Day 43- Low Farm to Middleton-in-Teesdale 19 Miles

High Force

     I was woken by a sheep making a rather strange noise not far form my tent. I ignored it and began to pack up. If I'd pocked my head out of my tent I'd have seen a lamb been born about a hundred meters away. She was nudging some curious lambs away with her head and standing protectively over it by the time I climbed out.
  The path from the camp wonders along the river Tees from Low Force to High Force before splitting away towards Widdy Bank. The smooth trodden path changes to a rather horrible scramble across Falcon Clint's until you reach Cauldron Snout. It slowed me down and I really struggled, the backpack catching me off balance and threatening to knock me into the river.

Falcon Clint

  Cauldron Snout is a wonderfully dramatic waterfall, the torrents crashing down from Cow Green Reservoir and the path no where in sight. You have to clamber up the sides, at times lifting yourself up a meter, again this would have been great fun if I were not carrying the backpack. It was still fun but a little intimidating as well.

Cauldron Scout

  Several mountain bikers passed me, some looked experienced while others had the look of day bikers taken aback by the roughness of the terrain. From the reservoir the climb begins up to High Cup, and the walk while not too difficult is relentless and wears you out. Just past a farm I sat and ate my humus and wrap smiling at the farmer sheepishly as he passed on his quad.

  High Cup is worth the slog and seems to come from no where. You fall down before crossing a steam. Just after one last clamber you're there. I dropped my bag and collapsed onto it. The weather been clear I had a stunning view down the valley, the high sides grand and steep.
  Just after beginning my decent from Nick and Dod Hill towards Dufton I encountered a wall builder. The stone walls that divide the fields have such a timeless look to them it's easy to forget that they'd need repair. To see someone doing this job, a task that is the same now as a hundred years ago, struck me as rather wonderful. He said it took him a day to construct about 4 meters, and he'd been doing it for the past 20 years. I stood and chattered while throwing a stick for his dog who didn't care a joy what it did to my back bending down to pick the thing up.

High Cup

  I reached Grandie Campsite and finding the owner discovered that, since I wrote and was offered a free pitch, the owners had changed. It was a rather awkward situation, I offered to pay a few times and in the end we settled for half price. Tired, I made myself a portion of rice and settled down. I'd felt lifeless all day and was happy to sit back and watch a Buffy on my phone.

Gear Review - Ode to my Tent- Black Wolf Mantis I

    What to do when you find you're not in the mood to write, run or in general do something actually productive? Make a film about my tent and how much I love it. Here is the results, accompanied my Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band's song 'Tent'- which I have a horrible suspicion is referring to a different type of tent than my own. Either way it makes me smile and has a good beat.

  Here is my review of the Blackwolf's 'Mantis I' tent I've been using the last three years to walk over 2000 miles through Australia and Britain. I might be far from an expert in my field but I can say that this review comes from a thorough testing.

Tent in the middle of the Australian Outback, along the Sunshine Hinterland 2012

The Lizard, Cornwall, England 2013

RRP $269.00

Sleeps: 1
Dimensions: 255 x 220 x 80cm
Weight: 1.9kg
Floor: Polyester 5000 PU coating
Fly: Ripstop polyester 3000mm water column
Poles: (2) 8.5mm premium T6 alloy 

Features:

• 2-pole tapered rectangular design
• Spacious & lightweight
• Dual side entry
• Dual side vestibules
• Gear hammock
• Head & foot vents
• 4 guy rope points
• Ring ‘n’ pin colour-coded flexi poles
• Heat taped seams
• Waterproofpacked size 40cm x Φ15 cm  

