Walk Report

The Castle Gate Steve Foster's hastily arranged Barney Bimble, (for those fans of alliteration), proved a delight, with possibly the exception of the mud - fest along Deepdale Beck, on the return route, where caution underfoot was required and Beryl, regretted the absence of her walking poles. Ten assembled walkers and dog, welcomed new recruit Paul, from Meet Up and left eastward down the Teasdale Way, on another mild January day, via Rokeby Park and the historic Mortham Tower, on the market for a cool £3 Mil; to Greta Bridge. For many of us, we then encountered for the first time, a terrific path, the Greta Way, with fine views and woodland to the eastern bank, via the remains of St Mary's Church, Brignall a Grade II structure of limited amenities. Li -Yang not to be dissuaded from using her camera, captured the pheasant seat at our coffee break and thereafter, we ventured to Bowes Castle and Bowes with its Dickensian connections. We avoided any unexploded ordnance en -route to Levy Pool and the heather thatched farmhouse before a belated lunch stop, as the now cold wind, picked up. Steve assured us the return route was largely downhill and after an initial climb and a bit of stream and bog avoidance, so it proved. We all forgave the Deepdale Wood muddy return, as we enjoyed a well earned pint, in the Blue Bell. Peter Ford

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