23rd
May 2010 - Islington Hill, Eggleston Common, Eggleston Moor
(Carrs Top) & Sharnberry Gill
We were
overjoyed when Dad told us that he had arranged to walk with
Uncle Bob, and that we were going to the wild North Pennines to
undertake another foray into an area we had never visited before.
It was an unusually hot day for the time of year but there was a
nice cooling breeze. At one point a shower passed over so Dad and
Uncle Bob put their coats on. No sooner had they done this
though, when the sun came out again. Our start point was the
rough parking area beside the road from Eggleston to Stanhope at
the entrance to Sharnberry Gill. The whole area that we were to
walk are grouse moors and there was much evidence of this from
the feeding trays to the stone tracks that lead to the shooting
huts and the butts. We took the track climbing to the right soon
leaving this to follow the butts, then over rough heathery
terrain to reach the unmarked flat summit of Islington Hill. In
fact the majority of the walk was to be on trackless moor, which
was hard going at times through the rather tall heather and rough
grass. We do not think that this area is much frequented, and in
fact we saw no other people all day except for some cyclists
distantly in Hamsterley Forest. Headed south from Islington Hill
to reach another "road" but struck left to the spot
height of 488m as per the OS map. This is the highest point (by
the OS map, although we have seen on another map this is shown as
485m). This point is on Eggleston Common, but the actual top
(485m) is on the ridge to the south beyond the shooting hut. It
is rather more outstanding but is again a flat top. We had to
again sit on ground for our picture but Dad put the flag out, to
add colour. Walked on down to the fence, which Dad climbed before
we realised that all we had to do was walk along to the corner,
so he had to climb back there. From here we continued down to
cross the bridleway (another grouse shoot track) and then over
very rough terrain - tough walking, to gain the trig point at
Grey Carrs, that marks the summit of Eggleston Moor. Finally a
definite top! Stopped here for lunch. Then Uncle Bob and Dad had
some fun taking pictures of each other holding the flag by the
trig point - what are they like!! We were reluctant to leave but
there was still some way to go, so we jumped back into the
rucksack and and set off again. Headed down, north, over similar
ground find the bridleway. However we got a little too far far
east, and followed the track erroneously to the shooting hut. So
it was more rough walking for a little way to finally pick up the
correct path, and then at the fork we went left and so to the
edge of Hamsterley Forest. We did not enter, but instead walked
the 2 miles or so north along side it to come finally to
Sharnberry Gill. There was not a real path but the terrain was
rather easier going on this section. A rather steep and
precarious descent brought us to the wide stoney track in the
gill. Good walking on the final section through this charming
valley. Now quiet, it would once have been a hive of industry for
mining long ago. The track is another now used in connection with
grouse shooting. It was a good walk and work out over the 11m.
Goodbyes were said, then it was an easy journey home. Dad stopped
at the Coast to Coast chip shop in Kirkby Stephen for a take away
tea.
