Lake Shore Drive

C2C – Day 3: Monday 4 April – ENNERDALE BRIDGE to ROSTHWAITE (16 miles)

The real Lakes today – Ennerdale Water, a steep moorland climb, and some rain! A motley crew sporting multicoloured waterproofs, we voted an early start from The Fox & Hounds – first to breakfast, then boots on for an 8.30 am start!

Following a short road section we traversed the arduous slopes alongside the southern shore of Ennerdale Water, the low cloud and mizzle affording some monochrome views across the water to the forests beyond, but precluding any views of the hills above.

Presently our path entered the coniferous woodland on the north side of the River Liza, following a rather easier section along a vehicular track past Ennerdale Youth Hostel. Presently, on this stretch of the route, we met Wendy, my nordic walking friend from home in Hertfordshire, and her black spaniel Maud, to be our walking companions for the next few days. Together we followed the forestry track to Black Sail Hostel, closed but nevertheless a landmark spot for a damp picnic lunch.

Our afternoon comprised an orienteer through leaden drizzle over the lower slopes of Hay Stacks, before a steep climb up the stone steps of the gulley beneath Grey Knotts to the eventual col above the Honister Pass. We then climbed down the dismantled tramway route to the Honister Slate Mine for a well-earned tea and cake, before a steep three-mile descent through Seatoller to our evening refuge at the Scafell Hotel in Rothswaite.

It’s fair to say that we had a rather fun evening, meeting up again with Dean and meeting another C2C trekker, Claire. What great pleasure there is to be had over a good dinner (and several drinks), whilst exchanging stories of exploits on trails recent and past! Thanks all – what a lovely day!