Cheviot wander

Recently I have had the privilege of a few wee wanders with Mick, a nearby neighbour and keen walker. He has three three pooches that require daily walkies and I have tagged along on a few of these dog walking forays. Normally I am a dogless pedestrian, a walker with no panting, faithful hound to keep me company! What have I been missing all these years? A kindly invite from Mick to join him has allowed me a glimpse into the workings of of the dog walking folk. Most of these people are a friendly bunch. Ditto the dogs, with much sniffing and tail wagging, ( the dogs, not the humans) they greet each other. Size and breed are no deterrent.

Mick had proposed a day walk in the Cheviots. On the drive up heavy showers of rain made things appear a tad daunting. However, on parking up close to Clennell, the rain eased and we were blessed with a day of walking in dry conditions. Mick's two smaller dogs were not up to a full day of walking. Bobby though was a dog of boundless energy and was keen to supervise these two humans as we wandered up the valley.

 For a time we followed the river Alwin and then struck off to follow a number of forestry tracks. Wildlife was plentiful. Herons, buzzards and kestrels, roe deer bounding up the hill. We had no particular plan in mind and where content to meander wheresoever our footsteps led us. Bobby was a doggy dynamo, busy exploring all and sundry and yet keeping an eye on his human companions.

Rather than take a direct route back to the car we took to a bridleway that ran high above the valley. A delightful walk.

All in all we had a pleasant day of walking. We finished the day with a brew on Mick's jetboil. Thank you Mick for the company, thank you too Bobby for keeping a watchful eye on your two wayward charges.

Hodge podge

Recently, between trips, I have been attempting to walk on a daily basis. Usually it averages from a minimum of around a couple of miles to a more usual round of four to five miles. Rather than rabbit on about the trivia of daily doings, a few photos may suffice to offer a better story.

 A walk around Amble and the surrounding coast.

 A rather infested field of wheat.

A youf training ship in Blyth harbour.

Folks up the rigging.

Fishing coble, Druridge bay, walkies with Mick, an interesting gent with three lovely hounds.

A day walk with Mike and intrepid hound Lucky.

Interesting rock formations. Again, on a day walk from Alnwick with Mike.

Mike, trying his cragging skills?

Contorted rock formations, Cloudy Crags.

There is something perversely exhilarating about walking along the tide line, despite the wetness, rain and wind. The roar of the surf, the waves crashing on the beach  can be quite thrilling, odd??

Long Crag round

Initially I had been looking at getting away for a few days. However, the forecast was for a low pressure system coming in from the north. Rain, low temperatures and wind had been on the menu.
Thus this really was just a prolonged day walk.
Came up on the Monday afternoon. Walked from Wooler over to Carey Burn bridge. From there turned on to the Middleton Old Town path and then swung off up toward Brands Hill. The path skirts around it joining a track that comes up from the valley. Saw a hare close by, he was a big lad too. Camped a bit further on. Just in time with wet, drizzly wet stuff drifting across the hill.

It rained for most of the night. At times it was heavy, accompanied by a blustery wind. The worst of rain had passed by morning. Bands of mizzly dampness came sweeping though during the early part of the day. Hardly enough for waterproofs, enough to makes thing quite damp

 Came over by Langlee Crags, on to Long Crag and back to Housey crag. Dropped down to the valley and then back up by Hausen Burn and over to Broadstruther. Things had somewhat cleared up by the afternoon and I was content to sit and have a prolonged lunch break.

A couple of folk who come up by the Carey Burn stopped to ask for help. They had a printed route sheet that, to put it mildly, was confusing. Put them on the right direction back over the hill to their car.

It was then a gentle amble back over to Wooler Common where I camped prior to catching the bus in the morning. Heavy rain during the night and wet, misty stuff by morning.
Overall it averages out at roughly 13 to 14 miles of walking. A few uphill bits to improve my uphill ability a tad?

A few more photos.