Fantastic Walk up Stennieswater on a Cold but Sunny Day

This was our destination today for our Wednesday walk. It was only Tom and myself and we had travelled to Under Stennieswater once before together and I had been once with Mike Tinker so we decided we would have to walk the extra 3 miles round trip to Upper Stennieswater. It was very cold when we set of from Crook at 10.00am and for the first 3 miles we were in the shade all the way but once we got past the first house the sun poked its self over the horizon and it became a magical walk. This is a fantastic hidden valley and I am sure very few people walk here. 

The sun appears to make it a magical walk.

Tilhill Forestry have planted loads of these deciduous trees along the valley so it will be lovely in the summer.

The right hand side of the valley is still in shade but we were now in sun most of the way on the last mile to the head of the valley.

It gives you a real feeling of remoteness up this valley.

I love the way they have planted a good mix of trees.

On the way back down the valley at Under Stennieswater we met the owner of the house on his way back from a run. We had a good blether with him. I had met him last summer when I was walking with Mike Tinker so I knew his medical background and he gave us his views on the present pandemic and we both agreed with him to a certain extent, but Tom in his usual manner could create an argument in an empty field. Tom was keen to take the discussion further but it was getting cold and we still had a few miles to go so we left. We both enjoyed meeting such a nice person and will hopefully meet up again to continue the discussion and Tom may even invite him to speak at Rotary.

At Upper Stennieswter there is a copse of trees called Alf's Copse planted by Tilhill Forestry. I would love to know who Alf was and I suspect he lived in the cottage once upon a time. 

Still plenty of frost about.

Yours truly concentrating on keeping warm rather than being fashionable.

At the half way point where open hillside for sheep becomes forestry

The first ray of sunshine as we headed up the valley. It was a 4 hour (8.5 mile) walk and we loved every minute. We will be back in the spring and hopefully have a few of our friends from The Last of the Summer Wine Walkers with us.