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A short walk from Yad Moss (parking at the highest point on the B6277 Alston to Middleton-in-Teeside road) to brake up a long journey and to "bag" a hill in an area where I've done very little walking. Initially, as I got out of the car and put on my boots and gaiters, I thought I'd messed up big-time. An off-roader was deploying a large number of beaters along my intended route and were clearly involved in a shoot taking place in or near the area where I wanted to walk. My heart sank until I realised that if I waited they would either walk past me or beyond my intended route. In the event, it was away from me and well beyond Viewing Hill. Not only that but I probably was delayed for less than 10 minutes. They don't hang about! Far from seeing no grouse as a consequence [I enjoy seeing them, but can respect shooting interests that manage the moors] I shortly had a flock of about 60 Red Grouse come desperately flying past me and dropping down well away from the shoot. Apart from a few stragglers [grouse], I then had the moor to myself. My compass seemed to do some strange things up on the top of Viewing Hill, although it's not the place for walking on a compass bearing anyway. Not impressed with my navigation though as I drifted about 20 degrees off my intended route for several minutes. Although I quickly corrected this, and it's probably as safe as any moor, and much safer than most, it's still not a place I'd recommend in bad weather, but as a short walk it served its purpose, and I noted that Alston looked like an excellent place to base myself for some walking in these hills next year.
