On the way back came across a party of about 15 men, all men, with dogs. One of them seemed to have a gun but it could have been one of those walking poles; I was a long way away.
They disembarked from five vehicles and then went up a hill into some wooded land. I don't know what they were doing but as I continued to walk I heard a lot of shouting. This was not competitive shouting as if it came from a sporting crowd, but some individual hollering, possibly for a lost dog.
Very strange since you are not supposed to drive vehicles up the Swinside Bridleway unless you have permission. Clearly this was pre-arranged, but what was it about?
Jonathan Brind