Distance covered to date : 100kms.
Today was marked with a myriad of emotions: excitement,
anticipation, trepidation, frustration, endurance, expletives (“Hell’s teeth,
I’m not going any further, contact the helicopter” (Julie)), pain and relief.
We started the day in a calm and measured fashion – with
Cumberland sausage and English breakfasts. It was not long after we left the
B&B, across the stone bridge over the babbling brook, down the country lane
that we realised that walkers who’d been staying at a range of accommodation in
Patterdale were all out in force, setting off on the first ascent towards
Kidsty Pike, the highest peak on the Coast to Coast route, 780m.
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| Walking up to Angletarn Pike |
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| Looking down towards Patterdale and Ullswater |
This was via
Angletarn Pike and Satura Crag – a total ascent of 700m. The track took no
prisoners today – it was steep, boggy and continual. On the positive side,
there were magnificent (nay, absolutely spectacular) views of tarns (mountain
lakes), immense valleys and mountains. Bizarrely, there was a remnant of a
Roman road at the top, called High Street. The Romans had a garrison stationed up near the Pike to protect Roman settlements from the marauding Scots and Picts.
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| Angletarn |
Kidsty Pike was such a satisfying point to reach – seemingly
impossible as we climbed towards it and then the 360o view was breathtaking.
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| View from Kidsty Pike |
The descent was memorable on the pain and suffering scale –
530m down. All knees and ankles are still intact – and Julie is still with us
although she wants to go round the mountain next time – not over it!!!
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| Painful descent from Kidsty Pike (outcrop on top left) |
The final stretch to the little hamlet of Brampton Grange
was along Haweswater .This is the lake which supplies all the drinking water
for the Manchester area. After 7 and a half hours we reached the Crown and
Mitre pub, where we are staying tonight. Exhausted but very pleased with
ourselves.
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| Crown and Mitre Brampton Grange |
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| A well earned drink |
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