Bluebells, ramsons, and mountain pansies

For a while we've been saying that we should make more use of our National Trust membership, and today decided to go down to Allen Banks, near Hexham. We had a lovely afternoon walking on some of the way-marked paths. First a woodland walk up quite a steep, rocky path to Morralee Tarn. Then through the woods by the river as far as Plankey Mill, where we crossed the footbridge to walk back to the car park.

It's a really magical place, especially at this time of year, with wild flowers in profusion - bluebells, ramsons, mountain pansies (extra), primroses, wood sorrel, wood anemones... the list goes on and on. Lots of birds flitting round in the trees too. It was an 85-mile round trip but worth it, and we're already planning to go back to do a longer walk to Staward Gorge.