Gentian blues and golden plovers

A wonderful walk from the Youth Hostel up Cronkley Fell and back along the River Tees, the highlight being seeing so many Spring Gentians at this their only site in the UK.  They are small plants and the flowers only open in sunshine, but as it says on one of the tourist leaflets, "When you do find them, they stop you in your tracks with their startling deep-blue flowers".  So I too can say "I feel grateful for my day in the hills and the singing blue of the gentians" (Guardian Country Diary 9th May 2022).
We also had a good view of two Golden Plover - a special day!