Isaac’s Tea Trail is 21 years old this year and, like any footpath, it needs a bit of TLC from time to time. So a big thank you to Hexham Ramblers for their Terrific Labouring Crew and the repairs we came across in the East Allen VAlley.
It was a hot sunny day so we decided a route with a waterfall and shady woodland was a winner. Parking at the High Forest Community Centre at Sinderhope we walked down through a meadow, ooh-ing and aah-ing at the wild flowers all around us. Usually when we reach the valley floor we hear the river churning over the waterfall, but today we just heard trickles and splashes. The falls were confined to one end of the rocky shelf rather than sheeting over it in a billow of froth. And the river bed below, usually under edge-to-edge water with just a few rocks visible, was more dry than wet.
One benefit of the dry weather was the dessication of a notoriously boggy footpath past the old lead mine at Holms. Even the boardwalk installed years ago has given up and just a few wooden planks remain semi-submerged in mud that delights in swallowing boots, but today we reached the edge of the woodland with our boots the same colour as when we set off. Not our arms and legs though – ominous red splodges showed that cleggs had staged a stealthy ambush. Apparently they cut into the skin rather than pierce it so their bites are often more spectacular than those of midges.
Hoping for a breeze to cool us and deter insects we crossed a field (the ow of clegg bites superceded by the ooh and aah of wildflower loveliness) and headed for high ground.
After a steep climb through bracken we rested beside a four-pointed finger post and enjoyed views right across Northumberland to the Cheviot Hills.
Heading off again we passed through a series of new gates which have replaced stiles, and descended to the Acton Burn. A couple of new planks in the footbridge alerted us to recent maintenance work, and as we reached the other side of the little valley there was evidence of more. The flight of steps set into the steep slope has become a bit slumped and wonky over the years, but we could see that un-slumping was underway.
Enquiries with Hexham Ramblers confirmed that this was their work, continuing repairs carried out by Northumberland County Council. The Rambers have since completed the job and sent pictures of their efforts.
Hexham Ramblers have been carrying out footpath maintenance on Isaac’s Tea Trail for five years and I am reliably informed that they celebrated the anniversary, and the completion of this their first construction job, with cake and Prosecco. I like their style!
There’s more information about Isaac’s Tea Trail at https://isaacs-tea-trail.co.uk/
and https://www.northpennines.org.uk/location/isaacs-tea-trail/
You can follow me on Twitter @isaacsfootsteps
walkingisaacsteatrail 
Was Dotty on a break to avoid cleggs and hot weather ?
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Dotty the dog was with us – she’s hidden in the long grass at this time of year!
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