Frimpong in Weardale - by John A Graham Photo Gallery by Frimpong The Travelling Bear at pbase.com

Frimpong in Weardale - by John A Graham

by John A Graham

Weardale is one of England’s best kept secrets ……. until now.
Someone described it as “just like the Yorkshire Dales, but with added steepness and without the tourists”.
It’s one of “The Durham dales” along with Teesdale. These two dales couldn’t be more different in character.

Teesdale is all about wideopen spaces and waterfalls, Weardale is much narrower and steeper.
Unlike the Yorkshire Dales and the nearby Lake District, in Weardale it’s possible to walk for miles without seeing another person.

Weardale also has a Heritage railway, which has recently been reconnected to the national rail network, and plans are afoot to run the first ever train direct to Stanhope from London Kings Cross.

Much of the dale sits within the “North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” and despite a very industrial past it retains an air of tranquility.
There are many old buildings though not much of great architectural merit, mostly old farmhouses and workers cottages.

A large part of the dale was once the hunting ground of the “Prince Bishops” who ruled Durham from their castle at Bishop Auckland.
Some of the highest roads in England are those in and out of Weardale and it is often affected by winter weather as it sits on a similar latitude to Moscow.

I have been fortunate to have been invited to spend some of the winter months with a fine English gentleman, Mr. Johnny Graham.

Johnny is also known as Johnny Jag to many of his pbase friends.
He takes many photographic walks in the company of his dog Holly, and has created a fine gallery of sheep portraits from Weardale.
He has also introduced me to a natural phenomenon in Weardale known as "The Elephants".
During the course of my stay in Weardale I visited The Elephants on more than one occasion.

This is Weardale, not Switzerland!	Bollihope valley	Elephant watch
I meet a famous fossil	Frimpong the sheepbear	Looking sheepish
Looking wistful	"If you think I'm going in there, you must be quackers!"	Watching the river flow
Stuck in a rut	Watching out for elephants!	In the Weardale Gazette office
With Margaret of the Weardale Gazette	Wherefore art thou Frimpong?	Frimpong and Johnny the great elephant hunters
Crouching Frimpong,hidden elephants	Under the Weardale moon	Who ate all the truffles?
Enjoying a glass of Christmas bubbly	Queazy rider	Hiding up a tree
Local History	More history	At Killhope
Having fun in the snow	Having more fun in the snow	By the kissing gate
The elephant hunt continues...	At long last : here are the (white) elephants!	Which way home?
Becky and Frimpong	Welcome to Weardale	Approaching Frosterley at last!
Celebrating New Year's Eve	With Sophie in the snow	When it's this cold why do you call it the burn?
Cold comfort	Frimpmobile	Two hatless figures in a landscape
Welcome to Teesdale	"If yew go down to the woods today", I sang	Footnote
Let the force be with you	Low Force	Hardly any force
The burn without snow and ice	Looking for rabbits	"Don't jump, Frimpong!" said Johnny
Weardale : also available in green!	At Stanhope Station	It's official...
Getting over the stile...	At Rookhope	c2c
"You're getting posterised", says Johnny	Me and my shadow	West Biggins
It's behind you!	Hooray for Holywood!	The Harehope Quarry Projectionist
Harehope Quarry Project.	Harehope Quarry Project ppnd	Frosterley marble-ous
Frimpong gets wickered	abridged	Kenneth' s Bridge
At Broadwood Cottage	At Broadwood House	Doing it the Weardale Way
Windswept tree	Which way to Tuscany?	Two for the road
"Are you sure this is the very latest teleportation technology?"

comment

Steve Sharp		15-Mar-2010 21:36
A most enjoyable gallery Frimpong, you look like you made the most of the snow :)

Chris		15-Mar-2010 20:51
I feel we should be worrying about you Johnny... This is just brilliant - Frimpong made my day!

Stephanie		14-Mar-2010 19:59
This is a delightful gallery! It appears that you and Frimpong became best buddies this winter! :^)

Marisa Livet		28-Feb-2010 13:48
An adorable, humorous and educative gallery, great work John and...thank you, Frimpong!

Cindi Smith		26-Feb-2010 03:37
Super time Frimpong is having. I'm sure he really enjoyed staying with you. I love this gallery!

Jola Dziubinska		21-Feb-2010 00:04
Lovely visit to winterly land and friendly sheep. Cool shots. V.

marie-jose wolff		20-Feb-2010 23:14
Frimpong seems to enjoy the winter pleasures in Weardale.. Very fine gallery! V

malcolm haslam		20-Feb-2010 18:32
A good time had by all, by the looks of it. v

Patricia Kay		20-Feb-2010 07:52
Wonderful gallery of beautiful images Johnny....What a great visitor to keep you and Holly company on your walks...BV

Gail Davison		20-Feb-2010 07:42
Good job Frimpong has a thick coat!! Lovely shots Johnny

Eric Hewis		19-Feb-2010 23:47
Bloody hell, all I got was Catherine Jenkins.

J. Scott Coile		19-Feb-2010 22:20
Too funny. You lucky dog...

laine		19-Feb-2010 20:47
Now all Weardale needs is it's own national Anthem & it has everything it needs !! bet the ancestors never imaged the place would be popular for it's elephants & bear displays :))

Kevin Chester		19-Feb-2010 20:36
A fine gallery from Jag land Frimpong, pleased you enjoyed Englands best kept secret. Now SShhh don't tell anyone.

Colin Storey		19-Feb-2010 20:05
What a great Honour for both of you to meet in Beautiful Weardale, and what a fantastic result of this meeting of two PBase legends. voted

Marjan Schavemaker		17-Feb-2010 12:57
Great lay-out of this gallery!

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