Rocky Mountain High

What a day! Cool but sunny start with a rocky hike along banks of Ennerdale Water, taking a break at Robin Hood Chair. Circuiting around the lake we followed the road along the edge of the pine plantations, passing old stone homes, hundreds of years old, through latch gates in the light but soaking rain. We came to Black Sail YHA, but closed for coffee. Not well sign posted we took some detours across paddocks and boggy marsh before making out the trail mid way up the mountain. With the rain settling into a good drenching, we climbed up to Loft Beck following the rocky cascading rushing stream along the rock footpath. Large bags of rocks have been dropped by helicopter to repair the path. Cold and wet we could make out in the mist the cairns to Brandreth and Grey Knotts Head. Skifty sheets of white mist blowing over the ridge and saddles before finally heading steeply down the rocky path passed the slate quarry to Seatoller for a hot shower, beautiful meal and warm bed. 25km, 8 and a half hours.Read more