Bank Holiday Weekend (27th August 2016)

Saturday 27th August 2016

A slightly late start, then continued on A Pennine Journey along River Eden. This took me back into the hills, past a couple of ruined castles. Next over to Cotter End on the Pennine Bridleway, which was remarkably flat as it followed the hill side.

Followed road and footpaths into Hawes and had broccoli bake in the pub. The quality of the food has improved markedly since Scotland (particularly the north).

There was a YHA in the village but being bank holiday weekend, it was fully booked. The rain was non-stop, but I decided to carry on walking late into the evening for some sneaky wild camping in the hills.

Walked up towards Ten End (hill) in half light on a muddy path, then set up camp on a reasonably flat sheltered patch. A storm overnight meant I got rather wet, lightning wasn’t nice either.

This was an understatement – it was really scary! I was not at the peak of the hill, but I was 500m up and praying the lightning wouldn’t hit me as I lay in my bivi bag. I would not have gone up the hill if I had known the thunder storm was on the way, but only heavy rain had been predicted in the forecast. This was the first time I slept with the hood on the bivi bag almost entirely closed, because the rain was so heavy, but somehow it still found its way in and I awoke to a puddle around my feet.

Distance: 18.6 miles [view on map]

Spending: £13