River Tees near Barnard Castle

Ventured out of North Yorkshire into County Durham for today's walk. We walked from Barnard Castle north above the Tees Valley, then south along the Teesdale Way next to the river back into Barnards Castle, then out south to Thorngill Beck down to Egglestone Abbey to pick up the Teesdale Way back to Barnard Castle to complete an 8 1/2 mile stroll. It was along this final section, on one of the quieter stretches of the Tees where this shot was taken.

The woodland flowers were rather special today, dominated by wild garlic but many forget-me-nots, bluebells, wood anemonies,woodruff and red campion. The footpath along Thorngill Beck was a mass of wild garlic, like drifts of snow. Our lunch break was near Deepdale Aquaduct where there were 4 conveniently located benches looking out over the Tees above which flights of swallows were swooping and diving after insects and a pied wagtail was making its way along the boulders. Earlier, one of the first birds we saw on the walk was a dipper, doing what dippers do.

As this was the final walk of the week we celebrated with tea and scones at Penny's in Barnard Castle.Scones weren't anywhere near as good as at The Station in Richmond, but acceptable enough.

We rounded off the day with a  meal out at a very good Italian Restaurant called La Piazza. We went back to the house very full.

The day was marred only by the very cold wind and the total absence of sunshine which would have made such a difference to the day and the photography. Mind you, we had it better than in southern England where by all accounts the weather was appalling.