Another day today that threatened bad weather but turned out fantastic. During the night I was woken by what sounded like stones hitting the windows. It was in fact rain in a proper downpour. When we woke at 7am it was very gloomy but had at least stopped raining. We had a really good full English breakfast with the best sausages I’ve tasted in ages, although Mark wasn’t keen.
The landlord called us out to the minibus for the short trip down to our starting point at Ennerdale Bridge along with some other coast to coasters. One was a tall long haired guy who had found a 6ft branch and was carrying it as a walking stIck. Mark nicknamed him Gandolph and we fully expected him to give the bus a miss and just appear at the start point but I guess he was saving his powers for something better later.
The walk started by heading down a lane then along a forest track to the edge of Ennerdale Water. The weather was brightening all the time and was very warm now meaning the jacket was off and it was shorts and a t-shirt all the way. The views by the lake were breathtaking and I’ll definitely be back again to walk here. The pictures below just don’t do it justice.
The next 9 miles to Black Sail youth hostel were fast but also quiet as we just took in the amazing scenery. We stopped for lunch at the bottom of a path that lead up to the summit of Haystacks. So I offered mark a diversion. I’ve already scaled Hay Stacks but thought it would be real treat to include this in our journey. He agreed and so off up the mountain we went. What an inspired decision. A steep climb followed by some great scrambling and then there we were at the summit of Wainwrights favourite fell. We posed for a few pics then head off in the direction of the tarn where Wainwrights ashes were sprinkled for his final resting place. Quite fitting to come here on what is his Coast to Coast route. We dropped from there to Honistor slate mine, taking in stunning views of Buttermere on the way. From Honistor it was just a few miles along the road to our accommodation at Seatoller Farm. And that was a pleasant surprise with really nice room and lovely people. Unfortunately there is no phone signal, no internet and no evening meals ( we did know this in advance) so we jumped on a bus and went to Keswick. A few beers and a really tasty freshly made burger meal and then it’s off back for a good nights sleep. Tomorrow is the hardest day of the whole route with some serious ascents to negotiate.
So far though it’s going well with 30 miles done and only 160 to go. The weather gods are on our side for now and we have no injuries or aches and pains for that matter.
Long May it continue 🙂

Full route from today: Day Two