Bought: November 2012

Miles Covered: 2000 Miles
Height: 5 foot 5 

Tan Hill, Along the Pennine Way, England 2013

I bought this as my first hiking tent while I was in Australia - since then its sheltered me along the Sunshine Hinterland Great walk (four night- 60 odd kms), Great Ocean Road (six days 100kms), Six Foot Track (3 days 40 odd kms) and god knows how many weekend exertions- one during floods. Now I'm back from Australia it has braved the considerably less mild weather of rainy England where I've walked the Pennine Way, a 450 plus kilometer hike over 15 days along the spine of England into Scotland. This summer I used it for a ten week expedition from Land's End to John o'Groats on foot covering 1200 miles (1940 Km) in one of the wettest summers for years. I've bought a few sets of new tent pegs but other than that it is barely marked. It has been put up and taken down every day; stuffed wet back into the rucksack; rolled quickly and badly in winds; all in all this tent has been treated quite roughly. The fact that it's in such good order is a testament to just how high quality this tent is. Other basic points- the porch space is very spacious, ventilation is great and although condensation collects on the inside of the tent the material dries very quickly. It is strong in high winds, no problems with the zips, packs up into a great size, and has WONDERFUL tent poles that seem to magnetically connect together. They can be flicked into place with your wrist in a matter of seconds. No sign of the string joining the tent poles snapping. Its quick to assemble if slightly tricky to put up in rain, not high enough to sit up in but material does give a little so that you can move around easily. Be aware that I am a medium to short woman and a tall man might find this tent somewhat short: my feet do touch the roof but that's because I like plenty of space above my head. This does mean that if there is a lot of condensation, and your feet touch the tent that your sleeping bag can get a little damp over a cold night.
  As I stated earlier this is my first hiking tent so I'm no expert but I can say its been superb every time I've put it up. Black Wolf Mantis I is durable and has survived me which is something that few other things have managed.  When my friend asked to borrow it I felt she'd asked for my child. I have absolutely no qualms in recommending this tent, its worth every penny been charged. The only down side is that its made by an Australian company and postage costs a bomb over the asking price. 

Devil's Kitchen Campsite along the Great Ocean Walk, Victoria 2013

Flaxton Camp Ground, Queensland

Bridge of Orchy, Land's End to John o'Groats, Scotland 2015

Gear Review - BlackWolf Mantis 1 Person Hiking Adventure Tent

On the first campsite along the 6 Foot Track in the Blue Mountains, Australia 2013

Tent in the middle of the Australian Outback, along the Sunshine Hinterland 2012

The Lizard, Cornwall, England 2013

RRP $269.00

Sleeps: 1
Dimensions: 255 x 220 x 80cm
Weight: 1.9kg
Floor: Polyester 5000 PU coating
Fly: Ripstop polyester 3000mm water column
Poles: (2) 8.5mm premium T6 alloy 

Features:

• 2-pole tapered rectangular design
• Spacious & lightweight
• Dual side entry
• Dual side vestibules
• Gear hammock
• Head & foot vents
• 4 guy rope points
• Ring ‘n’ pin colour-coded flexi poles
• Heat taped seams
• Waterproofpacked size 40cm x Φ15 cm  

Bought: November 2012

Miles Covered: 500+ Miles
Height: 5 foot 5 

Tan Hill, Along the Pennine Way, England 2013

I bought this as my first hiking tent while I was in Australia - since then its sheltered me along the Sunshine Hinterland Great walk (four night- 60 odd kms), Great Ocean Road (six days 100kms), Six Foot Track (3 days 40 odd kms), and god knows how many weekend exertions- one during the floods. Now I'm back from Australia it has braved the considerably less mild weather of rainy England where I've walked the Pennine Way (450 plus kilometers over 15 days along the spine of England into Scotland)- during this trip it rained the majority of the time but sleeping in this tent meant a snug and dry sleep every night no matter what. I've bought a few sets of new tent pegs for it, but other than that it is barely marked. Considering its been put up and taking down every day, stuffed wet back into the rucksack, rolled quickly and badly in winds, and all in all treated quite roughly,  the fact that its in such good order is a testament to just how high quality this tent it. Other basic points- the porch space is very spacious, ventilation is great and although condensation collects on the inside of the tent the material dries very quickly, strong in high winds, no problems with the zips, packs up into a great size, and has WONDERFUL tent poles that seem to magnetically connect together and can almost be flicked into place with your wrist. No sign of the string joining the tent poles snapping. Its quick to assemble if slightly tricky to put up in rain, not high enough to sit up in but material does give a little so that you can move around happily. Be aware that I am a medium to short woman, and a tall man might find this tent somewhat short: my feet do touch the roof but that's because I like plenty of space above my head. As I said this is my first hiking tent so I'm no expert but I can say its been superb every time I've put it up, its durable and has survived me which is something that few other things have managed.  When my friend asked to borrow it I felt she'd asked for my child. I have absolutely no qualms in recommending this tent, its worth every penny been charged.

Devil's Kitchen Campsite along the Great Ocean Walk, Australia 2013

Mankinhole, 3rd Day of the Pennine Way, England

Flaxton Camp Ground, Queensland