Day 5 Patterdale - Shap GPS 70 miles

We set of on todays trek with the weather dry but overcast, The Patterdale to Shap stage is said to be the toughest stage on the Coast to Coast, not because it has the most miles but because of the terrain. Although we left the Lake District today, it doesn't give up without a fight. We can only  say it is the hardest day yet and we hope that tommorrow is not as hard even though it is a longer day at 20 miles ish.

We left Patterdale and almost immediately started a very long ascent  The views just got better as we climbed.

     here you can see Brothers Water

It didn't matter where you looked the scenery was breathtaking. 

Here we got talking to some walkers from the USA who took our justgiving address and promised to pay us $100 when they returned home. Not sure of the exchange rate but this is a fantastic guesture from a couple of strangers.

We reached Angle Tarn a beautiful lake

It was here where we had this photo taken by a couple who we had met earlier and they also were walking c2c. They were sisters we neve asked their names so called them 'double top' as they wore the same colour tops.

 From here the gradient levels off for a short while until another tough haul gets us huffing and puffing as we climb to The Knott, but the panoramic veiws make it all worth the effort.

 I never tire of the scenery here.

After the Knott who's very name exudes a hikers challenge we then reach a point on the ridge where we turn left, it is here we turn to go towards Kidsty Pike, the veiws of Haweswater and High Street are stunning and while admiring the grandure of the whole outlook we spotted the 'Double Top' walking towards the peak of High Strret a lovely mountain but visiting it would me a massive diversion for any coast to coast walker so we got their attention to the wrong turn they made with a whisle. They caught us up on the top of Kidsty Pike and thanked us while taking another photo for us.

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     On the summit of Kidsty it was a good ten degrees colder than the lower slopes.At his point we were at 2572ft. the highest point on the standard c2c route but we had been a lot higher by doing Helvellyn at 3113 ft yesterday. It was now just raining as we started our descent, what goes up must come down but this descent is much steeper than anyone would like and it really started to hurt our knees and feet, then the sun broke through  by the time we reach the Haweswater reservoir so we stopped here for lunch and to rest our feet.

We now have a four mile walk along the shores of Haweswater but a lakeside amble while spinning your dainty parasol it sadly is not, soon we are again panting like a hippo on a tread mill high above the shore.

Eventually after what seemed for ever we left the reservoir and we were out of the Lake district. We were a little upset that our journey across the lakes had finished because it is the most beautiful place but we will not miss the hard work involved in some of the climbs. 

The topography was now more of rolling hills than mountains.

 We passed over Rosgilll Bridge and just after Kirsty mentions she would love a Coke we had a total surprise in finding this.

     Wouldn't be there long in the                             Midlands!!!!!

We passed over a gate on top of a wall

          "why put that there?'

Eventually we trudged on past the ruins of Shap Abbey and on to Shap

On reaching Shap we were getting very, very tired but we had not realised we had a B&B  1 1/2 miles down the Main Street of Shap. We then had to walk back later to find a pub to eat in, for our evening meal.

Well we have 20+ miles to go to Kirby Stephen tomorrow so I must get some sleep. We have taken over a hundred photos each day  and to sort just a few out seems to take an age.

I must post this last photo as Andy Chales has promised to pay us 5 pounds for every bed Jane does not make. It is a long story but Jane will not leave a B&B without making the bed so this will be hard. We even explained this to the last owner and he laughed making the comment that she is mad no one makes the bed when they leave so for a fiver here it is.

Good night al land please keep the comments and donations coming it does drive us on.