Day 2 – Ennerdale to Stonethwaite – Into the Lake District National Park

Started the day with fine weather as we left Ennerdale.

The walk beside Ennerdale waters was beautiful.

We  had a cuppa at Gillerthwaite at the Ennerdale youth hostel. From there the party split into two groups. One took the high road into the heather to High Stiles with magnificent views of the Buttermere Valley and the other group continued on a more gentle incline heading towards Haystacks. (Guess which one Katrina took! Her attitude towards walking of “the harder, the better” might help.)

Both groups scrambled up Haystacks risking life and limb on some challenging, almost vertical rock faces, sometimes on our hands and knees. It was well worth the effort, the view from the top was breathtaking and many photos were taken and emailed home.

Debbie Bird finished the day proclaiming, “I am a rock climber!” No one was about to argue with that. And Denise was thinking that the climbs were designed for tall people with very long legs. Nevertheless, Denise conquered Haystacks with a leg up or two.

Then a gentle wander down past Innominate Tarn where Alfred Wainwright’s ashes are scattered.

Both groups then struggled with a steep downhill walk through a slate mine followed by a very long walk off the mountains, past Honister slate mine museum. Some stopped here for tea and a pee, some left their walking poles behind and others got a lift down the mountain, either by bus or Mike the wonderful transporter. There were some very weary legs and sore knees after the long, difficult downhill scramble.

We arrived at Stonethwaite at around 6 pm. Dinner and some accommodated at Langstrath Country Inn where we were joined by the vivacious Yvonne Booth

and  her husband Duncan (another person with MS who we hope will benefit from the research that this Walk will fund), cow fearing Lyn (that’s another story) and the wonderful Graham and Margaret Bryce. Great day, great night lots of carb loading and ready for a good nights sleep.