblers Holidays. Large areas of trees have been felled, and Lance recalled one area as knee-high saplings 45 years ago... Given the rain that had fallen over several days we were surprised how dry it was underfoot - surprised, that is, until we reached Happy Valley where the ground was often submerged under inches of water! A lot of wildlife was spotted: hares, rabbits, many curlew, lots of lapwing, loads of skylark at close quarters, meadow pipit, buzzard, oystercatcher, adder. Very young cowlets. Cotton-grass and fairy rings. Muscovy duck, mallards with 24 ducklings in a pond. Possibly a first on a Farts walk, we found a Geocache!
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Meal | ||||
This was to have been Milan in Wooler (fully booked), and then it was to have been Tankerville Arms in Wooler (we booked, but when we arrived we were told that the chef had resigned, and therefore no food!). We then tried the Black Bull (full), and at that point we gave gave up and headed home... |
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Photo Gallery |
Group photo
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On our way |
Follow the nose |
Higher and higher |
Past Housey Crag |
Housey Crag and Hedgehoope Hill |
Hedgehope, Housey and Cheviot Hill
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Langlee Crags (Richard about to see an adder)
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Cotton-grass |
Heading to Steel Crags |
Farts at Steel Crag
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Middleton Dean
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Ducklings |
Through the woods |
Heading to Middleton Old Town |