Leaving the Lakes

Day 6: Glen Ridding to Bampton (combination of paths along grassy trails and adjacent to Angle Tarn and Rocky climb up to Kidsty Pike -- moderate to easy)

Having read the guidebook descriptions regarding today's walk from Glen Ridding to Bampton, I set out this morning ready to cross the highest point on the original C2C walk (excluding those alternate high routes we've been taking) and to crab walk the greatest descent.  Both knees taped, iPod charged, two poached eggs for breakfast -- I was set!  Into the mist we ventured -- our objective: Kidsty Pike. And what I know now is that those walkers who have stuck to the original route (no high alternatives), have been having a very different experience from us.  The day was the easiest yet. Fourteen miles, 4,400 feet of mostly gradual ascent and a downhill so gentle and grassy that I could (and did) run part of it.

Rolling Descent from Kidsty Pike to Haweswater Reservoir

To our Scottish clan: this was NO proper Scottish descent! (Marianne, you would have loved it!!).  We agree that the high route alternatives are must dos.  They are absolute gems with treasured views.  And if we'd put all of our "view eggs" into this morning's misty basket, it would have been a shame.

The last day in the lakes also delivered a couple of surprises.  For one, the Herdwick sheep disappeared and the comically white-faced Swaledale sheep took their place.  For another, turns out I've learned to speak sheep and my baa'ing can not only get them to look at the camera, they actually baa back!

Swaledale Sheep

Another (pleasant) surprise: as we reached the headwater of the Haweswater Reservoir below Kidsty Pike, the C2C signposts (basically banned in the lakes) reappeared -- but not before one last misty morning of compass bearings and waypoint-to-waypoint navigation using our Garmin GPS to find the Pike.

As for company, in the mist at Angle Tarn we came upon Ian and George, father and son C2Cers from Manchester England who are walking together following George's recent completion of exams. Although they professed little experience, they kept a steady pace and we saw them several times throughout the day.

Ian and George in the Mist

And on the fairly monotonous trail around Haweswater, we came upon John and Toby -- another father and son team.  John though, was doing the real work as Toby enjoyed the ride.

Toby's first C2C

Immediately behind the duo were Toby's mum and grands. Turns out the grands had done half the C2C five years past. Today they were walking east to west to take on the Lakes. We wished them clear skies and happy days -- take the high routes if you can.

Happy Knees on the last Lake District Day