Post by mick on Mar 4, 2015 5:07:25 GMT
My walk today was one that I had mixed feelings about because I had never walked in that particular area so I didn’t know what to expect, also the route that I was going to do didn’t follow any footpaths (it’s all open access so it’s not trespassing or anything like that).
So I was a bit excited that I was going to start to create my own paths again but a bit apprenstive if I got it wrong or it was above my ability.
The other thing was one of the Hills that I planned to reach this day was one that I had learnt to hang glide on, I really have got happy memories about that hill, and as any one who knows me will tell you it is the one sport that I loved yet had to give up since I lost my leg. (I have to be honest here I was pretty crap at landing anyway).
However I did have one disaster on this route, which if you want to know about (and have a good laugh) you will have to read the full account.
Anyway the walk, parked the car on a grassy verge near the farm at Elsdonburn and off I went.
First photo taken looking down the burn towards the Torr”s
Small ford which proved to be no problem this time of the year. My route takes me straight up.
Halfway up Haddon Hill heading for the Chester’s Ring (old hill fort) looking back down towards the farm at Elsdonburn
On the summit of Chester’s ring (342) not very impressive is it? But the views are starting to open up a bit.
Showing bits of the rings (I am certain that it means something to someone) but to me it looks like a grassy mound.
Now heading into the forest on Haddon Hill
This is where I made a big mistake they had sometime in the past done a bit of tree felling here , which means the path has been destroyed , I should have turned back and gone round but being stupid I didn’t .
It took me the best part of an hour to find my way out of this forest, (it was only about 400 meters) when I eventually found the way out I came up against this.
I had no choice but to try to climb over the wall which is a lot higher than it looks in this photo , not only that but there is a barbed wire fence right next to it .
This is where any common sense went out of the window.
I took of my ruck sack and placed it on the wall, then proceeded to climb over it. From there, I climbed over the barbed wire fence (not an easy task since I got the heel of my arty foot hooked on the wire) there was only one thing to do and that was dive to the ground and hope the foot pulled clear, it worked but as I had no choice where I landed I had to put both hands down into a lovely pile of sheep pooh , great eh , I lay like this getting my breath back for about five minutes then decided to get cleaned up .(have wet wipes in my ruck sack) it was then I realised that not only had I left the ruck sack on the wall but in my struggle to get over it I knocked off back to the wrong side .
So to cut a long story short I had to climb back over to retrieve it then climb back again .( I felt very stupid plus it had taken me the best part of an hour and a half just to cover 400 meters ).
Foot note for Lynne now you know why I don’t put times down for the walks
Moving on
Taken from the correct side of the wall looking towards Longknowe Hill (346 meters)
Looking back as I attempt to make up for a bit of lost time.
NO……. another wall and fence, this time there is a gate yeahhhhhh!
Looking down the valley (not my route) I am heading up
About half way up Longknowe the views are starting to open up again. (Can still see that ***** forest
Trig point on Longknowe.
Sitting down taking a well earned rest, it was on this hill that I learnt to hang glide, good memories eh?
It was my plan to go on to the next couple of hill finishing up at Kilham Hill before I started heading back , but the messing about in the forest and wall had taken a lot out of me so I decided to do them another day .
Heading down starting the walk back to the car, there is no path here but its easy walking so no trouble.
Looking back, yes I headed to where there was an old gate to cross I am stupid but not that stupid.
Mum and little one (not that old by the look of things)
On Straw Hill (295 meters) having another sit down there is another old hill fort up here but it’s just like all the others, grassy mounds and that’s it
Heading along Mid Hill
Looking back
Looking the other way
Having another sit down looking across to Newton Tors
Heading down towards a very welcome site the car.
It wasnt till i got home that i realised that the funny smell that i kept getting a wiff off was infact a load of rubbed in sheep Phoo on the back of my shirt !
that will give the washing powder a test .
So I was a bit excited that I was going to start to create my own paths again but a bit apprenstive if I got it wrong or it was above my ability.
The other thing was one of the Hills that I planned to reach this day was one that I had learnt to hang glide on, I really have got happy memories about that hill, and as any one who knows me will tell you it is the one sport that I loved yet had to give up since I lost my leg. (I have to be honest here I was pretty crap at landing anyway).
However I did have one disaster on this route, which if you want to know about (and have a good laugh) you will have to read the full account.
Anyway the walk, parked the car on a grassy verge near the farm at Elsdonburn and off I went.
First photo taken looking down the burn towards the Torr”s
Small ford which proved to be no problem this time of the year. My route takes me straight up.
Halfway up Haddon Hill heading for the Chester’s Ring (old hill fort) looking back down towards the farm at Elsdonburn
On the summit of Chester’s ring (342) not very impressive is it? But the views are starting to open up a bit.
Showing bits of the rings (I am certain that it means something to someone) but to me it looks like a grassy mound.
Now heading into the forest on Haddon Hill
This is where I made a big mistake they had sometime in the past done a bit of tree felling here , which means the path has been destroyed , I should have turned back and gone round but being stupid I didn’t .
It took me the best part of an hour to find my way out of this forest, (it was only about 400 meters) when I eventually found the way out I came up against this.
I had no choice but to try to climb over the wall which is a lot higher than it looks in this photo , not only that but there is a barbed wire fence right next to it .
This is where any common sense went out of the window.
I took of my ruck sack and placed it on the wall, then proceeded to climb over it. From there, I climbed over the barbed wire fence (not an easy task since I got the heel of my arty foot hooked on the wire) there was only one thing to do and that was dive to the ground and hope the foot pulled clear, it worked but as I had no choice where I landed I had to put both hands down into a lovely pile of sheep pooh , great eh , I lay like this getting my breath back for about five minutes then decided to get cleaned up .(have wet wipes in my ruck sack) it was then I realised that not only had I left the ruck sack on the wall but in my struggle to get over it I knocked off back to the wrong side .
So to cut a long story short I had to climb back over to retrieve it then climb back again .( I felt very stupid plus it had taken me the best part of an hour and a half just to cover 400 meters ).
Foot note for Lynne now you know why I don’t put times down for the walks
Moving on
Taken from the correct side of the wall looking towards Longknowe Hill (346 meters)
Looking back as I attempt to make up for a bit of lost time.
NO……. another wall and fence, this time there is a gate yeahhhhhh!
Looking down the valley (not my route) I am heading up
About half way up Longknowe the views are starting to open up again. (Can still see that ***** forest
Trig point on Longknowe.
Sitting down taking a well earned rest, it was on this hill that I learnt to hang glide, good memories eh?
It was my plan to go on to the next couple of hill finishing up at Kilham Hill before I started heading back , but the messing about in the forest and wall had taken a lot out of me so I decided to do them another day .
Heading down starting the walk back to the car, there is no path here but its easy walking so no trouble.
Looking back, yes I headed to where there was an old gate to cross I am stupid but not that stupid.
Mum and little one (not that old by the look of things)
On Straw Hill (295 meters) having another sit down there is another old hill fort up here but it’s just like all the others, grassy mounds and that’s it
Heading along Mid Hill
Looking back
Looking the other way
Having another sit down looking across to Newton Tors
Heading down towards a very welcome site the car.
It wasnt till i got home that i realised that the funny smell that i kept getting a wiff off was infact a load of rubbed in sheep Phoo on the back of my shirt !
that will give the washing powder a test .