To those who dont live in Weardale, I expect that the concept of an Elephant tree seems a bit unlikely..
But on the skyline between Frosterly and Wolsingham, there's a group of trees which are supposed to look like a herd of elephants. They dont, but maybe they did once.
Me and the dawg had a little trundle today to visit the Elephant Trees on a day of perishing wuthering-heights style freezing-shrivel-up-yer-bits wind, bright sunshine and snowy get-yer-eid-down- squalls
We started at Wolsingham railway station car park/ice rink and went through fields past Chatterley farm (lady C. apparently not in....) and on to a long, moorland track that eventually fetches up at the Efellent trees - which arent all that impressive close up, but carry the romantic graffiti (hearts and initials) of generations of Weardale courting couples. Some of it is dated 1950!
A quick and shivery visit to the nearest trig point in a fierce and painful snow shower, and we abandoned the tops for the tropical sunspots of Weardale.
Which was a bit flooded in places....
Station car park still lethal...
Just short of ten miles and about 1000 feet up upness
