Old Roads Upper Coquetdale
Mon 2nd July 2012
Well Sundance had danced and soft shoe shuffled the night away in the hope that we did not experience another thunderstorm similar to Thursdays.
After a very bright and sunny start to the morning by the time the group had met up at Wedder’s Leap Carpark the clouds had built up with some ominous dark grey ones coming over the hills.
The walk started with a gentle stroll back down the road for about 15 mins until we came to a finger post just before the road crossed Dumbhope Burn. The finger post pointed up the hillside, after a shortish steep climb the gradient eased until we had reached the crest of the col. From here we had some good views all the way round.
Yet another non existing path lead us down from the col. Eventually we found a way marker but even this did not help Mike who made us jump across the stream only to find a bridge some twenty metres further down stream. From here the path down was clearly visible and took us towards Carshope (a Farm now used by the army as a billet when on exercise).
After a lot of discussion about where we should stop for dinner, a suitable stone wall was found to be used as a back rest and in glorious sunshine we had lunch. After lunch we walked to Carshope and then joined the valley road which we followed to Carlcroft Farm.
Using a footbridge we crossed over to the other side of the river and joined a footpath that climbed up diagonally up Hindside Knowe. As we approached Stogie’s Cleugh the path once more became none existent. It was only when we crested the ridge and joined The Street that once more we had a path/track to follow.
A steep descent down The Street brought us to Slyme Foot and the valley road. We continued along the road to Windyhaugh Farm passing the site of a fulling mill (A dig will be taking place here later in the summer).
Once more we left the valley road walking through the famous hay meadows of Barrowburn Farm. Even more famous now is the warm welcome and excellent food you find at Barrowburn Farm tea room. After a welcome coffee/tea and cake break we continued along the path to the camping barn originally the School built in the 1800’s before walking to the Wedder Leap footbridge and back to the cars.
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