Pennine Walk. Day4.

Another beautiful day and I head down to Thwaite in Swaledale.

I'm so busy being annoyed with  the constant signs to keep to the path and walk in single file through the field that I head off down the valley for 10 minutes before doubling back to head up and over to Keld.

I arrive at a quiet time at the tea room.  10 minutes later and theres a big queue out of the door as cars full of  folk arrive.

Theres now a long slog up to Tan Hill.  I wear a hat and long sleeves so the only bit of skin consistently in the sun is the back of my hands.  They getting  sore  so I wear my spare socks as gloves.

A pint of lime and lemon, some chips and a panini a bit of a rest and I gaze out on the vastness that is Bowes Moor.

I'm glad I don't have to cross this in the mist.  I still find it an eerie place, no sign of crows, buzzards, peewits curlews or any thing.  But lots of grouse feeding stations.  Half way across I see a distant 4 wheel drive on a ridge and I'm sure they are watching me.
Eventually God's Bridge and the A66 appear. Got to cross the moor on the other side of the road.  A likely water source / camp in Deepdale.

I camp near a little gill below the horizon above the shed.  I was ready for the cup of tea.
20 miles walked.

Pennine Walk. Day3.

Up at the crack of dawn again I'm porridge powered into Hawes.  A second breakfast and an ice cream the I'm heading across the fields to Hardrow.

The path then heads up the ridge to Great Shunner Fell.  I am very sweaty and do a left and bushwack into the valley bottom for a bath and a clothes washing session.

This turns out to be a fenced off area where they have excluded sheep.  There are loads of rabbits in the lush grass.  Peewits and curlews on the slopes and for the first time I see a buzzard.

More bushwacking back to the path and Great Shunner summit appears.

I drop off the other side and get the tent up.  The phone is going flat as I've had runkeeper running all day, so I plug it into the solar panel.  Despite being heavy I brought the power monkey battery as well.  I've got the Kindle and GPS to keep charged.  Unfortunately the battery despite being fully charged developed a fault  and wouldn't switch to supply.  Had to bin it when I got home.
Just got the tea cooked before the wind dropped and the midges went crazy.

15  miles walked. 2 ice creams, 1 scone, 1 full english.

Pennines. Day2.

Up at the crack of dawn and  over the summit of Fountain's Fell. A bit of a loop round to the end of Pen y Ghent.

This was the most popular hill by far as a lot of 3 peakers were coming up from Horton.

The way ahead on the white path.  It swings off to the left down to Horton.  Then it goes up the valley to the right in the distance.  One of the peculiarities I noticed was how the route does a big loop out to somewhere then back again.
It was worth it for the Pen y Ghent caf.

The guidebook I was using said there's a shop, but it was shut down.
Did I mention the clegs?  The next few miles were farmy and clegy.

Water was a problem in the farmland and even the above beck on closer inspection didn't tempt me.
I only have aqua mira drops and this water was the colour of wee.

Eventually I found an ice cold spring on Cam End and a suitable hollow to pitch the tent.

15 miles walked.

Pennines, Day 1

I caught the train from Carlisle to Lancaster and after a coffee and bacon sandwich on Lancaster station I caught the train with "trouble at t'mill accents" to Gargrave.
A quick visit to the coop for some matches and crackers and I'm heading for Mallam.

The walk is besides the Rivber Aire.  It's hot and it's cleg heaven.  At last I reach Mallam and food and a pot of tea.  This will be a pattern. Cafes for second breakfasts and dinner.  Tea later on in tent.  It saves weight you know.

The Way leads up the side of the Cove.  It's very busy.  I press on and luckily there's a ice-cream van at the car park before Mallam Tarn.  A 99 and a bottle of icy water boost me onwards as I plan to camp above the intakes.

Fountains Fell on the left the target.

Tent up, air the bag. get the tea cooking.   View back to Mallam Tarn.

.Impressions of this section:  A bit farmy, very overgrazed, lots of clegs.  Brilliant weather.
I walk over the ridge to view the route ahead tomorrow, over Pen y Ghent.

15 miles walked.