Jeri’s Steps: 40,265
Miles walked: 15.5
Elevation: 1,692
Pints: 3
Churches: none
Stiles: 35
Benches: 1

We avoided the weapons storage site at Tute Hill and started today at Clove Lodge. A black farm cat, who we later discovered was called ‘Mr Nibbles’ followed us across two fields down to the stream near Blackton resevoir, demanding attention, which we lavished upon him. We passed ‘Hannah’s Meadow’. Hannah Hauxwell farmed at Birk Hat until 1988 and was made famous through a 1972 documentary about her hard solitary life. The meadow is a site of special scientific interest being an area devoid of pesticides and not ‘improved’ and thus is species rich.

The paths to Middleton over Grassholme were mostly through pasture and several hayfields; hay is harvested later this far north (back on July 15th we were walking from Wells in Somerset and the tractors were baling the hay.) At Wythes Hill, the owner had constructed a small ‘tuck shop’ where drink cans and chocolate bars were for sale using an honesty box. We had our break there and had a nice chat with a roofer repairing the house. The Way was a rollercoaster of ups and downs and it was a relief to make the final long descent down to the valley of the Tees river. Some of the most beautiful sights of the Pennine Way are on the Tees. Notably, the Low Force and High Force waterfalls which were very impressive. The rest of the day followed Teesdale all the way to where it was joined by Langdon Beck, then we took a route off the Way to get to our accommodation at the Langdon Beck Hotel where comfort, food and drink awaited us. Unfortunately, at some point today Tim lost his hat.