A Walk for Cystic Fibrosis
Bowness-on-Solway: looking west to Criffel, Scotland, 5th April 2007
Day 6: Middleton-in-Teesdale to Tanhill Inn
I was dropped off in Middleton-in-Teesdale in brilliant sunshine just before noon. I could not have asked for better start to the week - at least, not in this world!
Last week had been good, but this was promising to be outstanding.
I crossed the Tees and made my way to the first point of the day - Kirkcarrion. It must have been almost 30 years since I was last there. I wandered around taking photographs and then realised I'd better get going or I would be late at Tan Hill - I needed to be there by 6.45.
I made my way to the trig pillar on Harter Fell, almost stepping on a clutch of four eggs, curlew or lapwing - I'm unsure.
The first walkers were seen just before I reached the reservoir - two pairs. The firs cuple seemed to be outfor a day walk but the second pair, who wer only a hundred yards or so behind them, looked as it they were doing a major bit of the PW.
The reservoir looked spectacular in the sunlight and I was tempted to stop but knew that I had to make tracks.
I followed the PW south over the moor to High Birk Hat, previously home of the legendary Hannah Hauxwell, and now maintained as a nature reserve. A beautiful spot in the sunshine but it must have been bleak in winter.
I came round the end of Blackton Reservoir and up to Clove Lodge where I had originally intended stopping for the day until I discovered they no longer ran a bunkbarn.
Curlews and lapwings were in abundance as they had been the previous few days and I could also hear skylarks.
The PW continues south over Cotherstone Moor to the A66 crossing. Coming down to Race Yate I saw an adder on the track ahead of me, basking in the sun. Unfortunately, it spotted or sensed me at the same moment and slithered off into the heather before I could get my camera out. Last one I'd seen was about 1978 up in the Cheviots - although I do know where others can be found!
I took the underpass and down to God's Bridge over the River Greta - what a contrast to the mess just a couple of hundred yards away. It seemed such a shame that no effort had been made to tidy it up. A group of four walkers were coming towards me but we took slightly different routes so weren't even close enough to call out a welcome.
I made my way over Wytham Moor to Trough Heads and its substantial fingerpost sign.
Tan Hill was a welcoming sight - I'd first seen it about three hours earlier coming over Cotherstone Moor. I arrived at 6.35 and booked in - what a place! I'd passed it years before but never been in. I spent a very convivial evening there with a good meal and a few pints. I'd phoned Jenny to let her know I'd arrived but the signal was poor and we were cut off after a few seconds. I tried outside but it was difficult to hear because of the wind so I settled for a picture message of the inn instead.
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The Tees eastwards
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The Tees westwards
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Kirkcarrion
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Up at the trig pillar I looked at my route ahead for the day before rejoining the PW down to Grassholme Reservoir.
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Clutch of eggs
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Triangulation Pillar S4279
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High Birk Hat Farm
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Blackton Reservoir (1)
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Blackton Reservoir (2)
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I could also make out Tanhill Inn as the sun was reflected off it - there was nothing else up there so that was what it had to be. It was about seven miles as the curlew flies but somewhat further for me!
The A66 road crossing was disgrace! There was so much litter strewn around I could hardy believe it. Clearly, virtually all of it had been dropped from passing vehicles as I'd seen nothing anywhere else on the rural sections done previously.
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A distantTanhill Inn
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God's Bridge
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River Greta
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Which way, now?
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From the farm, the PW continues along the farm track south west towards Tan Hill. I stayed on the PW rather than following the farm track right to the road - bit of a mistake as that section was the first time I'd got my feet wet since leaving Bowness in the drizzle!
The PW now follows above Sleightholme Beck before crossing over to Sleightholme Farm
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Sleightholme Beck
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Sleightholme Farm
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Tanhill Inn
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