4th
April 2010 - Monks Moor & Hudes Hope Valley from Middleton in
Teesdale
Walking with Uncle Bob, starting
from Middleton in Teesdale. A dry day, but the wind was cold and
on the tops it felt more like February than April. Our route was
east along the main street, then taking the signed path on the
left climbed a bank up to a stile. Beyond we crossed a pasture
then walked right though some farm buildings and on the track
that led to the buildings of Stanhope Gate. Along the road then
left up the track to Spring Hill and over more muddy pastures to
a minor road. A few yards right, then took the track opposite
over more muddy fields, to leave the main footpath and follow a
route over open fell. The ground was now rough with tussocky
grass heather and bog - just the kind of terrain Dad and Uncle
Bob are used too. This finally led to the trig point at 521m. Not
the summit, but nevertheless we sat on top for our picture. The
views were opening out and we could see distantly Grassholme
Reservoir that we had walked from last time. Now continued
roughly north to gain the summit of Monks Moor, marked by a huge
cairn. There are huge boulders too and it looked like a giant had
been throwing them about. Very lonely and desolate-likely to be
our only visit. Setting off again, walked west and descended to
cross a fence and down to a narrow road at Hudes Hope. Here it
was right around the sharp bend and down to a signed path near
Hudes Hope Beck. Reaching a wall we could not see a stile but
crossing it was a right of way so we climbed over heading on
south, soon joining a good grassy track. All around were spoil
heaps and the remains of lead mines from long ago. We also saw
the entrance to one level. The low wall remains of buildings
provided a spot to sit for lunch. We were ready too, as by now it
was 14.00 and we had not eaten since early morning. Then
continued to pass a long abandoned quarry that we deviated to
walk through. Finally the path descended to a forest road where
we took a sign path left up through the woods on the edge of
Snaisgill Plantation to the narrow road at Snaisgill. Rounding a
bend it was left on a footpath that climbed up crossing a number
of large stone step stiles - these did nothing to ease the pain
in Dad's knees. We felt very sorry for him. This led to the
narrow road we had crossed this morning, where we descended to
Stanhope Gate taking the path through a gated tunnel to rejoin
our outward route and so to Middleton. An enjoyable walk, on
completely new ground for us all. While we sat in the car for our
picnic Dad and Uncle Bob went to the nearby Conduit Cafe, where
we had tea and delicious scones with butter and jam
7th
February 2010 - Pennine Way, Low Birk Hatt, Blackton,
Shacklesborough & Balderhead from Grassholme Reservoir
Our first walk with Uncle
Bob since November, and our first foray together into the North
Pennines. The start was the parking area at Grassholme Reservoir.
Considering the distances Dad and Uncle Bob had to travel, to
arrive within seconds of one another was quite a coincidence. It
was misty and damp as we got ready and raining, but this soon
stopped and apart from another shower it was a dry day if very
misty at times. Underfoot it was wet traversing lots of bog, but
Uncle Bob and Dad are used to that!! Crossing the bridge we
climbed the stile walking the Pennine Way. Crossed the road at
How, then over fields to Kelton Bottom. Cutting the corner of a
field via two stiles it was on by a wall over more damp pasture
to the road to Balderhead Reservoir. Then along the tarmac lane
opposite to Low Birk Hatt, where Hannah Hauxwell lived. The road
leads down by her meadow where she grazed her cattle - now a
protected site. When Hannah lived there there was no running
water or power. This was laid on after she became famous via
Yorkshire TV. The house, since she left, has undergone a make
over with loft conversions, double glazing conservatory etc. It
is right on the shores of Blackton Reservoir. Passing Blackton
Grange Youth Hostel, we took the track left, climbing to cross
the modest rise of Turf Hill. Then using the compass we struck
out on a bearing nearly due west and eventually our objective the
rounded hump of Shacklesborough came into view. Following a
tractor track towards it and finally climbing to the summit with
its trig point and tall tower of a cairn - someone had spent much
time constructing it. This was our first Pennine summit and we
leapt out as usual for our picture and to have lunch. It was cold
up here and very poor visibility in the mist. Uncle Bob now took
a bearing and pointed out where we should aim for - a gap in the
snow on the distant hill. So off we went down the slope.
Immediately the mist thickened and our reference point
disappeared. So it was walk a bit, then take more bearings, to
finally arrive at and cross Beagill Hearne. Then taking a bearing
again we headed for the River Balder and its bridge. Hard going
on this section of trackless bog. From the bridge the huge
Balderhead Reservoir stretched away into the mist. Climbing the
track on the other side and rounding the large Mea Sike gully, we
finally arrived at the parking area, and so along the road to
East Carngill. Here we took the path left, following a cart
track, but eventually striking half left to the boundary wall at
Black Hill. Climbed the stile then down the boggy pasture to the
bottom right corner going ahead through the gate and so to Lane
Head Farm, and along its access track to the road. Then took the
path over Selset Weir. An amazing construction to control the
flow of water in to Greenholme Reservoir. Climbed stiles and
crossed one the muddiest fields ever to the road at Low Selset,
going right to the cars. A cracking walk and great to have Uncle
Bob's company. Then we headed home over the road to Brough - very
bleak and forbidding in the darkening skies. Still lots of snow
piled at the sides of the road - not a place to breakdown
commented Dad.