May

Ashley

Biddlestone – Hazeltonrig - Alnham – Netherton – Cote Walls - Biddlestone.

Much better than forecast. Bright and breezy with occasional short showers. Warm out of the wind.

Ashley, Sandy, Ron, George B.

Carol - planning retirement.

Bernie - Family birthday at Garragill.

Evelyn - a bit under the weather.

Michael and Michelle - in Malta.

Olwen - in Wales.

Comments

Ron and Sandy were delayed when Ron’s Satnav sent them down an apparent dead end to Elilaw. The postman directed them on a 5 mile detour when, in fact, they were only the length of a field away from the start point.

There were good views of Simonside. We found a trailer not made by Ifor Williams. Several fields were under plastic. The oil seed rape was very conspicious in places. No need for the walkie talkies.

We met a group of cyclists at Alnham planning to have lunch at the church. There were several nicely modernised farmhouses in the Coquet Valley.

There was an extended search for a suitable lunchspot due to the strong wind. Eventually we found a suitable spot behind some rocks and a grassy hillock that was sufficiently sheltered for Ron and Sandy to do a bit of sunbathing despite a very short, sharp shower.

Netherton is the social centre of the universe, e.g Italian nights, wine tasting and fun walks to Kindlandlee. We passed a house selling naturally pure eggs (whatever they are). We chatted with a friendly old man about the weather and the lack of rain.

There was a tea stop at the Elm Tree Café in Rothbury.

Wildlife/Flora/Animals:

Birds: sparrow, house martins, lapwings, curlew, swallows, buzzard, kestrel, mallard ducks.

Insects: tortoiseshell butterfly in poor condition, which fell apart in Sandy’s hands.

Mammals/others: very dead hare on the road and an equally dead pheasant on the verge. Live hare, lots of rabbits and lambs. Two deer, statuesque bull and some stand-offish horses. Friendly black dog at Biddlestone, Cairn terrier and a large German shepherd.

Plants/Trees: Gentia (blue flowers), yellow primroses, rhododendrons, Californian poppies. Fields full of buttercups and daisies. Gorse in bloom.

Border Minstrel, Gosforth Park – very nice, good value for money.

May walkers

Into the Woods

Lunch

Harden Hill

Wilds of Northumberland

Hazeltonrig

Meadow