A walk upriver … to the sound of goldcrests

Sinderhope, Northumberland Goldcrests peep high up in the pines. Rabbits have grazed the turf to the tight sward of a lawn

The faded blue footbridge that spans the East Allen stands on tall supports, necessarily high for when the river is in spate. Last December it was a surging, terrifying flood; today the water barely wets the painted wooden gauge in the centre of the ford. A sign warns: "Caution. Due to scouring, depths may be deeper than indicated". Now, two walkers dry their feet after paddling before putting on their socks. This is Old Man Bottom, a local name - with no apostrophe S - that you won't find on any map.

Mines were often known as Old Man, so it may have some connection with lead extraction. Next to the ford, there's a new milestone, a stone sculpture of a packhorse pointing five miles upstream to the lead mine, ten miles down to the Dukesfield smelt mill.