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Contents :: PENNINE WAY :: Day 3                       INTRODUCTION DAY 4 DAY 9 DAY 14   PREPARATION DAY 5 DAY 10 DAY 15   DAY 1 DAY 6 DAY 11 DAY 16   DAY 2 DAY 7 DAY 12 DAY 17   DAY 3 DAY 8 DAY 13 PREP RUNS                     THE PENNINE WAY SKIRTS THE EASTERN BOUNDARY OF REDESDALE FOREST     NATIONAL TRAIL GUIDES UK           Day 3 :: In the Forest :: Byrness to Bellingham :: 15 miles           I did not get to sleep last night until after 3 a.m. because of the noise from our accommodation.  I was a little tired when I awoke, to say the least. I felt a lot better after our yoga workout, though.  I felt sorry for Carol today – her little toe was very badly swollen and inflamed.  I had assumed she would not be running and was preparing to run by myself.  When Carol discovered this she was very upset.  She insisted on running with me, and despite my protestations, she did so – and completed today’s run without murmur or complaint, I might add!  I had jokingly called her a wimp the day before, but as she ran today I saw her in a new light – there was nothing wimpish about her at all.  She suffered in silence, and suffered she must! During breakfast we met a good family who had come from Switzerland.  They were walking the Pennine Way from the opposite direction and had only 2 days left.  They had with them 2 young girls, aged 8 and 6.  I admired them because I knew what they would have to go through in the remaining 2 days, having just completed this part of their route myself.  The family had walked our route for today just the day before.  We enthusiastically swapped intelligence, and I mentally noted the difficult areas. We would be running from Byrness through Redesale Forest, exiting it at Gibshiel and taking the bad weather route which runs parallel to the Way across Padon Hill.  We would then continue through Sundaysight along a minor road and join the Bellingham road at Meg’s Moss.  The bad weather route would take us from our exit point from Redesdale Forest at Gibshiel all the way into Bellingham. We chose this route today for two reasons: firstly, it was very misty and pouring with rain; and secondly I was very concerned about Carol’s feet.  This route might help keep them out of the wet mud and give them a chance to heal without becoming further infected.  The distance to be covered was only a mile longer than the the usual Pennine Way route and it mostly ran parallel to it. The Pennine Way through Redesdale Forest follows a forestry road for most of the way.  This proved to be easy to follow and we were able to run at a good pace, notwithstanding the condition of Carol’s feet.  We never once saw a Pennine Way sign, however, until leaving the forest and this one was designed to be seen only if traveling from the south.               Bridge from Byrness to Redesdale Forest   The normal exit from of Redesdale Forest           We were able to follow the various landmarks on our map so that we could ascertain our precise location.  This was important as we wished to ensure we exited at the right place. Redesdale Forest is very extensive.  Turning our map over, however, in the pouring rain and wind was difficult and the map took on the semblance of paper mache after only a short while. Although the map was contained within a waterproof sheath, to turn it over required removal from its protective covering.  As we approached Greymare Sike the moorland to the east of the forest became extensively visible and we were able to see over to Blackwool Law which was covered in a light haze of mist.  Before it the young trees of the forest were swaying in unison in response to the gusting wind.  The multifarious shades of green, purple and browns in this direction indicated the changes in vegetation as the forest gave way to wayside flowers, grasses, bracken and moorland. Running in the forest was a refreshing change.  The rain brought out the conifer smells and the trees provided shelter from the worst of the freshening wind.  We were enjoying this run.  The trees also seemed to shield the forest from external sounds.  Apart from the wind in the tree tops and the gentle hissing of the rain there was little else to be heard, save perhaps when we passed Greymare Sike and a few other sikes, whose murmuring waters added their voices to the whispers in the stillness. We soon arrived at the path junction where the Pennine Way leaves the forest track.  There was absolutely no indication of this on the ground.  The map showed it but there was no direction sign and to all intents and purposes it could have been a firebreak.  What made this more amusing was that 50 metres further on, on the other side of a gate and visible only to persons traveling the bad weather route from Gibshiel was a sign that said “The Forestry Commission welcomes Pennine Way walkers”.  This would be of absolutely no use whatever to most Pennine Way walkers, who would never see it.                Bed weather exit from Redesdale - to Gibshiel   Looking across to the Pennine Way on Padon Hill           We quickly arrived at Gibshiel and once there joined a minor road which skirted the western flank of Padon Hill which was completely covered in dense mist.  It was still raining and we were still getting a good soaking, but it felt good, and we were still enjoying the run, making far better time than we had been used to, because of the ease of running on forestry tracks and minor roads. We ran along our minor road toward Gunston, admiring, as we ran, the scenery on our right where we enjoyed a good view across Blackburn Common with its many sikes and cleuches  There was not much to see on our left save for the mist-clad Padon Hill, which dominated our entire view in that direction.  It was not long before we met a minor road junction at Kiln Rig, not more than 400 metres from where the road is crossed by the Pennine Way between Padon Hill and Whitley Pike.  We turned here and ran towards Sundaysight. We soon arrived at North Sundaysight and were very impressed with the gardens in the farm buildings there.  Not only were the gardens beautiful to look upon, but the uninterrupted view across John Side and Leonard’s Hill made for a very tranquil and serene setting.  This was so even in the pouring rain.               Cottages at Sundaysight   Approaching Bellingham           Our minor road shortly joined onto the B6320 between Otterburn and Bellingham and from it we had a clear view over the usual Pennine Way route following the western flanks of Abbey Rig, Callerhues Moss and School Crag.  The noise of the traffic here was depressing.  Although the traffic was not very heavy, after running for so long in the quiet countryside it was overwhelming and we would be glad to complete this section of our run. We had only 3 miles left to Bellingham when my shoes succeeded in rubbing a piece of skin from my upper foot.  This was probably due to road running and is one of the reasons I prefer off-road running.  I ignored the discomfort and carried on, putting a “Compeed” plaster on it upon reaching our accommodation.  At the hotel we also changed, watered and stretched.  Ian had been good enough to purchase brie cheese, grapes and water.  We demolished all with great rapidity and thanked Ian for thinking of us. That night we ate a hearty meal at the hotel and then walked around Bellingham.  In the evening the rain let up.         Day 2 Day 4       Author - Roy McKee Copyright © Roy McKee 2006