The Grass Seemed Darker than Ever

We had intended to walk over the three hills that make up the Newton Tors today, partly to admire the view over the College Valley. Though it was fine and still in Wooler, when we arrived at the starting point for the walk - only 6 or 7 miles away - it was raining, very windy and misty on the tops. It didn't take long to decide to leave the Newton Tors for another day!

Plan B. Kielder. MrM drove us there, via Jedburgh, through some spectacular scenery. Coffee and sandwiches at Wauchope, with views of Scottish mountains as well as the Cheviot. Finally we parked by Kielder Castle and did a very pleasant circular walk by the river and up through the woods. As well as conifers there were lots of spectacular deciduous trees in all their autumn glory.

We passed this 'sculpture' by Fiona Curran. Inside the blue palings, she painted the forest floor black, as a reminder that many of England's woods and forests were closed off to ordinary people in the 18th century. The 'Black Act' of 1723 made it illegal even to collect firewood or to catch rabbits in the newly enclosed forests. Anyone caught with their face blackened could be sentenced to death, whether or not they were 'poaching'.
(The weather has taken its toll on the artwork, made in 2016 - the forest floor within the palings is no longer black, and bright green saplings are coming up. An interesting work all the same though.)

After our walk, we returned home via the 12-mile Kielder Forest Drive that takes you through some very remote forest and moorland, and the Redesdale Arms, where we enjoyed a very nice dinner.
A good day!