Middleton to Dufton
32k of a bit north but mainly easterly travel. A day of two halves.
Initially a fairly gentle stroll along the Tees.
The path to just beyond High Force (Low Force above) is well maintained and makes for a speedy start.
Ironically this is the first day I ended up with wet feet. Gortex can not deal with prolonged traipsing through long wet grass!
If you enjoy wild flowers. This is the time to walk. As well as the meadows there were countless orchids, gentian, tiny wild pansies, ragged robin. The list goes on. Sadly the juniper in the area is diseased and dying. I made sure to keep well away, not wanting to spread to my local juniper in the Lakes.
If I had stopped to photo all I’d still be there now. My final find was the tiny Butterworth. This was up on Dufton Fell. It was used to aid in the churning of butter, back in the day.
The river is left and height gained for a while, only to be irritatingly lost for another river and pasture stroll.
A definite point to lose your sense of humour. Just before Cauldron Spout, under Falcon Clints this section of ancient landfall is akin to Wasdale screes, on a small scale. Big rocks with no path. Not fun.
A bit of reward at Cauldron Spout.
Even better, some nice wide gravel tracks. Not my usual preference, but after the scree.
Soon back to more usual Pennine path on the way to High Cup Nick. The impressive glacial gorge which I’d only ever approached from Dufton before
This was definitely home turf. The Eden valley ahead. It’s still another 5k or so at least into Dufton from here but more or less down
The end of a long day. But for me, a day at home in Penrith before the next 20 miles!