There were 7 of us who met in the car park/layby at Hanging Shaw on a clear day with a bit of a sharp wind, hoping to finish before the promised rain appeared.
After crossing the B6277 we dropped down to the Tees, crossing Cronkley bridge turning right, past Cronkley Pasture, staying next to the Tees for a couple of miles, clambering over stones and walking on rather dilapidated duck boards at times, but all managing to keep upright! Then climbing up onto the Fell. Here, at the top of the climb, we had our coffee stop overlooking the northern hills.
Then over the Fell and down to the green trod, making the lunch stop just as our follow walker met us from the other direction – now we were 8!
We wandered down the green trod to cross Fell Dike Sike and up the fields to meet the Pennine Way which we then followed down to Cronkley Farm and back to the cars. We saw plenty of sheep, a few cattle. several grouse and a few meadow pipits but not many other birds and no other walkers at all. Apart from a few drop, the rain stayed off and we all enjoyed the walk which was followed by wellearned coffee and cake.
Report by Lynda Bares