Middle Tongue and Murton Pike, Dufton, Cumbria, England

It's amazing what life's other distractions do to your memory. For instance, a visit to the Upper Eden Valley around Appleby-in-Westmorland and Dufton in Cumbria lay gathering dust in my mind until a recent refurbishment of one of the pages among my Travel Jottings reminded me of the visit. All it took was a photo to restore my recollections of a few hours spent around there.

The intention of my visit was an out and back trot from Appleby to High Cup Nick, but a troubled train shortened my walking time and I only got part of the way instead. Nevertheless, I did get a closer look at the North Pennines near Dufton in spite of getting the best views of the Nick from near Appleby itself. A hike from Dufton to Teesdale remains in mind with there being two YHA hostels at either end, Dufton and Langdon Beck. With YHA bookings sorted, it could happen, but that's easier said than done these days. With countryside like what you see above the magnificence of the torrents in Teesdale, the effort should be worthwhile should the weather ever make an offer.