Day 14 - Chop Gate to Blakey Ridge
Distance today 10.1 miles
Total distance so far 176 miles
After our night at The Buck and a long conversation over breakfast with our German host - Wolfgang, we decided on a hoof up to Round Hill where we'd rejoin the route. What a beautifully warm, sunny morning?! We can't believe our luck with this gorgeous weather.
On the way up the hill past moss covered trees and stones and walls that look more like old teeth that have seen quite some action,
we had a great view of the ridge that we'd walked down yesterday evening and then the eroded Wain Stones on the horizon
before we came across an old cow byre which was too tempting to pass without a quick look inside. How's that for the first 20 minutes!?!?
By then we were close to rejoining the route and enjoyed long undisturbed views in all directions over the moors
Apparently you can walk for 40 miles over heather without going on a road!
It seemed as though we were regularly disturbing Grouse who would walk slowly away from us - pretending not to look us in the eye!
We stopped a number of times to enjoy the solitude and the silence - only occasionally broken by the sound of a passing insect or a distant Wren or Curlew.
For the second half of our day we followed a disused railway line that made for easy walking. Throughout the whole walk today of almost 7 hours, we saw only two cyclists and two walkers. What a privilege to be away from people!?
As we drew closer to Blakey Ridge the number of Skylarks and Lapwing increased.
The Lion Inn at Blakey Ridge is a honeypot - full of locals and walkers.
We arrived mid afternoon in time for us to see some Lapwing and Curlew and do some washing and to hang it out of the bedroom window to dry in the sunshine.
We arrived mid afternoon in time for us to see some Lapwing and Curlew and do some washing and to hang it out of the bedroom window to dry in the sunshine.
The view from our room
Tonight saw a new moon in a clear sky and a wonderful sunset.
At the bar last night we noticed that the walls were lined with photographs of bands that have played here over the years. It was a surprise to see that Back Door had recorded in the bar here in 1972. I'd first heard them on John Peel in 1973 and as a result bought their album - which I hadn't realised until this evening featured photographs of them performing at Blakey Ridge. I used to think of Colin Hodgkinson as a Jimi Hendrix of the bass guitar. Having got rid of all my vinyl LPs, theirs is the only one that I've held on to.
Looks like you had a wonderful day. You hit the good weather on the trip that's for sure. Sunny here too. Worn out this afternoon after more here cutting g a d ither spring garden chores. I was so happy to hear a cuckoo from the treehouse this pm.
ReplyDeleteLove all these photos...particularly of the wonderful variety of birds you're coming across! Any chance of you viewing the Aurora?xx
ReplyDeleteSadly we missed the aurora. Sally x
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