Our Time at Ingram Valley
Taking the valley road
We’ve walked the Breamish Valley many times. Being blown to pieces up on the hills has its charms, but we’re just as happy taking the road along the valley floor. More often than not it’s sheltered, and you can get a couple of miles in without having to wade through a bog.
It’s a quiet road serving a couple of farms. In our experience, there’s little traffic and what does come along is usually going slowly. For much of the walk you have the winding River Breamish alongside you. In summer we’ve seen it barely moving, and after a winter storm I’ve seen it running high and dangerous. The hill sheep come down for shelter, so keep dogs close and on a lead around livestock.
A December afternoon with Meg
One of my favourite walks here was in December 2022. A hard frost had kept everything crisp and white well into the grey afternoon. It was slippy underfoot and we didn’t see a soul in either direction. Hats, gloves, boots and breath hanging in the air.
Meg loves to plodge through the river looking for sticks or stones big enough to be worth carrying. That afternoon she kept looking at me, then the river, then back at me for the usual ‘go on then’. She got a ‘no’ every time. It was just too cold. I’d have a flask of tea waiting in the car. All she’d get was a brisk rub with a damp towel.
A small thank-you at Bulby’s Wood
On that same walk I popped into the toilets at Bulby’s Wood car park. They were lovely and clean, and somebody had even put the heater on. We’ve used them plenty of times and they’ve always been well looked after. A big thank-you to whoever does that job. It’s reassuring to know there’s a decent loo nearby, just in case.
We’ve usually found parking straightforward at Ingram Bridge or Bulby’s Wood. On a fine summer weekend it’s a different story. By mid-morning the car parks can be busy with walkers and families heading for the riverbank. If you fancy a quieter walk, get there early.
Heather & Sand verdict. The hills are there when we fancy them. On a cold day, give us the quiet road, the river winding beside it and a flask of tea waiting in the car.
