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From the SP at Eglingham Xrd, it was the usual steep ascent up Tarry Rd, past the farm and Egm Hill trig pillar, then across the level moor top, to a gate in a stone wall. I left the hard cored farm track to follow a grass path N towards a square shaped wood.
It was a dry day with light cloud, but recent rains had left the ground boggy in the hollows. From the wood I continued N 500m to a gate in a fence. From here I headed 3-400m NNE to a side path to a cairn on the NE flank of Cateran Hill. There were good views from here to Quarry House, the radio masts and Ros Hill. As I descended a faint path N I was joined by a pair of Greylag Geese who flew alongside me for a while. After appx 600m the path petered out in a marsh, which looked like a silted up river bed, extending for yards E & W. I could find no dry crossing so 'plodged' across the tussocks, frequently sinking ankle deep into peaty water. I emerged on to a stretch of burnt heather to continue N onto the QH road. I must have bruised my R foot because the pad on the sole behind my toes was sore. Walking along the metalled road didn't help, but the grass verge was mostly even, so I used it to cover the mile W to the sp for a track to Old Bewick. Although it's a metalled road (single track) there is a grand feeling of isolation out here.
I took the track SSW across the Moor. A pair off cuckoos flew by, 'cuckooing' incessantly, en route for Halfcrownhall woods. On reaching a waymarker at the foot of the W flank of Cateran Hill, I ascended a track SE, to a barely recognisable path which led E to Cateran hole. Having viewed ' the Hole' I returned, by an even fainter path, to the main track to the summit cairn. I had a quick lunch here, enjoying the 360 views as I did so.
From the cairn, it was a gentle stroll SSE across the moor, to pick up the outbound path S of the wood and return to the hardcored track back to Eglingham.
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