Big Balls and Bigger Hills
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| Run, sheep, run! |
Another long day, however the previous one went better than we'd expected, and finishing the Way is beginning to seem a realistic prospect. It is perhaps fortunate that an early morning fog hides the climb that we have to make out of the valley, and for a little while we walk along farm tracks, at one point taking up shepherding for a few hundred yards (P1).
But eventually we climb out of the fog and see what's in store - the photo (P2) really doesn't do these hills justice at all. The initial climb is the worst, some six hundred metres practically straight up, and I am forced to stop several times. At least from here the view is superb both out over the valley (P3, P4 & P5), onward along the way (P6), and eastward (P7).
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| They are very big hills, honest. |
We can also see a huge white ball on the next summit along (P8), which after a short climb we pass (P9). From here we continue up, finally reaching the top of Cross Fell (P10), the highest point of the Way. While it isn't really as impressive as Pen-y-Ghent for instance, nonetheless there is a sense of achievement.
However, there is no time to admire the view as we have a long way to go yet - constant climbing is slow work. We press on through bleak and boggy country for the rest of the day, taking away no pictures and few memories, and it is with weary feet that we finally make it into Alston. To be more accurate we pass through the outskirts of what appears to be quite a large village, making straight for the campsite. After a shower we spend a pleasant evening at the Blue Bell Inn (P11).
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| A view! |
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| Alex and me with a currick. |
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| Stitched together panoramic shot! |
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| More hills to come. |
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| And a view in that direction too... |
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| Approaching the large ball. |
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| Ball! |
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| Cross Fell trig point. |
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| The Blue Bell. |
Photos to go with this post can be found here.
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