Leader Paul reports

The promise of sunshine and showers brought the prospect of a good day’s walking and so it turned out with two short periods of mizzle before lunch. One heavier shower just after the restart meant as soon as macs were on they were off again…followed half an hour later by a ten minute downpour! For the rest of the walk it was warm sunshine with a refreshing breeze.

At 8.30 it was just Derek, Roger and I that Mary set off. We left Brampton across the fields and continued down the road to cross the old Bridge into Lanercost, turning right along the river Irthing with the Priory over the field to our left. Our route now followed the valley using the footpaths and roads, passing Comb Crag and waterfalls just before Lanerton. A fairly long road section next before the final few fields took us into Gilsland. A section along the river passing the stepping stones and a loop round to the lunch stop at the Popping stone.

On our return a short shower as we were passing Gisland Spa tempted Roger to inquire if we could stop for Sunday roast! A short road section, a tricky few fields and a short downpour soon saw us joining the Hadrian’s Wall path at Birdoswald, just as Jim jumped out of a car to join us. It was then a straightforward trek along the Hadrian’s Wall path passing the Sunday sightseers at Banks turret view point. Leaving the Wall path at Haytongate the chance for refreshment was turned down in order to save ourselves for later.

Dropping down the lane the Priory again came into view and an abandoned tractor mower took our attention. Now time to press on and it was back over the old Bridge and onto the Quarry beck footpath. A final section along the ridge and a drop down to the lane took us back to the Car Park at 4.45. A quick change and back to Number 4 for Mary’s famed Cream tea, where we were matched in number by the helpers.