Posted:  Thursday 23 July 2009

North East Associates
Tees Valley Walk

- Wednesday 22nd July -

When the media in the northeast mention Teesside then ugly pictures of industry usually emerge - mainly of the chemical plants, refineries and and steelworks around Middlesbrough.
Follow the river for about 50 miles upstream from there and a much different view develops.

The Balder joins the Tees

Just above Barnard Castle a steep-sided river valley can be found, heavily wooded and the same is for its many tributaries.

We "meet" at the Fox & Hounds

Cotherstone, the base for our July walk is in the heart of this area and it is here that over forty Associates met up on a damp morning.
The aforementioned media have recently been extolling the virtue of a new
multi-million-pound rain radar detection system for the region.
It must have been switched off today, as dry weather had been forecast!

Two groups as usual set off in succession and suddenly those on the longer walk disappeared into the undergrowth while the remainder continued through farmland.

Verena said "you won't be able to recognise us" - she's centre picture, in green

The long walkers at six miles emerged about 1½ hours later, with about two miles still to go.

We headed down to the Tees and along the river bank for a while.

Everything was rather wet as we progressed slowly, even taking in some stepping-stones across a tributary and then what appeared to be sub-tropical rain forest!

We walked in a loop at first, with many gradients - and stiles - coming close to Cotherstone at the end of this.

A few bridges were crossed, too!

A short distance on a bendy road was preceded by the instruction "Walk on the right, Walk in single file, No talking"“ which we followed, although only one car was encountered.

How many Associates will fit into a people carrier?

With the village in sight hopes of an early finish were dashed as we were headed off on another path, staying high this time but in heavy rain.  Any discomfort was eased by warmish weather.  The local caravan and camping site which we skirted was practically deserted.

At last a sign!

Turning to cross a curving viaduct high above the River Balder we finished this last leg of our five miles comfortably and in good spirits to reach the Fox & Hounds pub where about three-dozen of us were served with substantial meals.
Here we also supplemented our liquid balances.

When we were all inside the sun shone outside!

Many thanks to our leaders, Mel, Cliff and more - who kept reminding us that when they did the "recce" it was a hot summer day - and to the F&H folks for the facilities offered before and after.

ph  22/07/2009

pictures:  ph

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