Day 9

Miles of Stile Styles

There are two alternative routes from Keld to Reeth, the high level route across the moors through old abandoned mines or the low level route along the River Swale. No guesses as to which route we took. The disadvantage of the low route is we had to climb over/through about 30+ stiles.

Colin was still not feeling 100% so Don and I walked most of the way with the Aussies, Don discussing all the worlds problems the whole way and me out front navigating (i.e. following the river).

First we crossed the UK N-S long distance path, the Pennine Way, which brought back some memories of when Colin and I did it about 40 years ago.

The we followed the valley east, mainly over farm land.

We saw many rabbits, hares and also otters in the river and the wild flowers are in full bloom

We stopped for morning tea/coffee with the obligatory scone with strawberry jam and clotted cream.

 The path continued alongside the river, sometimes on flood protection levees

At one point Don thought the path crossed the river on a bridge but soon turned back when he saw the rest of us going straight on

And so we arrived at Reeth, another 12+ miles but mainly an uneventful day.  Tomorrow we start the first day of a two day 34 mile stint, we hope to do about 16 miles in the first day.