Rosthwaite to Grasmere – 9.5 miles
So after a restless night, a reasonable breakfast and bags set aside for the sherpa, it was outside to wait for the taxi to return us to our start point in Rosthwaite. Once there, as we prepared to walk, the weather was still overcast with pending showers.
We were soon off heading to Greenup Edge (600m). The path followed a stone wall
to the junction of Langstrath Beck and route of the Cumbria Way. Here we continued straight on to Lining Crag & Greenup Edge. We gained height and it was time for a photo shoot
as the weather now had cleared, giving good views over the fells. Nearing the summit we met an elderly gentleman with two dogs having a rest, he was carrying the biggest rucksack ever. Chatting to him we found he was doing the Coast 2 Coast also, but with no time limit. He had set out twenty-eight days ago from St Bees and was spending a few days at various camp sites, moving on when he felt like it. We wished him well and continued.
We arrived at the summit of Greenup Edge after crossing a boggy area. The sun was shining and we could see Grasmere below, so decided to stop to have lunch whilst taking in the views of the Helvellyn Range and fells in the distance.
After lunch we set off heading towards Grasmere Common following Easedale Gill on the way down, again with good views.
We met our man with the dogs taking another rest.
The path down was long, rocky, uneven and tiring but it took us straight into Grasmere village. Before heading to find our accommodation we decided to have a refreshing pot of tea & a cake in the evening sunshine.
Arriving at our B&B we were informed of breakfast times before being shown to our rooms. Steve asked about where to eat and our host phoned to book us in for a meal at a pub/restaurant. Then it was clean up time, a change of clothes and contact made with our respective head offices prior to hitting the high spots of Grasmere.
Lynn hadn’t been here before so Steve & I took him on a guided tour of hotels, shops, Wordsworth’s Grave, the Gingerbread Shop and the flat where Steve stayed last year on holiday. We headed to where we were going to eat and after a beer, a meal and a chat it was back to the B&B for, hopefully, a good night’s sleep.