A very quick post at the start of Day 12 from the Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge. We haven’t posted for a couple of days due to dodgy internet connections and being completely shattered last night after 20 miles over 6 moors with the final 5 miles being a march along an old railway track – in the middle of not much. Pictures and day by day posts to come.
But the walk yesterday was lovely in parts – views over the Vale of Miwbray we crossed the previous day, lots of heather in bloom and grouse.
So so we left the Jolly Farmer not as early as planned, but at least it was bright!
And slogged our way up to the top of the moor where the 9 Standards are on the Pennine watershed…
Where there were great views but it was cold and windy…but there was still time for a group photo.
And then it was down across peaty bogs until eventually there was rolling Yorkshire dales farmland…and a cream tea.
And eventually after more farms and stone walls, there was a waterfall, camping yurts and Keld Lodge. And Black Sheep Ales all round.
Day 7 of C2C walk, 13 miles strenuous.
Slightly later start than Dave the guide wanted due to delays with breakfast. Out through Kirkby Stephen gently up a path then more steeply up paths and even more steeply up a road. From the road steeper still up a peaty rocky path to 9 Standards – high point of 515 metres on the watershed for rivers flowing west or east. No one knows why or by who the Standards were built. They look like giant well constructed cairns. Clear day so fabulous views back towards the Lakes District and over the Pennines but windy and cold.
Coming down was HARD. Across peaty bogs picking our way down, including across the appropriately named peat hags. A few slips and spills, including John. The peat traps and water because underneath is a layer of impermeable stone so boots become very wet.
Lunch out of the wind in a small valley then followed the Whitsunday Beck to the River Swale and along the road to Keld. Stopped at a farm for cream tea. John took another fall into a stone wall on the way down a rocky path into Keld. Cut skin on kneecap as a result. A bit sore but otherwise ok. He’s in danger of consuming all of Dave’s medical kit!
Black Sheep real ale before tea. Boots cleaned of mud outside and drying room put to good use.
Photos to come.
Heather, sheep, farms and stone walls…
But first we had to cross the M6… 
Before we got to a big area of heather moor managed for shooting grouse…
There were lots of rolling fields, stone farm buildings and stone walls…
And, of course there were Swaledale sheep
And eventually, there was a town, and real ale😀
Walk day 6, 20 miles moderate
John returned to the walk. Off early out of the village and after some fields cross the M 6 via a foot bridge. Then fields, fields and more fields with lots of sheep and cows. The heather is blooming everywhere. While it looked natural it was actually carefully managed grouse shooting land. Stopped for a snack at an old lime kiln, then more fields, stone walls etc.
By Mid afternoon reached Smardale Bridge with views of an old railway viaduct now restored as a bikeway. Very very long day – reached the B&B at Kirby Stephen around 6.15 pm. Dinner at the Kings Arms hotel.
Path had been relatively formed and ok for walking- John survived.
Photos to come.
Day 5 C2C
Took the Ullswater steamer to Pooley Bridge across the lake. Accompanied by Margie and Cheryl. Her ankle was not good. Her C2C was finished after 3 days and she was not sure she would be able to get around London.
Walked to Tea House for Pooley Bridge ginger bread and Lakeland ice cream. Lunch at Sunday Inn. Waited for Packhorse and got to Shap around 4.15.
A selection of views: looking over the valley on the way up to Angle Tarn; view from Boredale Hawse, looking back while climbing up to Boredale Hawse, the group at Angle Tarn, looking down from Kidsty Pike, at the far end of Haweswater, the view along Haweswater, will Shap ever come or are we in walking purgatory!
Day 4 C2C
Picked up early by Packhorse (our bag movers) from the pub (45 minutes early). Picked up Cheryl from Quarter Horse; a GP from Arizona who had hurt her ankle the day before much more severely than me.
After various pick ups and drop offs Peter the driver advised he had been driving for 4 and half hours and so had to have his mandatory half hour break. Then off to Bampton for Cheryl and then Glen Ridding for me.
The hardest day of the walk: 17 miles with a height gain of 760 metres.
Bright and early start from Glenridding. Short walk to Patterdale then crossed the valley and first climb of the day up to Boredale Hause. Path pretty good and only a little steep in places. Stopped at Angle Tarn for a quick snack then another climb up to and around The Knott. Brief stop, then final push up to High Street, the old Roman Road across the hills and on to the high point of the day, Kidsty Pike.
Windy and cold, but great views. Didn’t linger, but headed steeply down to Haweswater on a horrible, steep, crappy path – for an hour!
The rest of the day was an anti-climax, 8 miles along the shore of Haweswater to Burnbanks, then across fields to Shap Abbey. Felt like it was never going to end! But Shap Abbey isn’t in Shap but three miles away!
Eventually, after a final endless trudge along the long main stree of Shap (close to the ONLY street in Shap) The Kings Arms and real ale courtesy of John appeared!
Photos to come.
Day 3 C 2 C, John’s Adventures
Off I set on the local bus around the lakes to Kerswick to go to the hospital. Margie who was having a day off came with me. The bus went around the lakes.
At the hospital I was seen within 30 minutes at no charge. I had strained tendons in my ankle and needed to rest use anti inflammatories. I would be off the walk got 2 to 3 days.
We then took the bus to Grasmere to wait for the walking party 
mywalkingbootsarered 