We are still trying to get Cleo over her nervousness. Just about everything scares her, so it's a case of having to take things slowly. We thought that a walk over moorland of Cronkley Fell would be good for her. Lots of new sights and smells for her to check out, and hopefully it would be fairly quite. She can still be very nervous when meeting strangers, so we didn't want to meet lots of people. I also wanted to check out how the wild flowers were coming along this year. Cronkley Fell is one of the few places in Teesdale that is home to the lovely Spring Gentians and Birds Eye Primroses. I like to try and get to see them each year, they usually flower in mid to late May. So I was very surprised to find them in full bloom when we got up to the enclosures on the top of the fell. They are a good few weeks early this year, so I'm glad we accidently got the timing perfect this year!
Cleo waiting patiently in her new travel kennel
Heading along the track towards Wat Garth
A very typical Upper Teesdale scene, bleak moorland dotted with white farm buildings
The River Tees, which we will follow on part of today's walk
But that's later on, first we need to cross the river and head for Cronkley farm
Behind the farm there's a bit of a climb up through the rocky outcrop of High Crag
Looking back at the farm from the top of the climb
Cronkley Fell from Bracken Rigg
Looking across Holwick Fell towards the distant Bink Moss
The recent dry conditions has meant that White Force has just about dried up!
Sheena and Cleo
and one of me and Cleo
and Cleo by herself
Noon Hill
Cleo waiting for me to finish taking photos
The lovely Spring Gentian's
They were in full bloom today with the warm sunshine
The moorland was covered in tiny splashes of blue
There were lots of splashes of pink as well from the Birds Eye Primroses
a close up shot of one of the Birds Eye Primroses
Sheena taking photos of the Spring Gentians, you can just about make out the small patch of them in front of her
One of the Sugar Limestone outcrops which give this area it's unique habitat
White Well, a natural spring
Where Cleo enjoyed playing in clear spring water, well it wasn't clear for long!
The distant Cross Fell from Cronkley Fell
Approaching the cairn at Man Gate, where we would descend down to the River Tees
Looking across Widdybank Fell towards the distant Burnhope Seat (on the far left)
Falcon Clints
and Raven Scar
Heading back along the banks of the River Tees
Passing the remote Widdybank Farm
The river levels were very low today, after the recent dry spell
Despite that, it was still lovely walking along the banks of the river
Me and Cleo back at the car
I hope that you have enjoyed looking at the photograph's from this walk? If you have any questions or comments regarding them or the walk in general, please either leave a message below, or send me an email, and I will get back to you asap. Thanks Gary ...
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Our last walk was around Hamsterley Forest 
Our next walk was a visit to Angle Tarn
Other County Durham walks 2011 walks journalAll of the photograph's from this walk were taken using my Canon 5D MkII camera and 24-105mm L series lens
© www.mywainwrights.co.uk (This page was last updated - 3 May 2011)
