Day 5 - Patterdale to Shap

This stretch of the Coast to Coast Walk, at 16 miles, is the third longest.  The longest comes tomorrow, Shap to Kirkby Stephen.....all 20 miles of it!  There is probably just as much effort needed today though because the first part takes the walkers up some steep tracks out of Patterdale, then a descent to Haweswater on the eastern fringes of the Lake District.  Once down to the lake the walking becomes easier, but there's still a long way to go to Shap.....

Another early start and it's time to say goodbye to new friends, though the dog seems sorry to see us go! :-

A conveniently placed log made a good set for a group photo, taken by me this time, not a passerby!  Looks like Chris is bringing up his breakfast into his new hat! :-

With a last wave, off they go :-

There's a last chance to stock up with goodies before they set off for the hills :-

On the way out of Patterdale I took the opportunity to photograph the southern end of Ullswater.  It shows the end of the lake which they would walk round, then climb the fells on the left :-

 

Up already!  This is the view westwards towards Helvellyn.  The cloud cover was a foretaste of what was to come later in the day :-

The view into Patterdale from Stony Rigg still shows cloud cover over the Helvellyn range.  Notice the clothing.  Looks like it's getting a bit cool :-

They were soon approaching Angle Tarn.  I wonder how many Angle Tarns there are in Lakeland.  I know of another below the northern slopes of Bowfell over to the west of here.  Anyone know of any others? :-

This is a better view of Angle Tarn.  Cloud is still building up over the fell summits :-

The high point of this section, before tackling the even higher Kidsty Pike, is Riggindale Straits.  This is the view to the south from there.  At this point they've covered about a quarter of the journey :-

From Riggindale Straits the track climbs to the highest point of the route, Kidsty Pike. Seen here as the high point to the right.  Incidentally the sty in Kidsty is pronounced sti as in stick.

It's a gradual ascent on a reasonably good path :-

The summit is a good place to take a rest and get photographed by yet another passerby!  The cloud looks as though it is thickening on top of High Rise in the background :-

On the way down from Kidsty Pike, views of Haweswater start to open up :-

Joe and Chris getting friendly!  The two walkers having their lunch are also going Coast To Coast.  The weather seems to be improving but there's still cloud on the higher fells :-

The trouble with Lakeland is that mobile (cell) phones are only useful on top of the hills and useless in the valleys.  Here's two taking advantage of the height with phones glued to their ears! :-

Just can't leave those phones alone!  Joe is saying "How do you work this thing Patrick?" :-

 

Here's a view of Kidsty Pike from the way down to Haweswater.  It was likened to a part of the female form by one nameless member of the group.....obviously missing his partner! :-

This is the southern end of Haweswater showing the stand of trees on The Rigg.  If it's of any interest The Rigg is the start of Wainwright's route for climbing High Street, so called because the Romans built a road along it during their occupation of Britain. Traces of it can still be seen. :-

   

Here is The Rigg taken from the other side of the lake. The walkers descended on the right towards the smaller stand of trees at the edge of the picture:-

This is the other end of Haweswater.  Can't get a signal Patrick? :-

 

Now begins the long trek towards the dam at the north end of the lake :-

The water level of the lakes and tarns is low, as I pointed out yesterday.  However Haweswater is perhaps lower than normal because it is used as a reservoir for drinking water for the North West of England, Manchester in particular.  In days gone by, Manchester Corporation Waterworks built a dam at the north end of the lake to raise the water level and increase its capacity.  The valley was called Mardale in those days with a village called Mardale Green at the southern end.

A lot of people were evicted from their homes when the dam was built, and in times of drought, when the water level is very low, you can see the remains of their houses, the village pub the Dun Bull, and Mardale Church. The stone walls bordering the road which ran along the bottom of the valley could actually be seen today, as well as the walls around the fields.

Leaving Haweswater sees the walkers leaving the Lake District.  The landscape almost abruptly changes from the hard edges of the Lakeland crags to the softer curves of limestone country.  No more rock scrambles, easier walking, and just as beautiful :-

Houses, stonewalls and bridges hereabouts are built using local stone.  Here are three bridges which the Trio had to cross on their way to Shap :-

This is Park Bridge spanning Haweswater Beck :-

This is Rosgill Bridge over the River Lowther :-

Finally, and perhaps the most ancient of them all, the Packhorse Bridge over Swindale Beck :-

On the way to Shap the path goes by Shap Abbey.  The ruins date from the 12th and 13th centuries :-

Yet another passerby indulges with a group photo.....or is it the same person all the time?  Is there a member of this group I haven't met yet?  If there is they'll be going hungry during the day!  I'm only making packed lunches for three and I can't see these boys sharing their's!

Nearing Shap the Lakeland fells are still in view.  As the day has gone on the dark clouds have disappeared leaving a clearer view.  Here Patrick and Chris take a last look at where they've been because soon the Lakeland Fells will be replaced by the Yorkshire Dales :-

At last, after a long day, the village of Shap is reached.  At this point the "Intrepid Trio" have done incredibly well, having walked, crawled, and scrambled 62 miles - almost a third of the way to Robin Hood's Bay :-

And here you can just see me standing at the end of the lane, ready to welcome them and to buy them a pint at the nearest pub!

Well deserved!