Stage 9 Hawes to Keld

A late start as breakfast served late meant we left in a shower of rain. The forecast was for storms all day but soon we were stripping off the waterproofs. A gentle start to the day leads us from Hawks to Hardraw, where we didn’t pay the entrance fee to see England’s highest single drop waterfall. After Hardraw you start the gentle but steady climb to the top of Great Shunner Fell, a great lunch point as there is a seat behind a wall, in all directions. Then across the beautiful moors watching the storm clouds gathering before dropping to Swaledale and Thwaite. We did well. We got half way before the rain hit and the storm stayed off to one side so no risk of a direct hit. In Thwaite we sheltered from a heavy downpour in a tea shop. Then the climb to Keld over boulder strewn shale falls, damned hard on your feet.

Feet have held up well today after yesterday’s concern that they had got a lot worse. I’ve managed to blister my hand from using the pole, I think basically putting lots of weight on my pole to save my feet.

White Hart, Hawes. After a very sticky walk through the bar we were shown to our room which was clean and spacious with a modern en-suite. Good views of the church yard opposite and the rabbits playing. I couldn’t get the shower to work, but the manager did by using brute force. I wouldn’t come back here, not because it was bad but there will be better for the price.