14 June - Bellingham to Bryness

Breakfast at Linden Cottage was on a par with the accommodation, pretty poor, so I didn’t linger and got away fairly quickly.  On the map this looked like another long day, but after yesterday the walking was extremely easy, with the 16 or so miles covered in just under 6 hours.  The first part of the walk is across heather moorland,

and the latter through the Kielder Forest,

where on the day I walked through it seemed to constantly reverberate to the sound of artillery firing at nearby Otterburn ranges, bringing back memories of my time there in my early twenties firing 25 pounders and 3” mortars!

Thanks to the swift passage I arrived at Forrest View quite early, so sat outside and enjoyed a well-earned rest until Colin and Joyce returned, when I was welcomed inside.  Forrest View is an experience not to be missed.  Colin and Joyce have turned what was a run-down youth hostel into 5 star accommodation, while still keeping prices extremely reasonable.  Add the fact that Colin runs his own bar with various real ales on tap, that food is also served in the evenings and is of a high quality and you have a recipe for a great place to stay.  If I’d known then what I was to face tomorrow, I’d have taken advantage of their package that sees guests picked up between Bryness and Kirk Yetholme allowing the route to be split into 2 days!

As it was I intended to start early (around 6) and breakfast on route, and while the weather forecast that evening predicted rain it didn’t quite convey the storm that I was about to face.  Ignorance is bliss they say and that, plus a couple of pints of real ale, at least allowed me a good night’s sleep!