Day 7 - Kirkby Stephen to Keld

Sat 12th - Kirkby Stephen to Keld

13 miles, 7 hrs

An easier day today but there was a long steep hill right from the start. I was struggling from the off and playing at being tail end Charlie. The rest waited for me about two-thirds of the way up but set off again as soon as I arrived! I got to the top not soon after the rest. At the top was Nine Standards Riggs, a collection of nine cairns, which was our lunch stop.

After lunch we made our way down towards Keld. The terrain was peat bogs but we were lucky that it has been dry lately (we have not seen any rain since walking through Ennerdale Forest on day two). So instead of boot sucking peat bog we had spongy grass with occasional squelchy bits.

On the way we passed Ravenseat Farm which is home of Amanda Owen and her husband. They do cream teas but she is better known as the author of "A Yorkshire Shepherdess". There was a chap sitting on the wall opposite who does metal detecting. I only found out after we had left that a few years ago he found a Roman helmet which sold at auction for £2 million.

The rest of the journey was uneventful ..just a gradual descent to Keld where we are staying tonight.

Cause for celebration tonight because we have reached the halfway point. And at Nine Standards we crossed over into Yorkshire. Tomorrow an easier 11 mile day down Swaledale before the mileages start increasing again.