Monday 9 September 2013

Coast to Coast day 8: Keld to Reeth



It was almost 11 o'clock by the time I got to bed so the alarm going off at 6:30am was a strident start to the day.

The sky was clear although it was quite cool and remained so for much of the day.


After another very nice breakfast it was time to get moving. Putting on my boots was a little bit more difficult than normal. Unfortunately they were still a little damp from the soaking they got on day 7 and I also had a blister on my right heal.

Trevor putting on his boots in preparation for the day ahead
The actual village of Keld was nestled below our hotel. We began the day by walking through the village and were quite surpised just how many buildings there were in a very small village.

Looking down on the village of Keld

Throughout the areas that we have walked through there have been quite a few sheep. The breeds have varied quite a bit. In this part of the country fat tailed sheep are common.


Leaving the village we crossed over the River Swale at East Gill Force.


Note the tea coloured water (bottom right)


The climb up to Crackpot Hill was a bit of a drag but the views worth the effort. by the way, a crackpot is a fissure in the limestone.


Our next climb, up and over a ridge to Swinner Gill Mine and then down to Blakethwaite mine site had quite a few challenging bits. I through that we were to have a bog free day. Ha! The views were stunning to make up for the hard walking conditions.

Walking over rocky fields of heath




A patch of heath on the hillside opposite the mine site
Over the past two days we had noticed a lot of dead rabbits lying about on roads and near tracks. Apparently mixo has been introduced in an attempt to cull the rabbit population. Not only do we need to take care where we put our feet because of the sheep droppings, bogs and other surface problems but now we have to avoid rabbit carcasses.

We dropped down to Gunnerside Gill (stream) and then climbed up onto Melbecks Moor. We had climbed up a hoosh to get to the Moor. A hoosh was used by the lead miners to wash lead bearing rock down the slop so that they could separate the lead from the limestone. They used water for this exercise.



An interesting limestone formation we passed going up the hoosh



We then descended to yet another abandoned lead mine, Old Gang Smelting Mills, where we stopped for lunch.

An abandoned crusher

This building had benches around the outer walls ... a luxury



Inside one of the abandoned buildings. Equipment had just been left in situ
The walk continued past moorland and then farmland before we arrived at Reeth just after 3 o'clock.


A furry catapillar


A grouse ... these birds are shot for sport ... and also fetch a high price in restaurants

Cubs and scouts who greeted us just out of Reeth

The narrrow track between walls that we followed into Reeth. It was boot width in places

Arriving at our B&B: Hackney House


1 comment:

  1. Certainly doesn't look like easy walking, but certainly fabulous scenery

    ReplyDelete