Day 12- How very T-eesy!

Middleton in Teesdale to Langdon Beck

Today's Miles - 9.0
Today's Ascent -  1778 ft
Today's Descent -  1358 ft
Total Miles so Far - 159.2
Star Team Member - Sherpa Dad for carrying out the complicated business of dropping off the car, picking up Paddy, catching the bus etc...

Today was our shortest day up to date, and a very enjoyable one too. Dad is form Teesdale, so enjoyed walking through the Dales he grew up in and reminiscing past endeavors he has had. As we only had 9 miles to go, we decided to leave later on, and have a well deserved lie in!

   

Leaving Middleton

After a cup of tea in the cafe, we left Middleton at about 12 o'clock and walked back down to the Cattle Mart where we finished yesterday. We passed the field center on the left, where I have stayed before, on a Year 5 residential trip. 

The Field Center at Middleton

While on this trip, I walked a stretch of the Pennine Way, so I knew where to turn left after crossing the bridge. We walked through a few fields and passed over a small bridge crossing a tiny tributary stream, and Mam promptly asked "Is this the river Tees?". No, Mam, the river Tees is quite a lot larger than that! We joined up with the river and Paddy had a swim in it. He is very familiar with the river Tees, as Uncle John and Auntie Karen take him for walks in Gainford by the river lots. 

Walking along the Tees

We were walking through beautiful fields with lots of wild flowers in them. There were bluebells and buttercups, as well as thistles and it was really lovely. 

Flowers along the paths

We passed some stone sheep and soon we were at Low Force. There were lots of people around as it was a nice day, and some were swimming in the river and jumping off the top. I think walking the Pennine Way is thrilling enough, thank you! We stopped for lunch, and moved onward to High Force, a further 1.75 miles away. We were really enjoying it and we didn't have far to go. we veered off a bit from the Tees but soon rejoined it after more fields of wild flowers. 

Low Force

WE heard High Force before we saw it. The rush of the water and the sound it made as it hit the plunge pool was very loud, so we knew we were near. We walked off the path to a viewpoint and had 5 to look at the great view....

High Force

And of course take some pictures!

Made it this far!

We stuck to the Tees, but it was much calmer and quieter. We passed a quarry mine on the other side of the river, but other than that, the Dales were ours. 

We went up and over a little hill, and with 2 miles to go, we could see the youth hostel we were staying at. We had a quick break then pushed onward. There was a big field of cows (honestly, I think the farmers do it just to annoy us walkers!) and they were standing round the gate, so we did  a bit of a traverse that took us away form the gate, but we still ended up in the field. We used our technique but some excitable bullocks started running at Dad and Paddy, (seeing Dad run was very funny!), but they were a long way off and went back to eating there grass. We crossed Langdon Beck and walked along the river for a while. 

Langdon Beck

We walked up and across to YHA Langdon Beck, all with spectacular views of Upper Teesdale in the glorious sunshine. 

Upper Teesdale

We got to the youth hostel at about 5 o'clock, making a very enjoyable day of walking come to an end. Tomorrow we walk to Dufton, leaving Teesdale, regrettably behind. Only another 10 days to go! See you tomorrow,

Caitlin x