Another week, another walk! This time it’s a re-visit to the Washburn Valley, last seen BC, by four musketeers of the ERDG.
A discouraging start with conflicting weather forecasts suggesting either a wet morning, clearing up after lunch (Boo!), or a clear morning, deteriorating about lunchtime (Hurray!).
The actuality was good, with the highlights (or me) being:
The solid navigational advice provided by David P, our resident SPAD (advice but no responsibility)
Seeing a flock of Herdwick sheep – don’t they look lovely, and so hardy!
A stroll over the fields downhill towards the valley – fabulous views to get absorbed in
A few boggy streams to navigate – a leap here, a stumble there, a slightly damp boot resulting
The lovely Dob Park packhorse bridge, 17th century apparently, with some repairs in the 18th century – an example apparently followed by Harrogate Borough Council with our roads?
A true boggy bit – the first time for quite a while – when it’s touch and go whether the boot comes out or just the leg
An outstandingly messy looking farm area, with ancient, recent and modern farm equipment scattered around, steadily rusting
A Wild West encounter with a farmhand on a quad bike attempting to round up and direct a group of frisky heifers. The result, a close encounter of the herd kind, with the ‘cowboy’ commenting that ‘we must have had our lives flash in front of our eyes’. Yes!
An energy-sapping climb uphill across the largest field you’ve ever seen….
A flock of different sheep, Texels I believe, busy munching the grass, as they do
Finally, an excellent lunch at Timble Inn – a tasty and light fish platter, to round off a lovely morning.