For a relatively short and flat winter walk ten of us met on a sunny January morning in farming country near Darlington.  We were warned of muddy patches so came prepared, but as things turned out I think we had seen worse!  Barmpton is a group of quiet farming cottages close to the river Skerne, from where we set off along a gently rising path across fields.  A nearby group of wind turbines dominated the landscape.

After a while we joined a trackway between hedges and trees and followed it for a mile or so before meeting a wider farm track, part of the old Salters Lane.  After passing through farmyards, we found a grassy spot for a brief lunchtime break before continuing back towards the river.  On the way we paused at the Ketton packhorse bridge.  It was built, we were told, in the seventeenth century but we could see it now no longer crossed the river which had been diverted to a straighter course.

Back close to the river we followed an easy grassy path back to our starting point and dispersed.  Thanks are due to John for arranging today’s event, and we looked forward to our next gathering.