Day Seven - Walking In The Cheviots.

Having had such a lovely taste of the hills yesterday I decided I was up for a slightly longer walk today and picked a walk from this book.

First obstacle was to drive to the starting point which was not that easy to find as it involved small country lanes, with not so many signs! I did not even try to put it into the sat nav - what would I say a bridge by a hill!

Then started the climb! Up and up and up.

Then in the distance I could see sheep racing down the hill.

It was such fun to watch them, I moved off the track as I did not want to put the sheep off where they were going. But I stood and watched them being moved a field lower down the valley.

As I keep on climbing higher the words of the book come flooding back.

"An easy climb at the start" - mmm this author obviously has not lived in Leicestershire / Norfolk way! Might be easy for him but it's like climbing a mountain for a Leicestersherian!






















OK having insulted the author now time to have a go about the weather forecaster. Trouble is they tend to live in London and seem oblivious to the rest of the country's weather as they were saying how mild it is - but is that not snow I can see - ugh!?

Now I have to be really honest with you all now...... I must have taken a wrong turning and started to become aware that what the author was saying was not matching up with what I was seeing and also what was on the map! Having decided where I thought I went wrong I realised I could still carry on and would eventually get to my destination. But as time went by and it felt as if the sky went really dark, no one anywhere and I began to feel a little bit panicky as to where I was. Now I knew worse come to worse I could always turn around and go back the way I came - but I am a bit obstinate and didn't want to do that. So with a good serious look at the  map and all around me I eventually planned a route to get me back to the correct path. So I never took a picture of the destination as I was still a bit concerned about myself not getting lost. I even left markers on turns of paths so that I would be able to make my way back if I got it wrong(every where begins to look the same) - how ingenious was I? Felt like I was in a fairy story! Once I was totally convinced that I was on the right path I allowed myself my first lunch break.

Just look how red my cheeks are? Then I noticed my lunch box seemed absurd and so far removed from where it came from -  the local Chines take away in Leicester!

Meant to have also said in my gloom I could hear Mr P saying "character building", but I must remember to pack a compass next holiday and learn to use it properly!

The above picture was my lunch time view.

Went past a boundary stone with "SH" on this side and "S" on the other side. Wonder what they stand for?

























Another view, I know the fence perhaps doesn't look that elegant but they are great points of reference - knowing for sure where you are on the map!

It was as I started to descend that I suddenly saw a man - it was such a shock to see someone. Later on I met him on the road and he was busy trying to take photographs of the rare black grouse. Wished I'd talked to him earlier so That I could have looked out for that bird too.

Second lunch stop view.

Then eventually I made it back to the road - now don't get imagining a busy A road this was just a dead end just about a road! But that didn't mean that the views were rubbish. No I had a lovely walk back following a river.

Isn't this such a cute bridge. I also love bridges as well as boats, gingham, books, sheep etc etc!

Me trying to be arty farty!


























Another interesting bridge.

The next picture was what I saw a lot of as I made my way back to the car.

Last view of the walk I promise.

Not actually last pictures yet - thought I'd show you the dangers on these roads!

Now is it two pictures of pheasants in case you're not sure what they are?!
























Golly watch out for those vicious squirrels!

When I got back to our home I thought I wouldn't be able to park - traffic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is about as many cars that drive through the village in a day! Guessing there must be a meeting going on with the local farmers.

I have had the most amazing day and have been blessed with such fantastic weather. I came prepared for rain and being stuck in doors all day, so one of the bedrooms is full of my craft stuff. I have hardly touched it at all. Time for a bath me thinks and give my feet a soak that they are crying out for.

Day Six - Linhope Spout

Having spent the last few days around the coast I decided it was time to head to the hills (Cheviots). As I drive out of Wooler I observed .................................

LAMBS! These ones are a week old. They were so cute leaping and running in the beautiful sunshine. But I hope they can cope with all the weather is going to throw at them - so early.

Having not been into the Cheviots for a while I had forgotten the beauty and almost as soon as I turned off the A697 towards Ingram I was overwhelmed by what I saw. I took about 70 pictures - I just couldn't stop.

Had to park at Hartwell Farm as the road then becomes private and continue to walk along the road to Linhope hamlet. Sorry another picture of sheep - but they were soo funny. They saw me coming and instead of running away they just kept coming closer. I wonder if not many people pass by and they thought I was the farmer with some food?

I saw this trap, but I am not sure what it is trying to ensnare. Any ideas? It's just above a small trickle of water.

There are so many wonderful views and I had the walk to myself. I was sensible and let Mr P know where I was walking to and from.

It's very hard to take a photograph of any falls - they never seem to do the water any justice. I did take a video but sadly I can't load it onto this blog.

This is Linhope Spout.

I guess with all the rain this country has been having has made any waterfalls look good.

Having seen no one at all on this walk, and knowing that Mr P would be rather concerned about me I couldn't believe my eyes when this helicopter came flying right above me. I was thinking I've only been out for a few hours surely Mr P has phoned for a rescue team to get me?

Strangely enough it was only minutes after I saw this that Mr P manages to phone me on my mobile - should say that there are very few places in these hills that you can get a signal.

Then seeing those clouds starting to cover I decide to turn round and head back.

OK 2nd question for you all what is this? Saw a few of them and they were marked by these white poles. Is it some sort of food and if so who is it feeding. There were some pheasants about.

Lunch time. These are always the best picnics when you're out in the cold and have burnt off lots of calories.

Here I am modelling my home made Debbie Bliss patterned wool hat, ears in listening to a nice murder by Anne Granger, my Rohan shirt, regatta fleece and most expensive of all my Paramo waterproof jacket. I've snuggled into the side of this hill, sitting on a rock. Looking at this view, the next two pictures.

Did you notice the dipper (bird) in the centre of this picture?

On my way back home I stopped at a gift shop and saw this bank covered in snowdrops.

Outside the shop they had the Northumbrian flag flying - look at the lovely blue sky - those clouds just disappeared.

I love seeing the start of new life, spring and these catkins are just so delicate.

Well time for me to get my sweaty, dirty body into the bath and start doing some more craft work.

Day Five - Alnmouth to Alnwick

Up reasonably early today as I had arranged to have lunch with a friend in Alnwick. So wanting to make sure I got a walk in before I saw my friend as I know me I wouldn't feel like it after lunch. Decided to head out to Alnmouth.

Shock horror after I drove through Lowick !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We only see these in Leicester not in Northumberland!

Thank goodness they only look temporary! Alnmouth has a golf course by the coast.

I have no idea how these people are playing golf as there was such a strong wind, I believe recorded around 45mph! Goodness knows how many balls they must have lost!

Arty farty picture.

Hard to take a picture of how the wind was blowing the light sand along.

Northumberland is blessed with many many wonderful  beaches. It's a doggy paradise.

Not so many words today - just views of what I saw on my walk.

So much beauty everywhere.

Decided not to walk back along the beach because it would have meant walking straight into that wind and the sand blowing in my face and not wanting to get sand in my eyes so I took the coastal path. Came across these little darlings - snowdrops.

Can you see a tiny bit of yellow near to the centre of this picture?

A solitary crocus amongst the snowdrops.

Boats - how I love them. Made myself a cuppa from my flask. But it was like trying to drink a cuppa on a train. My cup was swaying and splashing around due to wind rather than me moving!

Final sea view for today. Then I went into Alnwick to meet a friend for lunch. Thank you Ms C for lunch and a lovely time of catching up. Where to tomorrow no ones knows not even me!