Day 8
Keld to Reeth (grinton)
10.5 miles
Depart 1100
Arrive 1630
The day started well with delivered to our door Bacon and egg sandwiches and a good lie in as with it only being a short day we weren't setting off till 1000. It actually turned out to be 1100 after delays of trying to dry out boots with a hair dryer which then over heated and shut down and then the absolute heaven of our freshly tumble dried clothes being delivered. Fresh smelling clean clothes was almost too much for us and we spent a good 10 mins just sniffing.
In contrast to yesterday it was a Beautifully day outside, and the walk over the moors was fantastic. A few winding narrow paths had Steve looking like he was walking a tight rope but we managed it in good order and made at safely up onto the ridge.
We also decided that today we would navigate purely by the female intuition of Eloise to decide which path to take when we came to a junction and we were almost concerted to this new style of navigation save for only 2 errors in the day that would have had us back at st bees head.
We made our way through plenty of grouse butts and could hear the shooting off in the distance and would ourselves startle some grouse to flight.
After lunch by the mill it was a short hike up thrill and into the plateau. Once there it was a like a lunar landscape with nothing growing. It had been ravaged by quarrymen and nothing would grow again for centuries. There was just an old stone cutting machine left there providing the only visual spectacle. The latter half of the walk seemed to go quite quickly, mainly being downhill, and we arrived in the pretty town of Reeth. I had booked into the YHA but wasn't entirely sure where it was so as we sat down for ice cream in the square I got the map out.
Sadly it seemed to be a little way out of town and off the route. Looking into the distance we could see an imposing building up on the hillside, uselessly hoping that this wouldn't be it, we were sadly disappointed. A rather dispirited climb up the hill ensued. Only a mile and a half but it made us work for it.
The hostel though was very nice, having an imposing castle like feel to it. Showered and fed though I sag down to plan the rest of the walk. I was due to leave Steve and Eloise after Richmond as I planned to finish on Sunday and they were Monday. As it happened though they decided to rearrange accommodation and travel plans do they could finish on the same day as me which will be lovely as they are great company. I like to think it was because of my winnings charm and personality, but I think it may be more that they don't want to get lost and have any more 12 hour walking days.

Another short one tomorrow to Richmond so the feet will have more time to recover.