Just about recovered from a truly wonderful weekend spent with my wife rather large family in a most beautiful place.  Cotherstone is a very old village in Teesdale in County Durham.  It has a couple of pubs which are still going strong thanks to the locals who frequent it, but also the many visitors who come to the area each year.  This is one of the pubs, The Fox and Hounds.  Well worth a visit for a swift or leisurely pint of Black Sheep Ale or to stop over for a meal.

The tip there is one of the few enjoyable drives left in this overcrowded country.  Come off the M6 at junction 38 and head across country towards the A1 and Scotch Corner, but come off to go through Kirby Stephen.  The road is fast, if you want to go fast, and then heads up from the valley floor onto the tops of the valley before picking up the A66 before sliding off to the left near to Barnard Castle.

A few miles over the wild moorland road brings you into the village, and a welcome brew at my sister in laws home, and her children.  Three daughters and four grand children.  what a wonderful crowd.  Old fashioned I may be, but it does my heart good to see such a war, supportive and mad family!  Truly mad.

Not far away is the market town of Barnard Castle with a market square still used for a farmers market each week.  Wonderful shops on either side of the main street selling the stuff shops used always to sell.  Spent a few bob on a new shirt and a couple of second hand books which had taken my eye, not in the same shop I hasten to add.

Already looking forward to the next visit to the place, and to see a young lady who thinks my wife and I are wonderful.