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.

Coast to Coast day 4: Grasmere to Glenridding

Today was a late start. We were not starting our walk until 11:30am which left lots of time to relax or do other things.

Having finally caught up on the outstanding blog days I was happy to do a walk around Grasmere. There were a number of outdoor shops and we checked one out. That was enough.

We did visit the local church. William Wordsworth, theGras famous English poet is buried in the churchyard,  along with at least two other William Wordsworths.

We walked back along the riverbank and can confirm that parking in Grasmere is quite expensive.

The day was fine with a bit of cloud which looked like it was clearing. The weather forcast was encouraging.

View from our balcony

Another balcony view

Leaving the hotel we retraced our entry into Grasmere of the previous evening. A lot of extra steps!

Once beyond the town/village we headed towards Mill Bridge and then took a rocky path that climbed beside Tongue Gill (remember Gills?).

Trevor coming up the track

A carn (really just piles of rocks) marking the path

As the cloud cleared the views expanded

Photos do not do the panorama justice

We finally made it to our first objective of the day: Grisedale Tarn. Tarns are lakes and this one was quite high.

Grisedale Tarn

From Grisedale Tarn we followed a route (mostly) downhill alongside the babbling, cascading Grisedale Beck.

On the way down we passed the Brothers Parting Point, the spot at which Willliam Wordsworth is supposed to have parted from his brother John for the last time. John Wordsworth died at sea when his ship sunk.

Finding a sheltered place for lunch was quite a challenge and we eventually plonked down on a heap of rocks looking down the valley.

Trevor admiring the view while eating his lunch

Dramatic formations dotted the landscape

Yet another fantastic vista

Here are some more views. note the lovely blue sky.

An interesting couple. The man carried a camera while the woman laboured along with a backpack

 

We came across this hut which belongs to Ullswater Outward Bound

and what a great setting ... see the next photo

There were some really great vistas

The beck was a constant during our descent. It could be heard babbling along its course even when we could not see it.

Lucy took advantage of the chance to cool her feet in the beck

The line from the middle left to the right hand top was a stone wall. An amazing structure up the steep sides of this slope

Rest time

Leaving the Grisedale Valley we passed through a woods and entered the Patterdale valley.

Typical Englsh countryside: babbling waterway, trees and green fields

i had bee meaning to get a photo of a kissing gate and had been warned that they would be few and far between once we leave the Lakes District so here is an example.

Typically, only one person can pass through the gate at a time. When two people intend to use the gate one is on one side and one on the other so a couple can kiss while separated by the gate.

On Day 4 we were staying in the village of Glenridding at Beech House.

We were fortunate with the weather. The day turned out to be gloriously sunny so much so that we both have bits that are red even though we had applied sunscreen.

Today was a short day. We covered 13.64km and had an elevation gain of 610m.