Sunday 22 August 2010

To the North Pennines.












Our celebratory outing today was, as usual, to The North Pennines. For a time we were going to go through the moors to the North Sea, but in the end we felt there would be less traffic in the Pennines. How right we were - there was little or no traffic for the whole day; even the notorious A66 trans-Pennine route was clear.

We set off into Swaledale, then over the tops through Arkengarthdale and into Teesdale, through the wild and wonderful big scenery of Teesdale and over into Weardale. All of this was lead mining country a couple of centuries ago and the villages reflect that in their huddles of old stone dwellings - and also in their names, which all seem to have a bit of a bleak sound to them. St. John's Chapel, Nenthead, Ireshopeburn, Crowhill, Burnhope, Garrigill.

We stopped for Sunday lunch in Ireshopeburn at the same pub on the banks of the River Wear where we always stop. We paused and had a walk near the little station in Alston, where a tiny steam train chugs across to Haltwhistle. We had a smile because the crossing gates closed and several people stood with cameras poised to photograph the little train crossing - but the gates had closed for a man with a trolley on wheels, who was pushing a load of stone across!

We stood on the banks of the Rivers Swale, Arkle, Tees, Wear and South Tyne - all of them so picturesque. On our return we stopped in Reeth in Swaledale for an ice cream and sat in the square and ate it. The sun shone, the skies were magnificent, a lovely day was had by the three of us (farmer, Tess and me). Enjoy the photographs.

##The two butter crosses that you see are at Barnard Castle (where there is also a street shot of the town) and at Alston, which I believe is about the highest town in England.

20 comments:

RedWriter said...

It looks like a beautiful day. :) x

MorningAJ said...

What a glorious day out.

steven said...

ahhh weaver - heart be still. i love this area of england so much and the places you ahre here are etched in my soul. i am so happy for both of you to enjoy such a special day under such glorious skies!!! steven

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

And what a sublime day you had!! Such a blue sky above you.

angryparsnip said...

Beautiful !

What a lovely day and set of pictures.
When Japanese son was studying in England I came over and we had a road trip. I really wanted him to see the parts of Scotland I had been to and we really wanted to drive around Yorkshire on the way back to Cambridge.
We drove around your area and everytime I read your post I feel I am there.
Thank You for a wonderful Sunday post and happy you both enjoyed a lovely day.

cheers, parsnip

mrsnesbitt said...

Weaver - we were in Reeth having a picnic! I think it must have been about 2pm! What a coincidence eh!

Caroline Gill said...

Such lovely places: I love your part of the world! I may have mentioned before how much I like Reeth and its museum (am assuming the museum is still there...). There was a particular sampler that really caught my eye - back in the late 70s.

Heather said...

That was a lovely day out Pat and thankyou for sharing it with us. I love to see wide open spaces and those Butter Crosses are fascinating buildings. You picked the right day for it too - the forecast for tomorrow and further into the week sounds grim.

Captain Sensible said...

A beautful day and a wonderful trip But I've looked several times now and I can see neither castle nor 'Butter Crosses' or any kind of dairy product!

George said...

What great fun for me as well, Pat, since you were in areas that the Coast-to-Coast path crosses. One of my nights on the trek was spent in Reeth. How lucky you are to live in such a paradise.

Titus said...

Lovely photos Weaver, and looks like a beautiful day.

Titus said...

Sounds like one too, by the way!

Penny said...

So glad you had a lovely day, and many more to come.

Gigi Ann said...

What a lovely day for a drive. The sky is beautiful. And the ice cream sounds wonderful.

Lori at Jarvis House said...

I wish that there was a place on Long Island called the "pennines."

The Weaver of Grass said...

Glad you all came along - seems like an hour earlier and I could have met Denise in the square.
As for butter crosses - well Captain Sensible, with the usual awkwardness of the English language, there are no crosses. I don't know why they are called crosses (maybe a later post will investigate) but they are small often octangular buildings in which butter was traded in days gone be. As for the castle in Barnard - well there is a bit of one there but as all those photographs were taken through the windscreen, we were past it before I had a chance to snap it!
Thanks everyone.

Rachel Fox said...

Beautiful. Reeth was our holiday place when my Dad was alive (ie a long time ago!). We stayed in a very basic cottage up above the town....I remember a very steep, windy, narrow road to get to it!
x

Unknown said...

Oh what a fantastic post - and pictures too.

Doctor FTSE said...

Many years ago I used to take the following route from north of Carlisle to Leeds, avoiding A66 and A1
Longtown, Brampton, Alston, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle, (cross A66) Greta Bridge and Harrogate.
This trip - in the early '60s, when roads were quieter - could be magic on a Spring or Summer evening - and GROSS in a mist. Your pics so reminded me. Thank you.

Golden West said...

What a wonderful outing on a glorious day - happy to tag along!