Once over the railway track, the Weardale Way follows the edge of open fields for some distance.
Further up the valley is this wooded section alongside the river bank.
To go beyond this gate will involve disturbing these cows and walking into some serious mud so I decided this was far enough for a morning and turned back towards Stanhope.
Back at the railway station, the smell of cooking beckoned and I ordered up ne'erday lunch at the buffet, Parsnip Soup with brown bread and butter, followed by Steak Pie, followed by a slice of coffee sponge cake, two shortbread biscuits and all washed down with a cup of coffee.
Stanhope Station and the train will leave again shortly.
I set off on my return journey, still early enough to allow time to visit Ann in hospital and take her back a souvenir of my trip - a book of old photographs from Weardale.
Ann was pleased with her gift and is feeling a wee bit better today.
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