Meet Report: 7-9 July 2023 at Wooler.

The Walker Walls residential centre a mile or so southwest of Wooler saw fifteen members gathering on Friday evening.  For many this is a less familiar area so maps were out and there was discussion of which length of walk to plan on tackling and in which direction, clockwise or the meet’s organiser Mick’s suggested anticlockwise. The main concern though was the forecast of thunderstorms starting in the middle of the day. To reduce the chances of returning soaked or not returning having been struck by lightning, several decided on an earlier than usual start. 

Mick’s full 52km route from the accommodation went out via Brown’s Law and took in Humbleton Hill (298m), White Law (302m), Yeavering Bell (361m), Easter Tor (438m), Newton Tors (537m), Hare Tor (518m), across College Valley to the Stob Stones (326m), White Law (430m), The Curr (564m), The Schil (601m), Birnie Brae (508m), Auchope Cairn (726m), Cairn Hill West Top (743m), Cairn Hill (777m), The Cheviot (815m), Scald Hill (549m), Broadhope Hill (517m) and down via Harthope Burn giving 2,400m ascent.  His lesser route omitted those listed in italics leaving just 38km with 1,700m ascent. Beyond those two options were a number of shorter outings. 

Rucksacks were packed, boots readied and lots of water loaded ready for a forecast hot morning with strong winds.  Most opted for an early night. 

That night was barely over when at 4am the first to rise were up and off by 4:30.  All went widdershins except the Richards who walked clockwise.  Conrad was alone in requiring the donning of waterproofs in the later rain. So those pre-dawn starts were not really necessary to avoid a wetting though rain did stop both the Test at Headingley and play at Wimbledon.   

Beyond the prescribed routes, Harvey went up Humbleton Hill, the 1402 site of an Anglo-Scots battle described by Shakespeare in the opening scene of Henry IV part 1.   

Carol and John made a 16km round of the Hartshope Valley, Housey Crag and Langlee Crag with 440m ascent in a six-hour outing. 

On the full route, Fiona was fell running and found the wind gusting at 45km/h enough to blow her into a fence.  The heat, sunshine, and wind all presented challenges though the prolonged dry spell had helped by drying out the boggy sections.  Richard started with Michael then soon after they were caught up by Fiona, the younger generation strode off ahead. Fiona was on her own after the Auchope refuge above College Valley.  Steve and Wendy met Fiona on the slopes of The Curr. 

Mark, Michael, and Conrad took the shorter, 38km, route. 

The alternative 21km route taken by Becca, Fliss, Helen, and Mick took in Yeavering Bell’s hill fort (second largest in England) using the main walk route before branching off along the St Cuthbert’s Way path and returning via Commonburn House and Carey Burn. 

Nature provided interest along the way with sightings of feverfew, foxglove, cloudberry, slow worms, lizards, toads, adders, roe deer, wild goats, hares, rabbits galore, buzzards, curlews, oystercatchers, kestrels, thrushes, stonechats, and blackcaps.   

Hilary had been busy cooking at home and arrived with a meal of vegetable samosas with salad, raita and spiced apple chutney, followed by three curries – kochi chicken in coconut milk, matar paneer and dahl with garlic served with naan breads and to finish, lemon tart with fresh fruit and cream.  Sat eating this meal, Carol noticed that five members of the 1980 Sardinian Caving Expedition were present – 43 years on. 

Sunday’s early mist was soon burned off and once the accommodation was tidied up people loitered before departing.  

Once escaped from the packed car park, Mark set off from Halterburn to walk the Pennine Way past the Stob Stones, White Law and Black Hag returning on the alternative lower PW route.  His only real excitement came from dealing with the cows and calves that had settled around his car.  

The senior Smiths, acting on local knowledge, went to Ford to seek out four stone-cut rock art carvings of deer or perhaps goats, cup and ring markings and Roughting Linn waterfall. 

The Richards set off to a Bamburgh campsite for a few days mostly coastal walking. Fliss and Richard were bilberry picking at Hepburn Crags while Fiona strolled up Ros Castle. She later swam almost a mile in Druridge Bay. 

Duties done, Mick parked at the Memorial Hall in the College Valley and walked over Blackhaggs Rigg and Black Hag for the views, then north along the border fence over Steer Rigg and back down by Trowup Burn admiring its butterfly population. 

The centre we used had been converted from two cottages, and is privately run, not-for-profit.  It provided comfortable and well-equipped accommodation with convenient access to the hills directly from the door.  Thanks go to Mick for finding this place and for devising the routes. Also special thanks to chef Hilary for preparing the delicious evening meal.                                                           

Attendance: Fiona Booker-Smith, Mick Borroff, Beverley Eastwood, Rebecca King (PM), Harvey Lomas, Steve Richards, Wendy Richards, Felicity Roberts, Mark Rothwell (PM), Helen Smith, Michael Smith, Richard Smith, Hilary Tearle (V), Conrad Tetley, Carol Whalley, John Whalley.