Walking Englishman's 1000 Mile Walk

Photograph Gallery Stage 38 Keswick to Rydal, Friday 1st July 2011

The Story:

After the brilliant entry into Lakeland from the north via High Pike and the Back of Skiddaw which gave Strolling Steve, John Lister and I some spectacular sights during a classic days walking yesterday Strolling Steve and I continued our Lake District walk by leaving Keswick and walking round the north edge of Derwent Water via Portinscale to follow the Cumbria Way and Allerdale Ramble track to Rosthwaite. The weather was just the best, lovely and warm with lots of sunshine. For shade we had all the trees of Overside Wood to shelter us. Views across to Keswick on the north east bank of the Lake were beautiful with Skiddaw and Blencathra sitting high and proud behind the town. They are two magnificent mountain ranges and to see them in their stunning glory as a backdrop to Derwent Water was yet another WOW moment for me. I’m not becoming blase by the many WOW moments that are occuring on this journey, they simply deserve it for Great Britain is such a beautiful place and on this wondrous walk I am coming across so many beautiful places and outstanding scenes. So after the WOW we walked on from Overside Wood into Brandelhow Park and then Manesty Park, all lovely settings sheltering Derwent Water’s western bank. Unlike the relative solitude we had yesterday on Back of Skiddaw this time there were some walkers and many strollers to greet which we did happily. Despite the fantastic views there was one drawback, the track was very stony in places and got much worse after we had passed Grange and walked round Castle Crag. Hot day, dry ground, stony tracks = hot feet, aching heels & cursing under ones breath. I staggered into Rosthwaite and was very pleased to see the Ewes Cafe directly on our path. we stopped for two pints of hot tea, I had a scone with jam and cream and afterwards my feet got the ice spray treatment. Sufficiently refreshed and repaired I went on my way with Strolling Steve, both in good form in a south east direction along Stonethwaite Beck to Smithymire Island and then we steeled ourselves for the climb up Greenup Gill to Greenup Edge. The sun blazed down as we began our cimb in early afternoon but with the excellent profile of Eagle Crag as a spur we ascended steadily upwards. My feet were not feeling the strains of earlier in the day and I have to say I really enjoyed the climb for it offered close views of Eagle Crag to my right and behind me unveiled fantastic views of Borrowdale. It was brilliant and the views to the Scafells from the top were incredible. In fact, all around mountains were in view. It was great.

The day was drawing on by the time we reached the top of Greenup Edge and in the knowledge we were camping we di8dn’t dwell, taking quick refreshment before beginning the long descent to Easedale. We had been going over seven hours as we descended and it told on us as we slowed on the difficult way down Grasmere Common and Far Easedale Gill. We were both jiggered by the time we reached Easedale Footbridge and we collapsed for a ten minute rest before going on to Grasmere. It was we past six in the evening. By 7.45pm and after a detour to avoid a bull in a permissive walkers field we lurched into Grasmere and got provisions bewfore heading out of town to find a place to camp. On the route was Nab Scar just before Rydal Mount and we found a pitch near the Coffin route. After we had pitched millions of midges found us. We had a fabulous days walking. The midges had a fabulous night. We drank a few beers and didn’t care!

Strolling Steve’s Daily Statistics:

Scenery: 8/10 – Varied and often stunning.

History: 8/10 – Wordsworth country.

Interest: 7/10 – Visually stimulating.

Track: 8/10 – Good but very stony. Can be hard work.

Comment: Today’s top walking tip – don’t pitch your tent on a slope and then lie down on a slippery mat.

The Photographs:

Keswick main street

Crossing the footbridge to Portinscale

Fawe Park

Joy

Overside Wood

Walking through The Park from Overside Wood to Hawse End

Derwent Water shoreline at Hawse End

The Skiddaw Massif and Derwent Water

A handy seat

Derwent Water as seen from the south shore

Lovely scenery near Grange

Woodland walking beside the River Derwent

Path to Rosthwaite

A bold Sparrow

A tasty snack

Walking through Stonethwaite towards Greenup Edge

Eagle Crag

Greenup Gill

Admirers get to meet Strolling Steve

Looking back to Stonethwaite

Too hot to move

Small waterfall in Greenup Gill

Looking back down Greenup Gill

Greenup Edge

Grasmere Common

Descent on a beautiful day from Grasmere Common to Easedale

Easedale Bridge

Grasmere

Dove Cottage

Camp pitch in Rydal Park