The car was going nowhere today.

Bowes village from a distance.

We walked along the Sleightholme road, Bowes village to our north.

Bright sunshine and light wind, a great day for a winter walk.

Snow ploughs at work.

Winter feeding for sheep.

The sheep were taking shelter under snow laden trees. This small area of woodland is one of the last remnants of the Stainmore Forest.

An almost Alpine scene.

A look back to Bowes on leaving the woodland.

 Snow plough force on the A66. It was to be another couple of hours before this route between Durham and Cumbria was to re-open.

Snow-bound, or should that be snow-bounding?

Drifted snow.

We joined the Pennine Way at Lady Myres farm.

Zeta leads the way through fresh snow.

Footbridge across the river.

The River Greta.

A snow covered stile as we head towards the village.

Crossing the fields to Bowes. In the distance you can see the trucks and cars being turned round on the still closed A66.

Hard times.

Bowes Castle, it stands on the site of an old Roman Fort. Bowes has always been a strategic location for the crossing of the Stainmore Pass.

The main street, Bowes.

At the bottom of the main street stands Dotheboy's Hall. Charles Dickens visited Bowes in February 1838 and this hall which at that time was a notorious "Yorkshire School" featured in his classic novel Nicholas Nickleby.

St. Giles church.

In the churchyard is the grave of William Shaw, the one-time "head" of Dotheboy's Hall  school no whom Dickens is reputed to have based his character Wackford Squeers.

The village shop.

The Ancient Unicorn Inn. Dickens called here during his visit to the village. Often now frequented by walkers on the Pennine Way.

Bowes Hall, also the location for another school at Dickens' time. It possibly looks very similar now as to when he saw it.

After re-crossing the River Greta we pass though the small hamlet of Gilmonby.

Gilmonby.