Alston Circular via Garrigill and Ashgill Force.

Today we had a 12.5 mile walk from Alston, keeping to the west of the River South Tyne until just after Garrigill, where we crossed the river to visit Ashgill Force before returning to Alston on the east side of the river. The weather couldn't make its mind up -one minute sunny then showers.

View looking towards Garrigill

We crossed the Black Burn using the bridge at Leadgate avoiding a ford shown on the map, then had a coffee stop on the south side of the burn soon after crossing the bridge. Soon we reached the opposite side of the ford. It was wide and not very shallow, making the bridge option a good decision. From here we followed the path, keeping close to the River South Tyne, joining the Pennine Way below Dryburn.

Sheltering from the rain behind Ashgill Force!

At Garrigill we had lunch and some of us took the opportunity to savour a cool beer at the George and the Dragon Inn, a 17th century coaching inn. We had no trouble working out who "the dragon" referred to! After leaving Garrigill we continued on the Pennine Way crossing the river at Windshaw Bridge the path taking us up to Ashgill Force. Ashgill Force is an attractive waterfall set in a wooded valley. We were able to walk behind the curtain of the falls as the softer rock beneath the limestone cliff has been undercut by erosion.

Yet another stile

Everyone seemed to love the stiles! We lost count of how many but I don't think we've had more on a walk before. Ray climbed one less - he had decided to go through a gate at Low Craig Farm and got a telling off from a farmer for his trouble.

For the return leg we kept to the east of the river rejoining the Pennine Way just after Low Craig, the path taking us through Low Sillyhall where we met up with Mick's group, Tracy and Joyce leading the way. 35 of us then continued into Alston via Bleagate.

Time was getting short so we went to the first available bar, at The Alston House Hotel, some of us having alcoholic refreshment and some tea and cake - very friendly staff and best of all free nuts! Someone had kidded to Tracy that Mick was upset that Tracy and Joyce had left his group so Tracy brought him a beer to get back in his good books.