Waw
Wednesday April 26
Not the hectic early morning start to which we’ve become accustomed. ‘Only’ a five hour journey to Langdon Beck Hotel in Teesdale, County Durham. I didn’t even pack my case nor the car until after 8.00 a.m. We were off at 10.25, having to avoid two large lorries bringing the materials for the Hughes’s new stone-weave drive.
It was a weather person’s ‘day of sunshine and showers’ cliche. The showers were not prolonged nor frequent, just sudden, violent and wintry, the brisk northerly hurling hard sleet, noisily, onto the windscreen. The panoramic views viewable from the A17 also showed navy blue skies, towering cumulus and blue sunshine. Spectacular.
We left the A1 at Scotch Corner after a loo and shop stop at the service station. Gregg’s steak, caramelised onion and cheese, crisp, half baguette was saved for a very late lunch/early supper.
The road to Teesdale was a lovely route through lush green hillsides, stone walled and sheep and lamb strewn. Small villages, spring flowers colouring their front gardens, a meandering, stony, white waved mountain river, tumbling downwards.
One hillside had 57 (Pam counted) summer plumaged Golden Plover, a scimitar billed Curlew dwarfing them, silhouetted on the ridge behind.
Having reached the hotel, we drove on, following the rough directions given to Pam by DB. All I could see was miles of brown, tussocky and extensive moorland. Didn’t Black Grouse like woodland from which to appear? I suggested that we return for instructions.
Pam pulled into a small gravel patch roadside, saying ‘ I’ve got them’. Seven male Black Grouse, occasionally flashing white tails, dotted very randomly and distantly below us. It was very frustrating trying to view them from my side of the car. Pam had also noticed another group behind us. One nearer bird unexpectedly, stopped its jumping and tail flashing to fly past.
After finishing our baguettes, a quick down the road to turn round, returning to the same spot. We were loving the sight of 27 male Black Grouse strutting their stuff, white tail feathers fanned and flashing, white wing feathers less obvious. I had a lovely time taking stupidly optimistic photographs of the dreaded double Ds - dull and distant birds. Awful light. Better in the morning?
Why do we work so hard trying to see a small number, if we’re lucky, in Scotland? They’re flourishing here.
An excited call from Pam - I missed a Woodcock in flight. Fortunately, it flew a short way again, landing in a thick tussock before sneaking off out of sight - as they do.
My turn to call. Three Brown Hares, chasing each other along the verge and across the road and away, legs a blur, black ear tips obviously erect and still. Then they returned when, again, I tried a few shots.
Dragging ourselves away, it was time to check in at Langdon Beck Hotel. The building is in need of a coat of paint, inviting plumes of smoke curling from both chimneys. The welcome was warm, as was the dining room where we entered. Very welcome in the cool evening.
The bedroom is very adequate with a large bow window furnished with a table and comfy chairs giving me a lovely view up the hillside to the moor as I sit writing this. Blackbirds, Song and Mistle Thrushes, and Pheasants hunt in the meadow, Swallows, House Martins, Gold Finches, Lapwing, Collared Dove and Wood Pigeons seek food from the air and trees.
There is WiFi but, not in our room. I don’t fancy negotiating the flight of stairs again. I’ll copy and paste this and add the photos to-morrow night.
Pam has made me a coffee after buying herself a beer in the bar, returning with an enormous wodge of thickly butter-icing topped, chocolate cake and cream which didn’t last long. I had two spoonsful.
Hot water bottle in situ, time to edit pics.
Not the hectic early morning start to which we’ve become accustomed. ‘Only’ a five hour journey to Langdon Beck Hotel in Teesdale, County Durham. I didn’t even pack my case nor the car until after 8.00 a.m. We were off at 10.25, having to avoid two large lorries bringing the materials for the Hughes’s new stone-weave drive.
It was a weather person’s ‘day of sunshine and showers’ cliche. The showers were not prolonged nor frequent, just sudden, violent and wintry, the brisk northerly hurling hard sleet, noisily, onto the windscreen. The panoramic views viewable from the A17 also showed navy blue skies, towering cumulus and blue sunshine. Spectacular.
We left the A1 at Scotch Corner after a loo and shop stop at the service station. Gregg’s steak, caramelised onion and cheese, crisp, half baguette was saved for a very late lunch/early supper.
The road to Teesdale was a lovely route through lush green hillsides, stone walled and sheep and lamb strewn. Small villages, spring flowers colouring their front gardens, a meandering, stony, white waved mountain river, tumbling downwards.
One hillside had 57 (Pam counted) summer plumaged Golden Plover, a scimitar billed Curlew dwarfing them, silhouetted on the ridge behind.
Having reached the hotel, we drove on, following the rough directions given to Pam by DB. All I could see was miles of brown, tussocky and extensive moorland. Didn’t Black Grouse like woodland from which to appear? I suggested that we return for instructions.
Pam pulled into a small gravel patch roadside, saying ‘ I’ve got them’. Seven male Black Grouse, occasionally flashing white tails, dotted very randomly and distantly below us. It was very frustrating trying to view them from my side of the car. Pam had also noticed another group behind us. One nearer bird unexpectedly, stopped its jumping and tail flashing to fly past.
After finishing our baguettes, a quick down the road to turn round, returning to the same spot. We were loving the sight of 27 male Black Grouse strutting their stuff, white tail feathers fanned and flashing, white wing feathers less obvious. I had a lovely time taking stupidly optimistic photographs of the dreaded double Ds - dull and distant birds. Awful light. Better in the morning?
Why do we work so hard trying to see a small number, if we’re lucky, in Scotland? They’re flourishing here.
An excited call from Pam - I missed a Woodcock in flight. Fortunately, it flew a short way again, landing in a thick tussock before sneaking off out of sight - as they do.
My turn to call. Three Brown Hares, chasing each other along the verge and across the road and away, legs a blur, black ear tips obviously erect and still. Then they returned when, again, I tried a few shots.
Dragging ourselves away, it was time to check in at Langdon Beck Hotel. The building is in need of a coat of paint, inviting plumes of smoke curling from both chimneys. The welcome was warm, as was the dining room where we entered. Very welcome in the cool evening.
The bedroom is very adequate with a large bow window furnished with a table and comfy chairs giving me a lovely view up the hillside to the moor as I sit writing this. Blackbirds, Song and Mistle Thrushes, and Pheasants hunt in the meadow, Swallows, House Martins, Gold Finches, Lapwing, Collared Dove and Wood Pigeons seek food from the air and trees.
There is WiFi but, not in our room. I don’t fancy negotiating the flight of stairs again. I’ll copy and paste this and add the photos to-morrow night.
Pam has made me a coffee after buying herself a beer in the bar, returning with an enormous wodge of thickly butter-icing topped, chocolate cake and cream which didn’t last long. I had two spoonsful.
Hot water bottle in situ, time to edit pics.
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