Castlerigg Stone Circle to Thirlmere Dam 

via 

Derwentwater, High Seat & High Tove

13miles 2400ft

A deserted stone circle for once as the early sunlight bathes it in warm light

My route then continued west towards Keswick....

....with a view to St John's church spire

I then joined the path heading south along the side of Derwentwater....

.....and again....

Now heading towards Stable Hills

A paddle boarder sets out across the lake, with the Newlands fells behind

A short climb from the lakeside took me to Cat Gill from where my route continued along the higher path above the lake...

....and again

The lake had overfowed its southern tip after all the heavy rain recently

I soon arrived at Ashness bridge on the road to Watendlath...the most photographed bridge in lakeland!

Now for the serious climbing as I started up 

Ashness Gill

A hazy view to Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite in the distance

Arriving at today's highest point, High Seat trig point 1995ft.   Helvellyn in cloud behind

The path across the summit plateau to High Tove has always been notoriously boggy. More recently this flagged path has been laid for most of the route. This was to prevent further damage by walkers to the rare flora and fauna here

High Tove summit was in cloud so I quickly began the descent down Fisher Gill to Thirlmere....

.....and again

Two fell runners came past at what seemed like a dangerous pace to be running downhill!

I came out at the path heading north along the side of the reservoir and finished the walk....

....crossing the Thirlmere Dam looking back at Raven Crag as I walked to the main road between Grasmere & Keswick for my lift back

After waiting all week for a dry day I was eventually rewarded with a great walk. It was just a shame that the low cloud and haziness lingered all day

Day 9, the Last Day 

Carnforth to  Carlisle Walk

Wetheral to Carlisle, like last week's walk today's walk was completed in reverse ie Carlisle to Wetheral 10.5miles 600ft

Setting off to walk back to Wetheral from Carlisle station having just caught the train there.

Carlisle citadel stands just outside the station from where I continued to....

.....the Market Square

The tourist information centre hadn't yet opened

Next came the Cathedral. The old archway here is all that remains of the Augustinian Priory cloisters which preceded the cathedral on this site

Another view of the cathedral

Just beyond the cathedral I joined the Hadrian's Wall path for a few miles....

The path took me past Carlisle castle ramparts....

....into Bitt park....

.....and onto the banks of the river Eden.....

.....where I crossed the Memorial suspension bridge

The suspension in the bridge could be felt underfoot as I crossed

A

A few miles further along the river bank the path departed the riverside and crossed the M6 motorway....

....and continued to the village of Scotby where I found a comfortable bench in the village churchyard for morning coffee

Several miles of muddy paths later I arrived back on the banks of the river Eden looking up to Corby castle on the outskirts of Wetheral

The Corby viaduct connects trains and pedestrians between the villages of Corby and Wetheral....

....which is all the more impressive when standing beneath it....

....and looking up as a train crosses....

.....also when looking down as I walked across....

....to Wetheral station where I'd left my car early this morning.

My Carnforth to Carlisle walk was now completed. It had been 9 days, 116 miles and total of 14,750ft ascent.

Overall a very enjoyable walk offering an alternative to the high fells when the weather forecast wasn't looking good. I'd also visited some interesting places where I'd never been before.

Day 8 Carnforth to Carlisle Walk 

Long Meg & her Daughters' to Wetheral

To fit in with return transport this walk was completed in reverse, ie starting from Wetheral, 11.5m 1350ft

Leaving the train at Wetheral a footpath leads straight from the station out on to the Wetheral Viaduct....

....its 5 arches stand 100ft above the river Eden which I'll be following all the way to 'Long Meg' stone circle

The gatehouse of  Wetheral Priory, unfortuately the ruins of the rest of the priory are now farm buildings

On the riverside, a short distance from the priory are St Constantine's Cells. They were used by the monks to take refuge from the Scottish Border incursions and also to have lived there as an ascetic practice 

They are hewn out of the rock face directly above the river

There are 3 identical cells....

....of which this is one... not sure I'd fancy living there myself!!

A view of the 'Cells' from further down the river

This farmhouse stands above the river and housed the gamekeeper. The local landowner at the time paid for the addition of the tower to give the gamekeeper a better chance of spotting poachers!

Continuing on the river side along the 

'Eden Way' path... 

....before leaving it briefly passing right through the garden of this cottage....

....and returning to the riverside at the village of Armathwaite

After continuing several miles upstream the path descends and continues to....

Lacy's Caves, which were commissioned by Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Lacy of nearby 

Salkeld Hall. 

It's thought their purpose was as a storage area for his wines and spirits and to impress his party guests

No this isn't Samuel Lacy......it's your's truly

....though not a guest of Samuel Lacy I was nevertheless impressed with his caves!

Leaving the caves it's then only a short walk to

'Long Meg' standing here with her stone circle.....

.....pointing to the sky surrounded by her 'Daughters' which is thought to form the largest stone circle in the British Isles.

A fascinating day's walking in some beautiful countryside and filled with historical interest.  

Just one more day now to finish my walk in Carlisle