The Party Crashers

[johnkaysleftleg]

There is only one thing for it when your birthday falls on your day off, and that's climb a hill. The days of being excited by a birthday are long gone, even the days of getting drunker than a lord are in the past (by in large) so healthy exertion and fresh air was to be the chosen activity to celebrate the start of my 44th year on Planet earth.

Unfortunately the weather hadn't got the memo. The western half of Northern England looked wetter and windier than an otters pocket in a storm and with the East scarcely any better, my desire to go for a walk was to be tested but as my resolve strengthened so the forecast improved. I arrived at the small parking area close to Barrowburn to climb the genteel grassy slopes of Windy Gyle on what was shaping up to be a fine day.

This was to be the first time walking in the Cheviot hills and I had a little chat with a few regulars at the car park before setting off up The Street (an old drove road) with hopes high for a grand day out.

Heading off up the Street by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Away from it all by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Looking towards Rowhope Farm by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Cheviot Stile by Anthony Young, on Flickr

The Street turned out to be an excellent choice as going was very good underfoot leaving me to enjoy the openness all around me. Following an initial ascent the way levelled at around 400m for a gentle rollercoaster as I made my way towards the border ridge. During a photo stop I did notice somebody was following and soon noticed it was a party of around four. I thought little of it and continued through a brief light shower and the refreshing winds up towards a meeting with the Pennine Way.

The Border ridge by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Looking back by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Which way now? by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Just as I reached the Border Ridge I noticed a large and noisy group coming over the Mozie Law. I must admit to being somewhat dismayed but hey ho it's a free country. I quickened my pace as I turned onto the Pennine way, which wasn't a patch on the Street with it's understandable erosion, to attempt to give me as much time as I could on Windy Gyle before they arrived.

At one point it was evident that the two groups knew each other and had joined forces making quite a number following me, I pushed on up the final pull to my target for the day and following a visit to the huge prehistoric cairn complete with shelter I settled down in the smaller shelter, leaving the larger one for the large group, as you would.

Fenced off by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Eildon Hills in line for a shower by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Looking down Rowhope Burn by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Eh? by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Crossing the border by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Windy Gyle by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Trig on Windy Gyle by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Hughie Checks it out by Anthony Young, on Flickr

I made myself comfortable in the shelter and settled down to eat, enjoy my coffee and ruminate on the vast open tracts of not a lot ahead of me. This was, I must admit a fine birthday party with just me and Hughie present; the song of the Skylark, the sound of the wind and the calls of Curlew providing a wonderful soundtrack. I quite forgot about anybody else as I slipped into that wonderful relaxed state of mind only places like this can induce, Ah bliss

The tromping of heavy boots alerted me to the fact the group had reached me but I was surprised to see a squaddie (how had I not noticed before?) and remembered the red flags back at the parking area. Any hopes of the route march continuing past me were dashed as he plonked his pack down right next to my shelter, said hello and set about unpacking rations. The feelings of being made slightly uncomfortable by this intrusion were quickly forgotten as squaddie number two turned up, complete with ghettoblaster blasting out some hippity hoppity nonsense. I stared at my sandwich in utter dismay, my previous reverie destroyed totally. I considered asking them to turn off the music but with the resulting atmosphere of such a request no doubt making my presence untenable I kept my mouth shut. Another "party banger" started up as the hordes arrived stirring me into action as I stuffed my things into my pack and slunk off down the hill feeling dejected and somewhat hard done by.

The Cheviot by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Wide open spaces by Anthony Young, on Flickr

I trudged down the hill, grumbling away to myself, before finding somewhere to sit and finish my bait. The view wasn't a patch on the summit and I soon finished and headed off again. The remainder of the walk was fortunately without incident as HM finest were either continuing their disco or marching onwards along the ridge. The country grew more Sylvain and beautiful as I got lower with the grazing pastures being quite idyllic. The wonderful peace and tranquillity cheered me up no end and by the time the farm at Trows appeared I was quite sad the walk would soon be over.

Green and pleasant land by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Sheep heaven by Anthony Young, on Flickr

Back to the farm by Anthony Young, on Flickr

This is a lovely walk and I suspect on most days you'll only see a handful of people and all of them of a like mind. I will return to the Cheviots soon to recreate my summit lunch hopefully this time without interruption.

