With the effects of climate change in evidence again, the ferry crossing was repeatedly delayed due to Storm Barra. However the storm proved no match for our resolve as we eventually sailed across the Irish Sea and into Holyhead over 24 hours after we were originally scheduled to arrive.
The next stage of the trip involved the drive through some of the UK’s most breathtaking scenery, with plenty of peatland on display, starting with the backdrop of the Snowdonia Mountains in north Wales. Exiting Wales we hung a left due north as far as the south of the Lake District before turning due east across the Pennines.
Four hours later or thereabouts we finally got to meet with our like-minded colleagues and bog restoration friends of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) located in their office at Bishop Auckland.
There the team gave us an inspiring presentation on their outstanding work restoring nearly 2000 square kilometres of north Pennines blanket bog. It being day’s end this was followed by a well-earned meal.