The Pennine Way - Day 8
Tan Hill Inn to Middleton-in-Teesdale
Distance 25km
Friday 1st April 2011
When I woke, Tracy had my clothes clean and dry, no smell. I went down for breakfast and had a really
big breakfast. Although some people would find Tracy's manner quite abrasive I thought that she was funny and very helpful.
The guests
where also down for breakfast. It appeared they were only visiting the area to see the pubs that were different and the Tan Hill Inn was just that. Breakfast was
good and welcome, it would be a long day.
It was very wet and raining when I started and it did not look as though
it was going to stop. Walking about 100m on the road I turned North East to
re-join the Way.
 |
| Bye bye Tan Hill Inn |
Crossing a
style The Way continues North East alongside a number of streams. Parts of the track on the Way were very wet
and boggy. The Way then crossed a very
fast flowing stream that was now a river due to all the rain. There was one log across and broken bits of log on the far bank, I guessed at some time it may have been a foot bridge. It was now damaged. I did think about trying to balance my way
across, but with the weight of the bag, the wind and the slippery looking log I
made the decision to wade across the river at the ford instead.
 |
| Bridge and pieces |
The crossing
was not too bad but I did get my feet wet.
After a short stop to change my socks I moved on, my feet were suffering
now.
In the
distance I could see a couple of walkers. With dry socks I now continued alongside Sleightholme Beck. It was just past Sleightholme Farm I caught up with one of the walkers. It turned out they were not a couple
but had only just met up walking this stretch of The Way. The other walker had turned off towards Bowes
where apparently they had planned to stop.
The person I had caught up with was walking the same as me that day to
Middleton-in-Teesdale.
It was
strange walking with someone. It turned
out that she had walked part of the Pennine Way last year and had returned to
complete it this year.
At Trough
Heads The Way now turns North with a sharp left the right turn and leads down
to a bridge called God’s Bridge. This as
the book says, is a huge slab of limestone with a river flowing beneath it. The rain had eased a little before eventually
stopping, for a time.
 |
| God's Bridge |
Turning right
alongside the A66 the Way now takes you under the A66 before turning left
again. I had driven along the A66 a
number of times and did not know the Pennine Way crossed here. Once passed the A66 The Way starts to climb and gently
leans towards the North West. Taking you eventually to Blackton Reservoir.
From Blackton
Reservoir you head North to Grassholme Reservoir. After a couple of km The Way turns North East
to Middleton-in-Teesdale. At
Middleton-in-Teesdale I pitched my tent at the Dale View Caravan Park. After sorting myself out I went and had a
meal at one of the hotels.
Returning to
the campsite I called into the camp bar for a couple of shandies before going
to bed. It was full of people who I
guessed came to the campsite every weekend.
They all had their own places to sit, and everyone knew each other and
what numbers they wanted on the bonus ball.
Anyway after my shandies I went off to bed.
More to follow.
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The Pennine Way or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
Follow link to previous - Day 7 Hawes to Tan Hill Inn
Follow link to next - Day 9 Middleton-in-Teesdale to Dufton
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