Day 8: Barnard Castle to Stanhope

Our morning's walk followed the River Tees, at some point dropping down a steep slope into the valley.

This should have been a splendid afternoon's walk across open, trackless moorland.

Sadly, the weather closed in and we decided to walk the less exciting road alternative on safety grounds. As Chief Routeplanner making that decision it was really tough - Gary had spent a long time planning his afternoon's walk, but we never got to walk it.

Finally we dropped down into Stanhope, crossing the river by stepping stones, and so to the church hall.

Stanhope was one of those remote places where closing time was an unfamiliar concept in the village pub, but we had to go as we had another early start next morning.