31/07/16 - Ennerdale Water to Buttermere and back to Ennerdale (me, Luca)

Luca needed some encouragement to get up in the morning. It was about 9 by the time we packed up and set off. We decided on a breakfast consisting of breakfast bars rather than beans and frankfurters. I was hoping for us to get to Buttermere for a mid-morning brunch.

It was looking like another fine day as we walked along the lakeside. Eventually we found our point to cut into the hills, I checked with a runner who was descending the route as it didn't look particularly well trodden, he assured us that it was passable (a relief as the alternative would have added about 4 miles on to the route).

As we started the ascent Luca's lack of energy and/or hill fitness started to reveal itself. Having said that, it was pretty tough going,possibly due to our heavy loads. After multiple stops,including one prolonged one so that I could make us some soup, we finally made it to the top. We were now on one of the hills that we'd intended on doing on during our night time swarray (?).

We made a speedy, but tired descent to Buttermere and found somewhere to get some late lunch!

We were now significantly behind the original schedule I'd sort of planned and we were somewhat lacking in supplied. What's more Luca was saying that he didn't really want to do much more hill walking. But we were right in the middle of the hills with limited routes out and and about 20 miles back to the car - as the crow flies!!! Luca was also saying that he didn't want to do a long day the following days as he would be achey... I looked at the public transport options and even they didn't really offer any solutions.

I started to get a bit hysterical because although we were surrounded by tourists and the weather was gorgeous, we were a bit stranded! The only way back was pretty much to follow the same route, but that was just soul destroying. Luckily Luca found another way back to Ennerdale. He was up for camping there and then walking back to the car the following day. I didn't fancy that as it was a fairly dull walk the first time - I suggested getting a taxi from there....

I was pretty disappointed as we set off that we'd be finishing so soon. If I'd spent more time planning things we'd have a had a better run at it. Maybe high hill walking wasn't the thing to be doing with Luca. Next time, I needed to get him involved in the planning more. As always though, Luca was committed and uncomplaining and he soon picked up my mood and made more content with the walk ahead of us.

We crossed over to Ennerdale via a lower pass through the hills. We passed Scale Force waterfall on the way and had an excellent little scramble into the gully to get a better view of it. We kind of lost the path after that - this was no walk in the park - but found it again after a few miles and before long we were on the same paths as we were on yesterday, but in reverse.

The Ennerdale Bridge pub did some good grub, a pint (!) and we ordered a taxi to start our journey home.

All in all, very enjoyable, but over too quickly.

GPX

30/07/16 - St Bees to Ennerdale Water (me, Luca)

Luca and I drove up to the Lakes through thick traffic for what turned out to be a late start to our walk and wild camp trip. By the time we parked at the St Bees camp site and set off it was nearly 3pm. The weather was warm and bright as we set off on the beginning of the coast-to-coast route. I'd got a couple of days off and so we were in a position to walk up to 4 days, though I knew that this was likely to be just 3. We'd got all the gear we needed, but were a bit light on food, however I was intending on stocking up along the way, possibly at Keswick, if we got that far.

The walk along the coast was pleasant and was providing Luca with ample opportunity to take some nature photographs which he needed for his Art Graphics course work. We'd spread the weight of the bags more evenly this time and so his bag was nearly as heavy as mine. We made steady progress over reasonably easy terrain.

We had a bit of a trauma passing through a field with a (very disinterested) bull in it, but soon came to the point where we headed inland - keeping (for now) to the coast to coast route. The route became a bit less interesting here as we passed across fields, through the occasional village and along country roads. I was searching for the best route to get to the hills, but it seemed to be taking a long time to get there - I started to wish that I'd planned this a bit better. Luckily the weather was supportive and Luca was in  jubilant and surprisingly chatty mood.

Eventually we found somewhere for tea and stopped off. I'm not sure where it was. I'm not sure ho welcome we were, there was a wedding party taking place. I resisted the urge to have a pint. A man gave as some advice on how to proceed with the walk. We made plans to get as far as Ennerdale Water and set off for the final stretch.

The evening was setting in and it was getting dark by the time we got to Ennerdale Water. We were both pretty tired and the ground was too uneven to make camp. Luckily we found somewhere right on the waters edge in a small patch of trees. It was gravelly, but sure enough to hold tent pegs with the weather being so still.

GPX