Good sleep, and a good breakfast. What was needed for the walking challenge ahead today. We were away unusually early for me, I am the one who is normally faffing about, but 8:30 am we were on the road. Initially out to Ennerdale Water, we walked alongside the beautifully still lake, in the peace and quiet of the Sunday morning. Barely a soul about… a couple walking a couple of mad dogs was about it. Terrain was pretty good most of the way, until we had worked our way half way down the lake when it became a little more rocky underneath. Having completed the lake walk, we worked our way left to a track which would allow us to take an ‘alternative route’. Wainwright had offered different routes depending on the weather… if its good get up Red Pike and work along from there.

So, after a drinks break… and it was getting very hot by this time, that is what we did. It was a fairly steep climb, and to be honest I struggled a bit with it. Needing to stop often for a breather and water. It was rather hot, perhaps that was it. Tricia was sitting comfortably when I arrived at the top 10 minutes after her. Breathtaking views. After a refreshment we moved onto High Peak, working our way down slightly only to rise again up to the peak. I felt slightly more with it now.

After lunch, and there was no breeze, and no shade so we had to eat in the full sun, we moved on towards High Stile and then High Crag. We were starting to weary around now, but foolishly thought we were not too far done in the day. The descent to from High Crag was steep and the rock loose underfoot in places, so we took sometime coming down. Over a relatively small hill, we were then faced with our last big climb of the day. Hay Stacks. Now in a lot of ways, it is important from one perspective… we are doing Wainwrights walk, and this was one of his favourites. In fact he has his ashes spread there. So we felt we had to do it. Daunting and hard work, and scrambling and climbing we made the top, both of us pretty tired now, and we had just used the last of the water.

The descent from Hay Stacks was not as sharp, but it was arduous, and involved some frustrating climbs up before coming down. We were headed for an old slate mine at Honister, and it felt like it took an age to get there, always in the distance but never any nearer. We took some water from streams to pour over our heads to keep cool. Past the slate mine we could head for Honister, another long walk with us both thirsty and cursing not having brought more water with us. We hit civilisation around 6pm, just as a shop was about to close, but we managed to get some bottled water and drinks. Tricia asked the man to hold off closing as another couple behind us, with the same water predicament, were also desperate for refreshment.

After loading up with liquid, we had to do the last couple of miles to our B&B, which seemed to drag on forever. If we had walked the normal route we would have done 15 miles… the alternate route added an extra 5. The terrain was quite rocky in places and we were both a little footsore. We arrived at the B&B at last.  Two cool and refreshing showers later, we were taken to a local pub where we could eat. Never have I looked forward to a cold cider as much, and never have I been so disappointed when we found they had sold out. So a pint of coke it was for me, and bitter shandy for Tricia. We had to wait a while for food as well as the pub was short staffed… but we ate eventually, and got back to the B&B.

Pictures to from today… in no particular order