A mammoth hike of 23 miles, though there was hardly a climb in sight across the flat plain of the Vale of York, but it was still 23 miles never the less. It was the day that I said would be kill or cure.
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After an early breakfast I was heading out of Richmond and straight for the sewage works. Thankfully after the works a short wooded section where a carpet of wild garlic grew helped clear the nose. Continue reading
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This was one of the prettiest walks of recent days, and the weather was good for most of the day. It was not the longest of walks but it had pretty much everything a valley walk could offer: streams, meadows, woodlands, and pastures full of sheep and cattle. Continue reading
Having spent the night in a B&B 2.5 miles south and downhill from Keld (in the beautiful village of Thwaite) I was keen to get a lift back up the road in the minibus which was collecting my bag. Unfortunately it arrived just as breakfast did, it was a hard choice but with toast in hand I climbed on board.
A few steps along the Pennine Way, to cross the river, and I was back on the Coast to Coast heading east past one of the waterfalls which Keld is famous for. It was here that I saw the first primroses next to the falls.
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With bags packed early and another delicious breakfast I was off with clear blue sky, a few fluffy white clouds, and a warm sun. Continue reading
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The cloud was high as I set off this morning, with patches of blue sky. The wind had also dropped overnight.
Having left the Coast to Coast route at Burnbanks yesterday I spent a bit of time retracing my steps. It was a bit unfortunate as I was walking towards grey cloud and signs of rain, while to the east it was looking bright and sunny.
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Having rejoined the route I walked through a beautiful bluebell wood to the north of Naddle Bridge. After crossing the bridge and following the Haweswater Beck I rounded Rawhead with views back into Bampton Grange less than a mile away! There was no direct footpath to this point but it still seemed a cruel twist after walking a good 3 miles this morning to get here.
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I made a prompt start this morning, leaving Glenridding just after 8am. The weather was overcast but the steady rain was falling vertically. By the time I had made it to Patterdale the rain had paused slightly and I could see the clouds were racing over the tops of the fells ahead of me. Continue reading
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Breakfast had not even been served by the time I had started off the last couple of days, so a brief consitutional around the village before breakfast seemed in order to stretch the legs. I wish I had not bothered, there was thick drizzle in the air and not even the lower slopes of the surrounding fells could be seen – they seemed to all be smothered in low cloud.
The forecast was meant to be better today, I hoped that a later start might mean the weather had time to improve…
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Another early start, leaving just after 8am, to make the best of the days weather. Stepping outside for the first time there was already rain in the air – not enough for a jacket but just enough to keep jacket in hand.
I suspected I was the first one on the path again this morning, but with the guys I met yesterday missing out a stop overnight at Grasmere it would not be long before someone caught me up.
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After a quick early breakfast I set off as fast as my sore legs would take me. May be I am selfish but I did not want to share the early morning view of Ennerdale with anyone…
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