HUNTING LOCALITIES 195 



Croft — and not only do the residents hunt in great 

 numbers, but many visitors keep horses in the town, 

 and come by train three or four times a week to hunt. 

 On a Thursday when Lord Zetland's are at Willow 

 Bridge or Cleasby — the nearest meets to Darlington 

 on the Yorkshire side of the river — or on a Tuesday 

 when hounds are at Walworth or Coniscliffe in their 

 Durham country, the influx of visitors is very great, as 

 they come from Newcastle-on-Tyne, Sunderland, from 

 the Stockton and Middlesborough districts, and at 

 times from York. We have even known a man to 

 hunt with the pack (by train) from somewhere near 

 Windermere, travelling once or twice a week by what 

 is known as the Tebay route, and, on the other hand, 

 we heard lately of a man living at Richmond (in York- 

 shire) who hunted once or twice a week with Lord 

 Middleton's hounds. The fact is that where fast main- 

 line trains are available it is nowadays possible to hunt 

 in countries which are very remote from one's own 

 residence — more especially when horses are stabled in 

 the country where they are used. 



Anyhow Lord Zetland's hounds attract far more 

 visitors than do any other northern pack, and this is 

 not to be wondered at, for the country is really good, 

 and the sport, taking one year with another, far above 

 the average. The Yorkshire country carries a good 

 scent, and though there is a good deal of plough in 

 places there is more grass, and as a rule the going is 

 good even in wet weather. Close to Darlington, on the 

 Durham side of the country, there is some strong land, 

 which at times becomes holding, but the country 

 improves every mile as one goes westward, the land 

 gradually rising, and grass taking the place of arable 

 land. Barnard Castle is within the boundaries of the 



