Gorge-ous Greens

On our recent visit to Northumberland, on Good Friday, CBC and I really wanted to go for a walk.  We decided to go to Allen Banks Gorge, a National Trust set of land with a great river and woods.

It began to rain as we were walking but that didn't dissuade us from our walk.

Unfortunately, the normal way in and the walk we are used to was closed due to Winter landslides.  Having JUST paid the £2 parking despite the fact no-one else was there, it was Good Friday, and rainy, we did it and were feeling rather cross. Luckily there was a map with a suggested alternative route which we took since we were committed to a ramble.

As we left the car park, we spied some wild garlic and decided to come and collect a load on the way back in order to make Wild Garlic pesto.

We crossed over the river...

Once we entered the fields, I was struck by the sheer beauty and variety of greens to be seen.  Oh Spring really is a delight every year! These lambs and sheep seemed content.

We neared the river and saw the aforementioned results of the landslide, obscuring the paths on the other side of the river.

Wild garlic was growing rampantly all over the place and we could smell it. So verdant, green and fresh!

We didn't actually have a map so CBC, the one with the sense of direction led us upwards, up some stone steps.

I thought this tree was particularly human-looking- albeit with one eye- pucker up maybe!

I looked at some of these trees and sometimes I am embarrassed to regard them as the trunks and the entwined branches somehow seem human, like regarding naked limbs!

Interesting rock faces kept the walk varied with much to look at.

And every so often, tiny little plants growing out of brown bark bid us hello!

This tree, with its intruiging texture reminded me of a screaming chipmunk. I know, my mind is weird!

Hello to Colin and Audrey with their impeccable carving skills.

More steps led us yet higher. I find myself implicitly trusting CBC as he has an innate sense of direction.

Paths meandered around, sometimes feeling rather sheer and exposed, other times, safe.

We reached the highest point of our journey and found a handy bench to regard the view as well as more carved trees.

Moss upon the stone walls.

Up here, it seemed hardly possible that Spring was here with all the bare branches, bereft of all foliage.

The walk continued, ever twisting and turning, but would my trust in CBC's abilities? Would our emerald journey end in disaster?  Come back soon to find out more!