Distance 14 miles
Climbing 1,740 ft
Weather Overcast, some showers and low cloud
Difficulty Moderate to difficult but some easy walking too.
Please click on images to expand
Climbing 1,740 ft
Weather Overcast, some showers and low cloud
Difficulty Moderate to difficult but some easy walking too.
Please click on images to expand
After a night of intermittent rain John prepared our breakfast while we put on our boots which were still wet from the day before. We had both brought a spare pair but didn't see any point with having two pairs of wet boots. Once we had breakfasted it was into the car for the drive back to Ennerdale Bridge, although it was still damp and overcast, rain still looked like being a distinct possibility but the weather was a vast improvement on the previous day.
John dropped us off at the same place where we met the previous day and Mal and I set off along the lane. We had considered taking the route along the North shore of Ennerdale Water thinking that it would be easier walking but after a few minutes discussion we settled for the southern side following the more popular route. We soon found that the footpaths in Lakeland are not as kind to feet as in our own North York Moors, I was not prepared for the broken surface of many of the paths that we walked over the next few days but it was a price worth paying if we were to enjoy the magnificent scenery. After scrambling round Anglers Crag the path levelled off a little and we could see the end of the lake with dark rain clouds above and sure enough, after about half an hour of walking it began to rain. Fortunately it was only a shower and we carried on to the end of the lake where we crossed the meadowland to Gillerthwaite.
Our original plan was to climb to Red Pike and take the high level route but in view of the low cloud on the top coupled with our limited experience of walking in mountainous terrain we took the safer option and walked along forest track through the plantation and on to Black Sail Hostel experiencing a couple of light showers on the way. We had heard that tea was available at Black Sail but when we looked inside the place was packed to the rafters with walkers so we continued on to the climb up Loft Beck. Once at the top we found that the visibility was not too good but we made our way without difficulty to the tramway and then down to the slate mine before taking the old road and on to Rosthwaite and a well earned tea & cake with John at the Royal Oak. (I remember the days when you went into a pub for beer!)
After arriving back at the campsite we showered and a little later we went back to the White Horse where we met up with my son and his family who live not too far away at Bassenthwaite and we all enjoyed a very pleasant evening.