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[Sgurr]

Happy 45th. If your party crashers looked anything like the lads we once met on Ingleborough in a blizzard, they would have been just as fed up as you....and they didn't choose to come. Good you were able to get away despite the unwanted company,

[Guinessman]

shame your Cheviot debut was spoilt. I can honestly say that every time I've been up there its been on my own for hours.

[ChrisW]

This had me laughing JK, having just had a birthday and just spent the day dodging a crowd who were determined to walk with me it struck a chord . It looks beautiful throughout and such a shame that the squaddies stamped all over the middle of it but ultimately it was only a break in the middle

[nigheandonn]

Even squaddies need somewhere to eat their lunch! Shame about your peace, but it does sound like a lovely day otherwise.

[Mal Grey]

Many Happy Returns!

I sympathise on the unexpected guests at the party. They could at least have brought you a drink.

[trailmasher]

Yes, Happy 44th Anthon y, and what a great way to spend it. Pity about the loud company but I'm sure the walk in total more than made up for the few minutes of stress .

[nigheandonn]

Nice mix of guesses at this birthday - if your first year of life starts on your 0th birthday, I make it 43rd!

[Sgurr]

Well, he'll be 45 some time. He can just carry my greetings forward a couple of years.

[johnkaysleftleg]

Happy 45th. If your party crashers looked anything like the lads we once met on Ingleborough in a blizzard, they would have been just as fed up as you....and they didn't choose to come. Good you were able to get away despite the unwanted company,

I'm sure they didn't even realise they'd caused any upset at all to be honest. As for having a bad day, a nice stroll along the Pennine way on a fine day will be a canny day at the office if you're in the Army. Far better than getting shot at.

shame your Cheviot debut was spoilt. I can honestly say that every time I've been up there its been on my own for hours.

It does strike me as a place of solitude normally. They didn't spoil the walk, just annoyed me for a few minutes.

This had me laughing JK, having just had a birthday and just spent the day dodging a crowd who were determined to walk with me it struck a chord . It looks beautiful throughout and such a shame that the squaddies stamped all over the middle of it but ultimately it was only a break in the middle

Cheers Chris, it was still a very nice day out.

Even squaddies need somewhere to eat their lunch! Shame about your peace, but it does sound like a lovely day otherwise.

Very true, they don't have to listen to such horrendous music while eating however.

Many Happy Returns!

I sympathise on the unexpected guests at the party. They could at least have brought you a drink.

Indeed, a nice bottle of red would have been most appropriate

Yes, Happy 44th Anthon y, and what a great way to spend it. Pity about the loud company but I'm sure the walk in total more than made up for the few minutes of stress .

Cheers mate, all forgotten about, wouldn't be too happy if it happened many more times.

Nice mix of guesses at this birthday - if your first year of life starts on your 0th birthday, I make it 43rd!

The right answer!

Well, he'll be 45 some time. He can just carry my greetings forward a couple of years.

I will, thank you.

[OpenC]

Just noticed this

This is one of my most local hills and in all the times I've been up it, I've never shared the summit with more than two or three quietly perspiring others (although I have been disturbed by Chinooks and the sounds of explosions from over the next ridge in the range). Shame for you, but at least you got the weather to see the place at its best

[johnkaysleftleg]

Just noticed this

This is one of my most local hills and in all the times I've been up it, I've never shared the summit with more than two or three quietly perspiring others (although I have been disturbed by Chinooks and the sounds of explosions from over the next ridge in the range). Shame for you, but at least you got the weather to see the place at its best

It's one I'll certainly be re-visiting in the hope of some peace and quiet next time, such a lovely easy walk.

[OpenC]

If you're heading back, you could (if you were feeling the need for a change) start further down at Wedder Leap / Barrowburn rather than Trows, and head up through the forest by way of Mid Hill and then up by Hazely Law. Makes it a longer day and an ascent of the other side of the ridge, but still easy and good. The downside is the couple of miles of road which end the day if you're making it a circular - there are ways to keep off it but they'd involve extra ascent of pathless and nameless little hills en route.

Lovely part of the Cheviots, though, and mercifully free of the bogginess which plagues the higher summits to the East.

[OpenC]

Actually, what am I saying: you could come back down by Ward Law and along the Border Country Ride, which for some reason I've never done

[MarkyMark10]

What a great way to spend your birthday!
Nice photos of a lovely part of the world