After a good nights sleep in our tent at Noren Hill Farm. We awoke to a fantastic view of the fells we were due to climb today. We sat on a rock and admired the them while we ate breakfast and drank our tea and coffee.

After packing up the camp we headed back to the pub to pick up the lunch we ordered the night before and headed for the fells.

The climb out of Patterdale was long and draining but the weather was bright and cool. However we had views back to our campsite and Helvellyn, Catsycam and St Sundays Crag to take our mind off the effort. We were walking with the couples we had met over previous days, Barry and Laura, Jason and Rachel with their Labrador Merlin. The company and conversation were welcomed as well as the shared responsibility for navigation.

The path climbed higher and higher to Angletarn Pikes, Angletarn and on to Kidsty Pikes at 2560ft passing Highstreet before descending steeply down a loose rocky slope to Haweswater.

The walk around Haweswater was undulating never more than 30yards from the waters edge, as Wainwright described it, but I note no Mention of vertical height. Contrary to the flat walk expected there were numerous undulations and some steep climbs which took their toll on our already tired legs with our heavy packs.

Merlin was enjoying himself, running ahead and back and taking a swim in every waterfall and stream he came across. The weather by now was warm and fine, Ruth and I watched Merlin jealously, wishing we could join him bathing in the refreshing waters but sadly we had no time for such frivolity!

As we moved away from Haweswater, the terrain changed dramatically. The rocky Lakeland fells gave way to rolling, green farmland. We had crossed the Lake District. The distance covered and the punishing fells had taken their toll and the following miles were an effort. Shap, our destination, felt a long way, especially when it always appeared to be over the next hill.

Walking through the fields around Shap Abbey there were lambs playing in the fields which helped lift the spirits.

As we finally rolled into Shap we felt tired and sore. We found a camp at a local hostel and instantly felt better once the packs and boots were off.

After a meal and few pints in the pub we headed for bed in anticipation of a long day ahead, 20miles to Kirkby Lonsdale.