Coast to Coast day 5: Glenridding to Shap

The weather this morning looked great. While the forecast suggested rain later in the day we were pleased to be setting out in sunshine.

This was a big day as we were to cover 17 miles (27km) with a height gain of 760m. I lightened my pack as much as possible but it was still heavier than everyone except perhaps Dave, our guide.

After a decent breakfast we were off at 8:30 tracking back through Gelnridding past Ullswater sometimes walking on the road, at other times on a path parallel to the road. Passing through Patterdale before hading up a valley to Boredale Hause, the first of three climbs this morning each of which took about 45 minutes. The path was rocky and quite steep and today Trevor and I had taken our poles at Dave's recommendation.

After a short flatish bit there was another steep climb past Angle Tarn and Satura Crag. By this stage we had climbed around 450m.

Trevor coming up the track

The group at Boredale Hause, the top of the first climb

Some sheep happily grazing on the slope

 Angtle Tarn was pretty and we stopped overlooking it for a motning break.

Then it was off again.

There were a lot of people out walking including some other quite large groups. Passing on the narrow track was sometimes a challenge. Here is a photo of our party of 12 meeting another large party coming towards us.

We continued ever upwards towards The Knott before walking along a part of an old roman road, well it would have to be old if it was roman, known as High Street.

We were aiming for the bit styicking out on the right hand side of the slope

Looking back from High Street

Trevor and Lorraine Kidsty Pike

Kidsty pike, at 780m, is the highest point on our walk and attained after the third of the 45 minute climbs of the day.

The weather looked like it was closing in

Taking a break after all the uphill climbs

The clouds rolling in

Definitely rolling in

At this stage it was decided that we should start the long ascent. This would not be nice if it started to rain so it was off down a fairly treacherous path.

We had been fortuante as the summer has been dry so there were fewer than normal boggy bits. In fact, in some places the ground was cracked anfd the dried up bog had pulled away from rocks.

Here are some of the views on the way down

We finally stopped for lunch just above Haweswater, a man made lake, next to a creek with ponds and fall. Lucy, one of our group, decided to check out the water.

The next section of the walk was along the shore of Haweswater. If we had expected a relatively flat walk we were in for a surprise. It was up and down like a yoyo.

Trevor on the track around Haweswater

 The group met at one of those endangered species, a telephone box, at the end of the lake.

 We still had quite a way to go alothough we had alread covered about 20kms. We were heading for Shap for the night and would pass Shap Abbey. I'll add something about the abbey later.

We usedf a variety of stiles to go over the many walls we encountered, Here are some of them.

Shap Abbey, like most abbeys across England, is a ruin. Henry 8th has much to answer for in the destruction of these buildings.

There were a lot of tired people who finally arrived at our overnight stop: the Kings Arms Hotel.

It is amazing what a drink and a shower will do.

Today we covered about 28kn, gained a whopping 1112m with a fall of 997 for good measure.