Day 7, the final day of my Bootle to Brough walk

Ravenstonedale to Brough

13miles 850ft

Parking up near the Kings Head hotel in Ravenstonedale - no that's not my car!!!!

Looking back south to the Howgill fells....

....and north towards Smardale gill

Heading into Smardale gill

Smardale Bridge carrying the Coast to Coast path which crosses the gill at the this point

Smardale disused railway viaduct which recently underwent major refurbishment. It's now just a lovely footpath across the gill....

....leading into Smardale nature reserve.

I rested on a bench here for a few minutes. My bird song app identified: 

song thrush, wren,  great tit, willow warbler, blue tit, chaffinch, great spotted woodpecker and ring ouzel!

Leaving the nature reserve behind I followed the path here alongside Scandal Beck to Soulby.....

....whilst looking to the skies as this military transport A400M aircraft passed overhead

My next village was Little Musgrave where I found out

I was exactly 267.5 miles from London, just what I needed to know?!!!

Fortunately Great Musgrave where I was going was only a mile away!

Crossing the river Eden in Great Musgrave....

....and St Michael's church....

....and part of the village itself with the North Pennines behind....

....and again

Now following the field paths the rest of the way to....

.....the impressive ruins of Brough Castle....

....and again....

.....and again before a short walk to....

....the clock tower in the quiet centre of Brough

Covering Coast, High fells, Lakes, Dales, Rivers and many places of interest, this had been a thoroughly enjoyable 99.5miles, 14,550ft  & 7 days walking.

 Day 6 Bootle to Brough walk

Tebay Services to Ravenstonedale, via

Orton, the Coast to Coast path, and Sunbiggin tarn.

12.5miles 1000ft ascent 

Parking up near the hotel at the M6 Tebay services

The M6 northbound carriage way at the exit of the services

Arriving in the village of Orton....

where the remnant of the old stocks still stands

Looking back to Orton as I head towards....

.....the Coast to Coast path, now with the acorn symbol for its recent recognition as one of the British National Trails

Looking south to the Howgill fells....

....and zooming in on them....

....before arriving at Sunbiggin tarn....

....and again

The wide horizons typical of The Dales scenery

Trees lining the route from the Brownber estate

Ravenstonedale lies at the foot of the Howgill fells....

....and finally now approaching the village.....

....with its fine church of St Oswald

Another fine day's walking as the end of full route to Brough gets close with just one more day to go. 

 

 Day 5 Bootle to Brough Walk

Staveley to Tebay M6 Services via Garnet Bridge, the 'Other Borrowdale'  Breasthigh Road and Bretherdale

13miles 2700ft

Setting off along the river Kent in Staveley

Looking back west towards Lakeland after gaining height....

....and again after meeting two fell runners

Passing Potter tarn where there was lady swimming at 8am.....! 

Another climb and I arrived at Gurnal Dubbs tarn, no swimmers here

Gurnal Dubbs tarn again

Descending to the hamlet of Garnet Bridge....

...an attractive little place....

.....on the river Sprint

It's that time of year again!

I then started heading north along the ancient route over Shap fell, now called the 'Old Shap Road'

It's a very pleasant walk indeed on an extremely well engineered path. 

I continued along it to the 'Other Borrowdale' with my route ahead climbing the Breasthigh Road seen here across the valley

Crossing Borrow Beck

Looking back to the A6 trunk road over Shap as I climbed to the summit of the Breasthigh road.....

.....and down into Bretherdale while descending the other side

A rather flimsy looking clapper bridge, but actually extremely solid

Bretherdale again....

.....and now crossing the westcoast mainline railway

Not far to go now as the Westmorland hotel at the M6 services comes into sight

Finally in the service area car park waiting for my lift back to Staveley

Now well and truly out of Lakeland with only a couple more days to go. 

Another great day's walking in perfect weather