Day 9 Garrigill to the Source!

It was muggy and overcast, but we set off in high spirits - this was the beginning of the end! Today we will find the Source of the South Tyne (probably!). Route finding was actually quite easy for once (see above) the signposts got it right!

 First though we had several surprises:

   - a brilliant detour to Ashgill Force

   - a bull and his field full of his harem and offspring

   - amazingly colourful meadows

   - a waterfall on the Tyne - Dorthgill Force (left) - no, we didn't know there was a waterfall on the Tyne either!

Best surprise of all, was just how wide the Tyne remained - it only became a stream in the last mile. Mind you it then was so narrow that we could kiss across the water with ease!

After this it was easy! There was a large sculpture with a hole in it through it was possible to view a small hole in the ground! Ahh yes ... the Source.

It stopped raining and the wind reduced a little - so we had a celebratory picnic (a quick bite to eat anyway) and legged it down the hill to the car.

Then it was back into Alston for a cream tea and a discussion on what to do next. Somehow (and we can't blame alcohol as we were drinking tea) we decided to do it all again - from the other side and this time go to the North Tyne. That was when I realised that this wasn't the beginning of the end at all, but just the end of the beginning. Oh well - roll on November and.....

South Shields to the Source of the North Tyne!!!

Day 8 – Saturday 17 July – Slaggyford to Garrigill

We set off again from a very wet Slaggyford station and were soon again beside the South Tyne, still a very impressive, fast flowing river. However we continued to have close contact with the old South Tynedale Railway and marvelled at the engineering and architecture bringing this line so far up the valley feeling sad that it is no longer a working line. Then suddenly we saw steam rising from the track ahead, our pace quickened, could it be? Next we burst onto Kirkhaugh station like excited characters from “The Railway Children” waving enthusiastically at the driver of the little steam engine as well as the passengers. Everyone waved happily back; maybe things aren’t so sad after all. We had found the preserved South Tynedale Railway, which runs from Alston to Kirkhaugh.

We continued to follow the railway line, now of course complete with track, and had plenty of sightings of the river, as the two are never far apart for the rest of the way to Alston. Beautiful orchids on the way were an extra treat.

We skirted the edge of Alston, which is still a thriving, bustling market town. However passing the old boarded up, shut down Tynedale Café brought back memories of our pre-car days when the Wright Brothers coach came through Alston on the way to Keswick and stopped for us all to have a cuppa at the café.

In improving weather we continued on to Garrigill. The scenery on this stretch is just beautiful with stunning views down the valley, trees resplendent in their summer green and the river twisting and turning, sometimes rushing over little water falls sometimes quietly meandering through lush green meadows but still very much a river definitely refusing to become a stream.

The village of Garrigill nestling in the valley was certainly a welcome sight although we were sad to see the pub, The Dragon, had closed down. Thoughts of the meal booked at the Cumberland Hotel in Alston soon took over as we clambered into the car and set off back to Alston.

Posted on behalf of TTT2