Appleby Monday 28th June

Leader: Kerstin Nagel

Photos: Clive Horsford and Kerstin Nagel

After dealing with the vaguries of the Pay Machine in Chapel Street car park, the party, led by Kerstin Nagel, walked from the centre of Appleby-in-Westmorland to some beautiful red sandstone alms houses. The cobbled courtyard surrounding the houses had at its centre an attractive colourful fountain.

The edge of the town was soon reached and quiet field paths (Dales High Way) were followed to join Hoff Beck at Bandley Bridge.

After a coffee stop, the Hoff Beck was followed. The banks contained a large variety of plants and flowers including ox-eye daisies, orchids and bugle and the watercourse itself was covered with water buttercups at several points along the way.

Crossing the main road at Hoff, the party continued to follow the beck in which a large collection of ducks appeared and were enjoying splashing about. Further on a stop for lunch was taken making use of the trees overhanging the beck for shade.

The furthermost point from Appleby was reached at Rutter Force – a mere trickle but nevertheless spectacular in its setting by the old mill and waterwheel. Hard to believe it once generated electricity for Great Ormside! Our acquaintence with Hoff Beck now ended and the group then made its way to Great Ormside village to take up a footpath high above the river Eden. This path was followed to weirs and a bridge on the edge of Appleby where a short road walk led back to the car park.

Clive Horsford