I have a bit of a habit when walking in the Cheviots of trying to squeeze one more hill in. Then another one. Then looking at the time and realising I've left myself about twenty minutes to get back to Wooler before Doddington Dairy Milk Bar shuts.
Nothing gets tired legs moving quite like the prospect of missing an ice cream or, even better, one of their milkshakes. I'm convinced I've broken the four-minute mile getting back to the car before now, such is the motivational power of Doddington shutting at 4pm.
The Milk Bar is on South Road in Wooler and it's one of my favourite places to call into when I've been out in the hills, with that closing time providing excellent encouragement to get a wriggle on.
Obviously I'm here for the ice cream and milkshakes
You can get breakfast, brunch, light bites, coffee, cakes and other treats here, but I'm not going to pretend that's my main reason for visiting.
It's the Doddington ice cream and, for me, the milkshakes.
The ice cream is made at nearby North Doddington Farm using whole milk from their own cows, with plenty of flavours to choose from. The milk doesn't have far to travel either. I'm not saying there's a hosepipe running directly from the cows to the Milk Bar, but it can't be far off.
It's also award-winning, although I'd happily have kept eating it without official confirmation that I was making a sound decision.
I also try to remember a bottle so I can grab some raw milk while I'm there, with varying levels of success. If you've just spent most of the day wandering over the Cheviots, this is also one of those rare occasions when ordering something enormous feels entirely justified.
The maths is simple: metres climbed equals calories earned. 1,000m of ascent means 1,000 calories. It's basic science. I don't make the rules.
Perfectly placed for the Cheviots
The location is spot on for the Cheviots too. Wooler is right on the edge of the hills, so I'm regularly passing through on my way to or from places like Hethpool, the College Valley, Yeavering Bell and Humbleton Hill.
If you're heading out later in the morning, the Milk Bar works for breakfast or a coffee before you start. If you're anything like me though, you'll spend most of the walk doing increasingly complicated calculations involving your remaining distance, average walking speed and whether you can realistically get back to Wooler before closing time.
There's indoor seating when the weather is doing its usual Northumberland thing and outdoor seating when you've somehow managed to arrange your visit when the sun makes one if its rare appearances.
