Walking Part of the Pennine Way

I have walked 3 sections of the Pennine Way over the last 3 days. The map above shows where I walked. (Click any image for full size version).

I did the walking with my dad and may look strange because they don't all join up. We had planned to walk from Langon Beck to Dufton then onto Garrigill for the last few months (reverse of last years walk) but in the last week we decided to do another section but my dad had walked from Middleton-in-Teesdale to Lagdon Beck a few times and I have walked most of it. So we decided to walk the Bowes to Middleton-in-Teesdale part and get picked up at the end of the the day and sleep at home as it isn't very far away.

Day 1: 14.9 miles
Day 2: 13.7 miles
Day 3: 16.7 miles

Total 45.3 miles

Day 1

Distance: 14.9 miles
Time: 6 hours

This wasn't too bad of a walk for the Pennine Way, with it having 5 reservoirs on the route, a tunnel, 2 rivers, Gods bridge and Hannah Hauxwells home on the way. Although I didn't take very many pictures for some reason. Maybe because of the heat, I was too busy drinking or something.

(Above) God's Bridge

(Above) Cotherstone Moor looking back towards A66

Balderhead Reservoir in distance

(Above) Stream down to Blackton Reservoir

(Above) Bridge over stream below Baderhead Reservoir

(Above) Looking down towards the final destination (Middleton-in-Teesdale)

Day 2

Distance: 13.7 miles
Time: 5 hours 30 minutes

This was the final leg of the trip last year and by the end I couldn't lift my leg (pulled a muscle), but not such problems this year. The only problem really was the heat, it was about 27 degrees celsius and even hotter in places. I got some more pictures of Cauldron Snout and of High Cup Nick which are always worth seeing but the highlight of the walk was about half way over. We took our boots off and dipped our feet in Maize Beck and it certainly made a difference and the walking was a lot easier afterwards. We arrived in Dufton at about 3:25, put our stuff in the caravan (friend of the families) and went down the pub.

(Above) Cauldron Snout

(Above) Cauldron Snout

(Above) Me with Cauldron Snout behind, cap is on backwards to stop sun burning neck!!

(Above) Maize Beck where we dipped feel in the water

(Above) Feet in the water

(Above) High Cup Nick

(Above) High Cup Nick

Day 3

Distance: 16.7 miles
Time: 8 hours

When we walked this section last year (opposite direction) we couldn't see where we going for several miles, the visibility was less that 6 feet in the fog. So was very strange today seeing where we had walked previously. Maybe it made it easier in the fog because you couldn't see the hills you had to walk up. There were some good views from the top of Cross Fell (Highest point of the Pennine Way). The hardest part of this walk was the last 6 or 7 miles which were along a boring rocky track that was very hard on your feet. Certainly wouldn't want to walk this part a third time.

(Above) Great Dunn Fell in the distance with golf ball on

(Above) Walking up to Knock Old Man

(Above) Knock Old Man

(Above) Golf Ball on top of Great Dun Fell, its some sort of missile warning system I think

(Above) Little Dun Fell with Cross Fell Behind

(Above) view of Great Dun Fell from Little Dun Fell

(Above) The Top of Cross Fell

Summary

I enjoyed the walking, except for the boring last 6 miles and found it easier than last year (I am fitter). The hardest thing this time was the heat, on day 3 it was about 30 degrees celsius which is too hot for walking really. Considering I normally totally stay out of the sun once it gets hot (burn easy). We drank masses of water and had to refill our bottles (3 of them) twice from streams (haven't died yet) just to keep hydrated.

I also have lots of blisters, I had one from the 1st day but that was my fault for not wearing proper walking socks. Today I ended up with loads all over my feet because it was very hot and hard going over the rocky track from Greg's hut to Garrigill.

(Above) Can't really tell but there are blisters on big toe and one next to it as well as balls of feet. Camera is rubbish at close ups.

Need another challenge now!!