Monday 14th May 2018 - Orton and old Roman road - 9 miles
I have been gradually increasing walking distance since my first meaningful walk of 1.9 miles on 26th January after the knee operation on 29th November. Today I pushed it to nine miles over mixed terrain, including a bit of rough going (unintentionally.)
In view of the distance I set off from home quite early and was walking by 8:40 in glorious sunshine, and warmth. It was the first time this year that I have been able to have a whole walk without wearing gloves, and for most of the walk I wore only a base layer and a shirt, and if I had not been too lazy I would have removed the base layer.
An ancient lane led out of Orton eventually lined with gnarly hawthorn - I always imagine the old packhorse parties plodding along on these byways.
After connecting with the Orton to Shap road for a hundred yards or so it was out onto open moorland marked as "Roman Road (course of)" on the OS map. which was fine and pleasant walking, mainly on cropped turf. Arriving at a large modern hut the paths parted and I attempted to follow the one shown on my map below by the green highlight I had appended. Despite using compass, and GPS, which was telling me that I was actually on the footpath shown on the OS map there was no distinct path to follow, and I had a bit of a struggle through shin high heather and the like before getting back onto the route again. Looking at the map now it would have been better to continue on the more substantial path to the point marked "ford" on the map (NY 599 117) then to branch right.
Emerging on the road south of Crosby Ravensworth there was a convenient bench where I sandwiched and drank coffee from my flask, but with some disappointment at not using my new sitting device, but it was a tranquil and peaceful spot leading almost to meditation and a welcome rest.
The walk back south to Orton followed the Lyvennet Beck for a while, a name out of character with this location, and then climbing away through sheep pastures and through a magic trough of moorland to a high point then the descent over more fields and several awkward stone stiles, but all in all a most enjoyable and varied walk ending in the Orton Scar Café with tea and lemon drizzle cake.
CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
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| Leaving Orton |
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| Old lane out of Orton |
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| Old packhorse lane |
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| Onto the Old roman road from the Orton/Shap road |
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| Parting of the ways. Northern Pennines on skyline |
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| Later: after I had found the path again |
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| What my daughter refers to as "in-coming" when we are on a walk together |
When I got to the bit where you 'sandwiched' this post immediately sprang to mind...
ReplyDeletehttp://conradwalks.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/tebat-sedbergh-road.html?m=1
...but on revisiting it, I see that you weren't the one objecting to turning words into verbs.
That looks like a fine walk on a fine day (and with more smile-inducing map annotations), which I hope didn't trouble the knee unduly?
Ooops - I linked to the wrong (although relevant) post. I meant this one: http://conradwalks.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/torridon-1.html?m=1
DeleteGayle - you have a remarkable memory even presuming you were probably assisted by the search facility on my blog. I originally intended to verbify "coffee" but became a bit unsure of what the spelling would be, and in any case it didn't sound right; what about "verbify" eh?
ReplyDeleteYour favourable comments about map annotations have prompted me to develop this further. One problem is that the detail on the 1:25 is not so easy to see when it is reduced on the blog photo. I will keep experimenting.
Excellent walk and I presume the knee is holding up as you didn’t mention any problems with it. I hope my assumption is correct.
ReplyDeleteAlanR - The knee was sore and stiff in the evening but fine next day. It is still not back to what one might call normal under the circumstances, but steady improvement is noticed. I do hope to get back to my Berwick/Castle Carey walk, but it may be the back end of the summer. I want to build up to 12 milers and do a couple of those two days in succession before risking setting off on overnighters.
ReplyDelete"... it would have been better..." But would the post have been?
ReplyDelete"...leading almost to meditation..." How could you tell? Seems to betoken an uncomfortable level of sensitivity.
I like the map annotations too. Looks like a very fine day and the progress of your knee must be very satisfying at last. At the risk of repeating myself, this is an area which I haven't explored half enough. Incidentally, we walked in Swindale on Saturday, I think your blogpost must have nestled at the back of my mind and inspired me.
ReplyDeleteRR - Ok, let's say it another way: "The location was so tranquil it induced a pleasant dreamlike quality to my thoughts." I can't answer your first query.
ReplyDelete___________________
beatong the bounds - I seem to be getting multiple favourable reactions to the annotations - I reckon Im going to start producing something like a children's adventure story with maps with skull and coss-bones and "here be buried treasure."