Category Archives: Diary

LETJOG – Day 36: Tuesday 22 June – BELLINGHAM to BYRNESS (16 miles) A great start to the day, and thank you to Anne, Dave and Tracey at the Cheviot Hotel for a breakfast to remember, and for supporting LETJOG – this is very much appreciated! Then the goodbyes, this time, maybe, for three weeks,Continue reading “Solitary Man”

LETJOG – Day 35: Monday 21 June – BARRASFORD to BELLINGHAM (13 miles) Rachel had studied the weather forecast avidly this morning, and had decided that it suited our purposes perfectly to take our time over breakfast, whilst the rain, and then the drizzle, abated. And an excellent repast it was too, following a similarlyContinue reading “God Only Knows”

LETJOG – Day 34: Sunday 20 June – HEXHAM to BARRASFORD (11 miles) So good to be together for the next two days of the walk, and after a good breakfast, Rachel and I set off northwards, crossing the Tyne and through Acomb, before making our way up amongst the fields of barley to theContinue reading “Sunday Girl”

LETJOG – Day 33: Saturday 19 June – ALLENHEADS to HEXHAM (18 miles) Up early for a special day! Rachel is braving the returning football fans on the East Coast Line, taking the train up to Newcastle and thence to Hexham, so that we can be together for three days, including two of my LETJOGContinue reading “Gentle On My Mind”

LETJOG – Day 32: Friday 18 June – MIDDLETON-IN-TEESDALE to ALLENHEADS (18 miles) Another fine moorland day began with a sustained and pleasant climb out of Teesdale, first on a rarely-used country lane with commanding views across the Tees valley, before a more challenging ascent through rough pastures and onto the moors. After completing theContinue reading “Allentown”

LETJOG – Day 31: Thursday 17 June – KELD to MIDDLETON-IN-TEESDALE (21 miles) The milestone, and achievement, of passing 550 miles walked, and thereby half-way to my LETJOG destination at John O’Groats, has been a factor preoccupying my thoughts, and it warrants some reflection. When I planned this trek, back in February/March I had noContinue reading “Livin’ On A Prayer”

LETJOG – Day 30: Wednesday 16 June – STARBOTTON to KELD (24 miles) Today has been a proper walk, an epic nine-hour high-level hike, with three significant climbs totalling well over 1,000 metres of ascent, that will last a long time indeed in the memory. Not for these statistics, but for the views, sights andContinue reading “Up On The Roof”

LETJOG – Day 29: Tuesday 15 June – SKIPTON to STARBOTTON (19 miles) First, a big thank you to Richard at The Unicorn in Skipton for supporting my LETJOG effort, and for a fine breakfast delivered to my room for 7.30 am! Then goodbyes to friends Chris and Christine, and once more I was onContinue reading “Beautiful Day”

LETJOG – Day 28: Monday 14 June – HEBDEN BRIDGE to SKIPTON (23 miles) I have now visited Hebden Bridge twice, both within the last three years, and this dynamic town certainly deserves more time than the two brief overnights I have spent whilst on trek. Historical interest melds here with a culture of theContinue reading “Wuthering Heights”

LETJOG – Day 27: Sunday 13 June – DIGGLE to HEBDEN BRIDGE (18 miles) I was joined for today’s walk by one of my oldest friends, Rob, who had been with me also for part of Wednesday’s walk into Ashbourne, and by his brother-in-law Andrew, who I had not seen for perhaps 30 years. AnContinue reading “I Can See For Miles”