Day 6/6 Cumbria Way 127km - Caldbeck to Carlisle - 18 May 2010

24km, took 4.5 hours

I was determined to finish off the Cumbria Way. After a quick but filling B&B breakfast, I started off towards Carlisle in the hot bright sunny day. 25 degC! It felt quite horrible walking briskly in the heat and I was so afraid of getting a tan. Flies were all around me and they really irritated me as I cut through woodland and farmland. It was also a boring stretch, and low-lying all the way.









The River Caldew accompanied me throughout the walk as I passed through several villages - Sebergham, Rose Castle, Bridge End, Dalston. I also passed a fortified pathway pinched between the river and the railway. The Carlisle-to-Maryport train zoomed past minutes after, sounding a horn seconds before passing.













The last section was along the Caldew Riverside Trail, leading me all the way to Carlisle city centre and the Castle where the Cumbria Way ended! I'd to admit that the ending was a let-down, but the middle section of the Way had been one of the best walks done ever! The constant pace I took had done good to my legs as they were totally fine (which was usually not the case for my previous 6-day walks). Anyway, I caught the earliest train back to Newcastle and arrived at about 4pm. Time to catch up on my revision, do my exams, and prepare for the next hike straight after my exams: Cleveland Way (first few sections of it)... Heehee...

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Day 5/6 Cumbria Way 127km - Skiddaw House to Caldbeck - 17 May 2010

16.8km, took 4.5 hours (inclusive of 15 min rest at High Pike summit)

I left Skiddaw House after a memorable night in the ancient house. Great views and sunshine welcomed me as I headed north alongside the infant River Caldew amongst the lush heather. It was true wilderness and there was no sign of civilisation in sight.













At the turning point where the track joined a tarred road/carpark, I saw a few cars and some people having a nice day out by the river surrounded by the fells. I turned west and faced a steep and rocky climb up Grainsgill Beck. Some scrambling involved at the later part, but it was fun and challenging! I had done several of such similar terrains, so it was not as scary as it looked. A rough climb up to Lingy Hut (once a grouse shooting box and now provides shelter for weary walkers) was indistinct, but I managed to traverse right onto a stony track eventually. Phew!


















Clear tracks took me up the grassy slope to High Pike summit - the highest point on the Cumbria Way (657m). It commanded an extensive view northwards across the Solway Firth to the Scottish hills and eastwards across the broad Eden Valley to the lumpy Pennines. The brillant day allowed clear visibility of 360 deg. Lucky me! I spent 15 minutes at the summit, popping down some snacks while appreciating the bird's eye views around me.








The descent from the summit was one of the easiest that I'd done so far. High Pike had gentle slopes with hardly any rocky outcrop. I continued the descent northwards, and got distracted by the extensive views ahead, hence started heading slightly north-east and got OFF-TRACKED! Compass came to play then, and I tried locating Nether Row by some guessing on how that small village would appear in reality. I couldn't believe I was heading in the wrong direction! I turned north-west and then westwards, and was fortunate to come upon the proper track which led me safely to Nether Row. Heng ar...




The final stretch towards Caldbeck was easy along roads. The massive bulk of High Pike became more evident from behind. I spent a few minutes browsing through the mini gift shops in the village, and also bought some snacks from the village store. 'The Briars' B&B where I spent my night was comfortable. I had a TV in my single room as well. A final easier day tomorrow, but before that, my 'behind-time' exam revision had to be caught up. Argh...so irritating!!!

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