Day 27 Byrness to Ray Fell

I left the Youth Hostel at 8am and started walking down the A68. The warden had warned me that it would be busy with motor bikes, which it was, but there were only a few heavy trucks. I stopped at a transport like café and had a ‘medium’ size breakfast.

I then walked to the junction of the A68 and A696 which I joined and followed as far as Otterburn. The chap in the shop there told me of a bridle path which starts just past the mill south of Otterburn and follows the River Rede. I asked how I could cross the river and he said there were stepping stones. It may have been the recent rain but I saw no place to cross! Therefore I carried on until I came to a bridge that took me to East Woodburn. It was getting late by this time and I needed water and to find a place to camp. I stopped at a couple of farms and a cottage but could not find anyone about. As the path crossed the road round here I took it to the next cottage that I could see and was told in no uncertain terms that I shouldn’t be on the road, it was private. (there were no signs where the path crossed the road). I did get some water and left the road by the shortest route which was convenient for me and set up camp in a small forest. I had been walking for about 11 ½ hours and was too tired to find someone to ask permission. As I was in the forest I didn’t like to use my stove so went straight to bed.