The Walk
Day 3 – Monday 16th June, 2008 – Rosthwaite to Grasmere
I awoke at 5am to bright sunshine, read a bit about today’s
walk, sorted out my gear, GPS and map for the day.
Breakfast, was large, although I had settled for scrambled eggs,
there was much more than I could eat. Rachel our landlady was
also a walker and advised us on the route we were about to take.
She not only managed the B&B she also ran the campsite down the
road. How she managed to balance all of this and find time to
walk I really don’t know.
We started off at around 8.30am and walked to meet Jenny and
Celia. Val’s knee was painful and she was still getting over the
migraine, so she decided not to take the same route as the rest
of us. Instead she did a more gentle walk into Keswick (about
seven and half miles) and then caught the bust to Grasmere.
We had a lovely gentle walk up to Greenup Edge, bright sunshine
with a cool breeze, perfect walking weather.
An Australian couple decided to carry their cycles up and ride
down the other side. The woman was struggling to get up Greenup
Gill and by the time we had reached Lining Crag she had found
someone to carry it for her.
View
looking down Greenup Gill
There were a lot of people doing this part of the walk today,
and it was good to be walking with likeminded people, some
serious and some who just wanted to do it.
From about a third of the way up the Gill, looking up to Greenup
Edge it looked rather scary with people silhouetted against the
skyline it appeared rather steep. Looking back we could still
see the village of Stonethwaite with it’s white houses dotted
amongst the hills and trees, like diamonds on a shot of green
silk.
At Lining Crag we stopped for photographs, a snack and to catch
our breath. There were a number of others who decided to do the
same. Taking in the views at this point was a sheer pleasure
with Eagle Crag to the left and Greenup Gill path winding its
way up on the right.
View
of the path up to Greenup Edge
We
were fortunate with the weather, it had stayed bright and sunny
all the way up and we still had the light breeze.
Di and Celia were still playing with their mobile phones,
missing some of the most spectacular scenery of the walk.
As we set off again to climb to the top and over Greenup Edge,
the weather started to change and there were clouds building to
the west of us. Having read about the difficulties some people
have in finding the path down to Grasmere, I decided to push on
and get over the Edge before the rain and clouds descended. A
couple of other walkers who were a bit nervous about finding the
path decided to follow us over. It was boggy in places but
Stedman’s book gave excellent directions and we made it over
without a hitch, and settled ourselves in a small hollow in the
hillside to have lunch with a view of the path down. Most
walkers today had decided that this was a good time and place to
relax and recharge after the long climb up.
By this time we had been joined by Clair a lone walker, who
walked much faster than our group and really wanted to walk
alone. She walked a short way with us and then made off on her
own. We met up with Clair a number of times on the walk, but she
always managed to move off at a much faster pace than us, age
could have had something to do with it….
The walk down Easedale Gill was steep and slippery in places, a
time when we were glad to be wearing walking boots one slip
could have ended with a broken ankle. The couple with the cycles
had not been able to cycle down, and walked most of the way,
with the chance of cycling at around a third of the way from the
end of the walk.
There were a number of ground nesting birds in this area who
were calling us away from their nests, the little streams
falling down to the path were perfect spots for the wildlife and
sheep to drink from.
Walking down towards Grasmere was a sheer pleasure, the views
were breathtaking and fortunately the rain didn’t descend on us.
Jenny and I continued to walk at the same pace, helping each
other over the difficult parts of the path. We stopped for a
snack and drink at around 2.30 in the afternoon, and it was a
delight to see the village was much nearer and within an hour or
so we would be there. One of our group decided that she didn’t
need her spare water at this point! It was hot by now and we
were all feeling the effects of the heat and our aching muscles
after a long climb and a long descent, perhaps it was not a time
to be throwing water away!
We arrived in Grasmere at around 4pm, located our B&B (Ivydene).
Val called to say that the bus was just arriving in the village
centre, so I went down to meet her, we had an ice cream, and met
Clair who was trying to locate her B&B, which so happened to be
Ivydene.
Steve and Chris were staying at the B&B next door.
After a quick catch up with Val, it was showers all round and
then down to the village for food. We ate at Ash Cottage hotel
and had an excellent meal (although I later found out that it
was not so excellent for my tum!) (it must could have been the
prawns) The group of Canadian’s plus Bart and Stanley also ate
at the same hotel. I’m not sure how the owners felt having all
these loud, rowdy walkers in. Vivien, one of the Canadians was
planning to join our group for part of tomorrows walk.
We were all in bed by 9.30pm….you just can’t keep up the pace
when you get to be a pensioner!!!