Day 77: Keswick to Caldbeck

Well the weather Gods have really turned it on for us in Lakeland: we have had glorious weather everyday, and this, our last day was no exception. The sun shone from the moment we awoke and we set off from Keswick in our T-shirts. The path almost immediately started to climb up through LaTrigg Wood and soon we could look back at Keswick and Derwent Water glistening in the sunshine.

As we climbed, the views were spectacular back towards Lakeland

 and Bassenthwaite Lake which lies to the North West of Derwent Water 

We dropped down to Whit Beck and then climbed a short distance and then followed the contours around for a pleasant walk overlooking Glenderaterra Beck

until we reached Skidaw House YHA where we stopped for a short break and enjoyed the view over to Saddleback Mountain 

and Snab Pike which looked dark and foreboding with it's covering of heather but I could just imagine how beautiful it would look in the sunshine when the heather is in bloom.

then we continued along  for a further 7 or so Km when we started to climb. We continued up past a disused lead, arsenic and titanium mine and after stopping for lunch, the climbing began in ernest! Wheeeew! We climbed to 627 metres and then followed the ridge along for a ways until we had caught our breath. Then a further climb to the highest point so far on this walk: 658 Metres at High Pike where we added a stone to the Cairn.

The climb was well worth the effort as we had a full 360 degree view back to the lake distict to our South and across to the West coast.... Fantastic. From High Pike we had a downhill walk to Caldbeck and a much needed shower!