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October

 

trees

Trees

Walk leader

Michelle (deputising for Michael)

Route

Haydon Bridge – Lees Farm – Allen Banks – Plankey Mill – Hag Bank – Plankey Mill – Lough Green – Deanraw – Haydon Bridge

Weather

Wet and muggy at the start. Rained intermittently throughout but dried up a bit towards the end.

Walkers

Michelle, Ron, Sandy, George.

Excuses

Michael - knackered back

Ashley - knackered back

Richard - injured

Bernie - visiting relatives in Oxford

Comments

Distance: 9.8 miles. Total ascent: 350 metres

The first walk where the leader was incapacitated and his deputy knocked off early due to severe ankle injury and had to be rescued by the incapacitated leader.

It was very wet and clarty throughout as a result of recent heavy rain. The area around the field gates were especially difficult to negotiate – Michelle got her feet and socks wet when she sunk nearly knee deep into the glaur.

We were met by a sheepdog at Lees Farm, where an old three-legged sheepdog tried to see us off the premises. Younger dogs were in pens a few yards away as well as a sheep in a stall who popped its head up to see what was happening. Also there were some rams in a pen waiting to be let loose on the ewes.

We followed part of the John Martin (a famous artist) trail including going past his birthplace. The current owners of the farm were not enthusiastic about having anybody wandering around the premises. We missed the path to the lake at Allen Banks then couldn't find a path through the woods south of Plankey Mill. We walked on a bit before deciding to return to Plankey Mill where we climbed up the steep road to Strother House, and so returned to Haydon Bridge by the planned route.

Many of the stiles were shaky and very slippy. There were some nice views, although the lack of sunshine made them a bit indistinct. There was a lot of water in the rivers Allen and Tyne.

Wildlife etc.:

Lots of sheep, some of whom looked very muscular (possibly Texels) while some of the rams were wearing harnesses with ink pads to show which ewes they had serviced. One poshed-up sheep looked as if it had just come back from a show.
Other animals and flora: dirty cows and a calf lying on its side; stoat, hare, pheasants, ducks, cormorant, possible mouse and a bird of prey just before lunch. Nice pink flowers by the river bank.

Meal

The Swan at Heddon: joined by Beth, Tom, Evelyn and Michael. Nice meal.


Photo Gallery

group

Group

deputy leader

Group with deputy leader

sign

Sign

hotel

Hotel by the water

 

haydon bridge

Haydon Bridge

tyne valley

Tyne Valley

view

Back towards Haydon Bridge

river

River

autumn

Autumn Colours

 

woods

In the woods

cliff

Cliff

flowers

Unidentified pink flowerss

farm

Farm

ram

Ram in harness with his ewes

 

 

 

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