Day 2- Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite
Up at 6:30, packed and down for Breakfast at 7:30 (getting into a routine!). Bill paid and then set off at around 8:00am.
Had breakfast with a 70 year old American who is doing to coast to coast walk, albeit over 22 days. Sounds a lot easier than mine and was quite jealous as he was only going as far as Black Sail Hut. For us who are heading for Borrowdale like me you have to navigate a climb up Loft beck, which trust me is a really really hard pull!! The photos probably don’t do it justice but its pretty steep and long.
So first stop from hotel was to get to Ennerdale Water, once there it’s a choice between the south side (which Wainwright did) or the longer North side (which I did). Main reason is that it misses out Anglers Crag which is a bit of a scramble. The views, weather and water were fantastic!
Walking through the north side of Ennerdale Water was amazing. I never saw one person since leaving the hotel in the morning until about 3 miles out from Black Sail Hut YH.
Some great shots of the mill pond Ennerdale water!.
The it’s a bit of a slog through the pine tree lined path to Black Sail Hut (about 4 miles). Once you can see Black Sail Hut the scenery just becomes amesone (hate to use American words but that word really sums it up). All around Black Sail Hut is just amazing. The most remote Youth Hostel in the UK and probably the best views ! Together with amazing views and weather there was no noise! I mean ambient white noise that we are all used too, all I could hear were Sheep and their lambs and Birds! The finches even landed on my bench !
Rested up I was ready for Loft Beck.
Man alive Loft beck is a killer. Goes on and on and is a steep ascent. Eventually got to the top and when you on the top you get rewarded with views which our outstanding. I mean its like being on a different planet let alone country!
The walk down to honister though across Grey Knots is a killer on the knees. Mine are really struggling now. The descent is Major!!!
The views though over into Honister and then Borrowdale are amazing. The weather again was great.
UPDATE :21:24
Just had dinner and afterwards chatted to two amazing ladies one 90 years old and the other 85. been coming to this exact hotel for 40 years! from Somerset. They entertained me with there stories of 40 odd friends coming up here and partying for weeks. Sad thing is there is only 3 still alive and they still meet up!! Amazing ladies!!