High Force, 28 July 2013

Cumbrian rain had kept many a walker awake at various points in the night, so we set off from Dufton hoping that the Pennines would do their usual trick and keep the other side dry.

As we crested the Backbone of England, we saw that our hopes had been fulfilled, in that it had stopped raining but, even in County Durham, the watershed had lived up to its name and usually placid meandering streams had become rivulets of speeding white (or, rather, brown) water.

True to form the sun came out at Low Force, and we walked to the hugely swollen High Force for a picturesque picnic with a loudly rumbling soundtrack. Very, very, loud it was too - but by the time we'd got there, we'd all almost run out of superlatives anyway!

High Cup Nick, 27 July 2013

Sunshine, and lots of it!  In Cumbria, really?  Yes, really, so on with the sun-cream off to the hills around the left rim of High Cup Nick, past many a frog, to a small chasm with a stream at the top for a paddle at lunchtime.  On the descent, we had the valley to ourselves, in all its glory, which was an even more astonishing luxury than the continued blazing sunshine.

To be able to look back several miles up the valley, to the boulder field by which we'd entered it, was a reminder of what a great single-day walk we'd had - and the relative peace in the pub over dinner was a reminder of the energy expended.

Barnard Castle, 26 July 2013

Up the A1 in loaded jalopies, with the sun shining on our various convoys, to an organic café on the A66 for wood-fired pizza.  Then into Barnard Castle to explore the castle itself, source emergency hats and hedge-chopping equipment, and sup tea.

Over the Pennines next, on England's highest A-road, and on to the rather picturesque village of Dufton, where we found the hostel.  Into Appleby for a few drinks, some of which ended up in stomachs rather than in laps, and so to bunk-beds, giggling merrily.