It’s Raining Again

C2C – Day 11: Tuesday 12 April – REETH to RICHMOND (12 miles)

Our lunch-spot today, under a yew tree, in the Swale valley

I would just like to start today with a big THANK YOU – to everyone who is following us, sponsoring us, and supporting us in any way. We’ve had so many lovely messages, and it means a lot to Rob and to me, to have this support to cling to when the rain sets in. Also, on behalf of Parkinson’s UK, thank you all!

We started the day with a super breakfast from our hosts Robert and Sheila at Cambridge House, and set off from Reeth shortly after nine o’clock. Ahead of the anticipated rain we proceeded a few miles, starting with a pleasant and flat riverside walk by the Swale, then past the village of Grinton, before climbing up past Marrick Priory and through the village above. Climbing again, waterproofs on now as the rain arrived, we traversed the emerald-green rolling pasturelands on the path to Marske.

Leaving Reeth, a wonderful village – with two great pubs, and a third re-opening shortly, this lovely place is well worth a visit

The bridge over Arkle Beck, a tributary of the Swale, just after leaving Reeth

Reminders of life in the wider world: a Ukrainian flag flying over Grinton Church, and we also saw a chinook helicopter flying up the valley, and heard the constant rapid-fire pops from the firing range at Catterick Garrison on nearby Stainton Moor

The pastures on our path over the hills to Marske

Through the rain we set off once more from Marske across the meadows, before our main climb of the day, high above the Swale river, up and around the flank of Park Top. The dampness notwithstanding we enjoyed super views down the valley on a pleasant final four miles over undulating pastures, through woodland, and then along a minor road down into Richmond town.

Wet, wet, wet – but at least we look colourful!

As does the moss on the walls through the forested sections of our path

The top sign here is for our Coast to Coast Path, whilst the lower one is most interesting – directions for the ‘Camino Inglés to Santiago’! Now, that has really got me thinking!

Looking down the valley towards Richmond

We are now close to completing two-thirds of our C2C walk, and also to leaving the Pennines and the second of the three National Parks on our route. The Yorkshire Dales National Park is beautiful, and the descent down Swaledale has been fabulous. I love this part of ‘God’s Own County’, and whilst I have done a fair bit of walking here over the years it is never enough. I for one will be back for more!

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