Day 4 of my walk Bowness on Windermere to Bowness on Solway

Bothel to Abbeytown 12miles 500ft

Leaving Bothel down one of the many 'Green Lanes' in this part of Cumbria....

....it's a very different landscape from the Lake District

Blennerhassett village green, one of the many little villages on today's walk....

....followed by this unusual styled house and original design of scarecrow in Langrigg village....

....after which my route took me across Bellwater Moss. This covers over a hundred acres of 'common land'

....crossing the 'Moss' to the sound of Curlews, Lapwings and other birds & a proliferation of insect life

....soon after I crossed the West Cumbria coastal railway line as it turns inland for Wigton & Carlisle

Lancashire's not the only place to have converted windmills

Looking south the heavy cloud lifted briefly revealing the northern lakeland fells....

Arriving in Abbeytown at the Wheatsheaf Inn....

....and St Mary's church, one of the few remaining Cistercian abbey churches still used as place of worship....

....with a bench behind to admire the view whilst finishing the coffee and what's left of my lunch!

A very enjoyable day's walking in some lovely countryside with very little climbing. 

Just one day's walking left now before I arrive in Bowness on Solway!

 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!