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 →

The cloud was high as I set off this morning, with patches of blue sky. The wind had also dropped overnight.

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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.

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 →

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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