Gorgeous Greens 2

Continuing from my post from Thursday, on Good Friday, CBC and I decided to take a walk around the Allen Banks Gorge near Hexham in Northumberland and were so far, on an unknown trail, without map.

Here was the view from the bench we had taken a brief hiatus at.  The sight of vast, Northumbrian fields and land never fails to delight me. I do sometimes wonder if we should have moved up there.

Eventually, CBC declared it was time to continue and we continued walking on past the site of an old Summer House- long gone but the sign was still there.  CBC raced up these stones to reach a higher point. I trudged along behind worrying about the fact that we were continuing ever higher and the fact at some point, we might encounter a treacherously steep descent which would need a mountain goat to conquer- I really do not like downhill!

Luckily, there was a fairly gentle way down, thank the Lord, and I didn't have to go through my usual, "I am going to slip and die!" panic.

As we descended one section, we saw the most wonderful view of a pond/pool of some sort (Lake seems too grandiose a term to apply to this stretch of water).  I was attempting to take a glorious photo but CBC decided to get in the way and dance a ridiculous dance in front of me.  I immediately sought revenge and switched to Film mode so I have good blackmail material, but for the sake of my marriage, I thought it prudent NOT to post it here! Pity...

This is the best I could get, without absurd revelry.

Near the water, everything was so beautifully green. I was taken with this foliage.

As we had reached the water, it began to rain.

Drip, drip, drop, little April Showers, creating mesmerising concentric circles...

After all the hues of green, it was rather a shock to see such a vibrantly red tree trunk.

Eventually, it seemed that CBC's instinct was true, we found ourselves back in that very first field where we had commenced our journey. No fiendishly arduous downward descent had ensued and we were fresh and eager still

The sheep ambled unusually nonchalantly for a breed who have long since fled at the sight of me.

A rather vigorous rustling hailed from our left and we saw a lamb frolicking in the branches close to the river- I wondered if he was having a cheeky scratch.

He seemed happy to remain near us until I hastened my pace and then forthwith, he fled!

Giving me the odd mistrustful backward glance.

The last sight I enjoyed was these intriguing seed-pods covering a tree!

I thought I would include a video of the rain droplets striking the water. I don't know how to align it centrally- it refused to oblige!

As we reached the car, we headed off to the large patch of Wild Garlic and helped ourselves to the plentiful leaves, sniffing each one very carefully to check they were not Lily of the Valley or Lord and Ladies which can be mistakenly eaten as Wild Garlic with disastrous results!

Back home, we set out to make the Wild Garlic pesto, stopping at the handy Haltwhistle Coop for the extra ingredients. I googled the Riverford Organic Wild Garlic pesto to check and then we made it.

But... it seemed we had no blender, so the pesto was very rough, crudely made and chunky-looking! 

 It was, however, extremely tasty! We served it as an accompaniment to Brown Trout, rice, Tumeric-infused cauliflower with spinach and yoghurt. I say we- I did the pesto, CBC made everything else!

The wild garlic pesto was a fitting conclusion to an enjoyable walk! I have no doubt we will return to Allen Banks often!

Have you been to Allen Banks or made Wild Garlic pesto?

xx