Walk Report

The forecast was horrendous and I had been seriously of a mind not to venture out - who wants to walk on a day of torrential down pours! - but given the start of yesterday's 20 mile walk was just over the Pennines, 15 mins away, and other activities were probably going to occupy me for the next few weekends of planned walks, I packed my rucksack accordingly and met up with 12 others ready to brave the elements. I raced up to The Three Tuns (now an x-pub!) just in time to catch the end of Steve's introductory preamble!! This was only my second walk since completing the EBB 100 at the end of May - a year of two very different halves as I suspected it would be. It was barely light mizzle when we set off which was encouraging. Once you're out you manage whatever may come your way. The mizzle did gradually become drizzle and steady rain but to our surprise the downpours forecasted seemed to pass us by. Not that we weren't wet - it was somewhat humid both inside and out of my waterproof jacket!! What was of more concern was the plague of flies brought out by the humidity in the forested areas and where sufficient to discourage me from venturing into my lunch box when we stopped for our first break 7 miles in on the far edge of Hamsterley Forest! The route was a pleasant mix of moorland, woodland and riverside - from Eggleston to Blackton, across Eggleston Moor, through various tracks in Hamsterley Forest exiting at its NW corner (Sharnberry Flat). We crossed the B6278, following the gully between White Hill and Roundhill through mine workings to cross Great Eggleshope Beck and climb up and over Monk's Moor at 565m/1845ft (avoiding the serious boggy terrain three of us had stumbled through in our effort to cross Monk's Moor in 2018 when the DD Challenge took this route!) It is a long steady ascent to the summit of Monk's Moor and as we disappeared in the mist cramp grabbed my right thigh bringing me to a sharp, pained halt - lack of fluid and loss of salts! Donna supported me while Jilly came to apply a flexing technique to my foot to disperse the lactic acid, Peter supplied me with a banana for sustenance (I hadn't eaten at the first stop - too many flies wanting to share my bait!) and to save me raking into my rucksack and Dave a couple of salt tablets. Many thanks, guys. I'd already paused to have a drink to quench dehydration but clearly too little too late and too many salts lost - seems ridiculous on such a wet day but so humid too. Many thanks also to the rest of the group who waited while the pain passed. Not something I suffer from barring one occasion I remember on a hot August of 2021. Ironically it's been a topic of messaging given severe cramp recently caused our ironman, Gary, to pull out of a challenge walk. As I stepped up to scramble over a stone style my other leg decided to join in the fun and have a wee spasm mid straddle - not a comfortable position to be in - but thereafter all was well. On descending Monk's Moor to Snaisgill to our amazement the mist and cloud dispersed and the Tees valley appeared before us in all its magnificence. The sky brightened and there was even a pause in the mizzle. We were soon in the centre of Middleton-in-Teesdale for our 2nd break when I fuelled up well. Also changed out of very damp polo shirt into a dry fleece. Thereafter we followed the Teesdale Way beside the picturesque and fast flowing Tees back to Eggleston. Some spotted a deer crossing to the near bank. It hadn't been the summer weather one would have expected for a walk in July but it was so much better than had been anticipated - an enjoyable ramble, not forgetting the patches of wild strawberries and raspberries in abundance for the picking. The Moorcock was the port of call for our post walk craic and a very welcome Guinness. Thereafter only a 15 min drive home to sink in the bath - where I fell asleep!! Many thanks to Steve and Donna for organising the walk and to everyone for their company and support when urgently required! An enjoyable day was had by all. ( Beryl Massey)

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