Day 3 Bowness on Windermere to Bowness on Solway

Keswick to Bothel 14.5m 1150ft

Leaving Keswick along the disused railway line to Cockermouth

Passing the roundabout on the A66 with a view to the Skiddaw fells before.... 

....heading north on the path along the river Derwent

The Skiddaw fells again

Arriving at the Mirehouse estate....

....with a quick look into the private part of the gardens

Next comes St Bega's church on the side of Bassenthwaite lake

....and again

Barf, Lord's Seat & Broom fells across the lake

Bassenthwaite again

Leaving the lakeside I contuniued to Castle Inn....

....where after leaving Skiddaw and Ullock pike behind the fells start to thin out....

.....Leaving Binsey here all on its own

Continuing on good paths and gently undulating ground I passed through Irton Hall....

....and soon found I had just 3.5 miles to go

I knew I was getting close when Bothel wind farm was a couple of  fields away....

....and I arrived back at my car here....

.... in Bothel

I've now sadly left the Lake District National Park behind. Two days to go now until I arrive at my destination on the Solway Firth. 

Looking forward to exploring some new walking territory on these next two days!

Day 2 Bowness on Windermere to Bowness on Solway

Grasmere to Keswick 15m 2750ft

Leaving my car in Keswick I caught the bus to Grasmere and set off into Easedale....

.....and continued into Far Easedale following the Coast to Coast path westward

The lakes continue to very dry underfoot with little in the becks & rivers

Looking back down Far Easedale....

....before continuing to Greenup Edge on what used to be a very boggy path but has been subject to a great job by 'Fix the Fells' teams

Looking back from Greenup Edge to Calf crag 

Greenup Edge has great views to Scafell Pike

 Bow fell

High Crag and the Buttermere fells and many more....

....then a final climb to Ullscarf today's highest point at 2382ft

The descent took me over Standing Crag with a view to one of the many Blea tarns

Looking back to Standing Crag

Blea tarn again

Arriving in Borrowdale sat above Watendlath tarn for my lunch....

Derwentwater from Surprise View point...

With a view down to Lodore Hotel

The view point is a very popular place

Looking to the ever present Skiddaw the 4th highest fell in the Lakes....

.....and again....

....before finally arriving in Keswick....

....with the Moot Hall....

....and Fitz Park where I had parked my car.

Day 2 proved to be another fabulous day's walking in the outstanding beauty of the Lake District!

 My next long distance path

Bowness on Windermere to Bowness on Solway

Day 1: Bowness on Windermere to Grasmere 14.5m 1950ft

Windermere lake ferry landings at Bowness

Bowness marina

My walk started with a crossing of Windermere on the car ferry to Far Sawrey

Bowness marina again as the ferry set off

Looking north up the lake

This excellent path follows the lake on the west side

Looking east to the fells of the Kentmere horseshoe 

Continuing on the lakeside path to.....

.....the grounds of Wray castle....

.....then on to Clappersgate with Holy Trinity church and Loughrigg fell behind

There was a lot of RAF low flying practice today including this Galaxy C5 transport aircraft, helicopters & fighter jets

The footbridge crossing the river Rothay into Rothay park as I passed by Ambleside....

....and then on to Rydal village and Rydal Mount the favourite home William Wordsworth

Above Rydal Mount an 'Old Corpse Road' continues north towards Grasmere....

.....with lovely views over Rydal water to Rydal caves....

....and Rydal water

When I reached Town End I started the climb to Alcock tarn with a view to the Langdale pikes on the western Horizon....

....and Helm Crag above Grasmere

Zooming in on Garsmere village below....

....and Helm crag again....

....before arriving at Alcock tarn.... 

It was all downhill after that with a view up Greenhead gill to Stone Arthur

As I descended further I saw the Galaxy C5 plane again just visible centre, below the fell line

Finally finishing day '1' at the Swan Hotel Grasmere

This really was a Magnificent 1st day's walking in perfect weather on my route to Bowness on Solway