Headed for the parts that most visitors never see, (as they speed across the causeway in cars) we struck off across the sands and through the dunes to The Snook at the west end of the island. Hugging the coast, enjoyed fabulous views out over the sea. Northern marsh orchids, thrift and common storks-bill in flower, also the invasive pirri-pirri; accidentally imported with Australian wool in the early 1900s, its burr sticks to clothes, fur and feather, which is why it is best not to take dogs onto the island.

Lindisfarne is a National Nature Reserve, the tidal mud flats and sands providing sustenance for many different aquatic birds. Among those we saw were eider ducks and dunlins, fulmars nesting on cliff ledges and also little terns, quite unusual because not many nest in this country.

Most interesting ‘find’ – which none of us had seen before – was a dead Narrow-nosed fish (from the family of Pipe Fishes) on the footpath. With a head not unlike a seahorse, it lives amongst seaweed in shallow water and was most probably dropped from a seabird’s beak.

Left the quiet side of the island behind and fell in with tourists walking to and fro the castle and village.

Walked back to the mainland via the Pilgrims’ Way, the route across the sands marked with tall posts. Passed the refuge hut on the causeway; basically a box on stilts, accessed by ladder steps, it’s for stranded motorists who stupidly try to beat the tide, discover they can’t and make headline news in the local paper.

5 – Passed our FABBL inspection today – that stands for Farm Assured British Beef and Lamb – all to do with quality assurance and the Little Red Tractor logo you see on food labelling. The inspector looked at farm records, veterinary medicines and some sheep and cattle.

10 – New additions to our suckler cow herd arrived home tonight from the pedigree Luing sale at Castle Douglas. Johnny brought a cow and calf, three heifers and two Simmental x Luing heifers known as Sim-Luings.

An impromptu decision to enter the 50^th Chevy Chase – a 20-mile walk/run over high hill country near Wooler – led to some great walks this month.

11 – First practice, a 10-mile circular walk in the Harthope Valley taking in part of the race route. We walked up the burn from Careyburn Bridge, past the imposing ruins of Broadstruther, once a shepherd’s home, across the head of the Hawsen Burn (the photograph is looking south down the burn),

and then following the well worn path up to Cheviot summit. A breathtaking experience, literally! At 2676ft Cheviot is the highest hill in Northumberland. Saw the little white cloudberry flower (only found over 1600 ft in blanket peat bog), also milkwort and cow wheat, a semi parasitic plant which grows on the roots of other plants.

14 – Walked over our hill to Rock Rose Bank. Wood cranesbill, yellow pimpernel and the rock roses were all in flower. Saw a red squirrel scuttling across the water-gate and noticed otter spraint beside the river. 

17 – Back to the Harthope Valley, this time to climb Hedgehope (this view is from Cheviot) and recce another bit of the Chase route. The annual Cheviot 2000 race was taking place today. Lots of activity – and people – on top of Hedgehope (2348ft), the final checkpoint before the runners descended to the finish in the valley below. Parts of the hills carpeted with Hares-tail cotton grass, the single white heads nodding in the breeze.

19 – New Zealand shearers clipped the in-bye ewes. I took this photograph of our very special black lamb in the sheep pens. She now features on a ‘flyer’ we’ve done about Ingram Valley Lamb that we’re supplying to a catering butcher on Tyneside who in turn is supplying leading restaurants in Newcastle. She’s grown a lot since March when she was pictured in her orange lamb mac. Don’t worry though. She won’t be leaving Ingram!

21 – Longest Day – and what summer to date? Very strong westerly wind brought leaves down, and a big limb off an ash tree.  

25 – Climbed Cheviot, the quickest way up from Langleeford. The higher we got, the thicker the fog. Friends Angela and Joyce are pictured at the summit pointing the way to Hedgehope.  Had intended to climb that as well but couldn’t even see it so retraced our steps down.

27 – Started making silage. Grass is very dry.