Sunday 18 August

Day 1 of our walk starts with trying to even out the weight in the 3 bags we have for "Hadrian's Haul" which has a 20Kg limit. This company will take our bags to our next destination Low Rigg Farm at Walton so we can just walk with day packs. There is light rain as we set off to walk ~1km to the Sands Centre and the bridge over the River Eden which is our starting point.

We follow the River east through Rickerby Park, then through the village of the same name with idiosyncratic garden ornaments, then over the M6 and on to Crosby where we hoped to have a coffee at the Stag Inn. At 8.4km from the start, it was around 11.00am on a Sunday morning, so of course, it wasn't open. A short walk further on was Crosby Eden where a sign promised food and drinks down a side road. After a few hundred metres we gave up. The map showed a hotel, but nothing was evident on the ground. Nothing for it but to head back to the track and carry on.

Naturally, as soon as we did return to the track, past a farm, there was a refreshment stand with DIY cups of hot tea, and much else, on an honour payment system. We sit out of the rain, eat our apples and discuss our track experiences with other walkers. It would seem that several enterprising people have set up small sheds along the track offering hot & cold drinks, ice creams, pies and even sandwiches. You just put the appropriate payment in the jar.

By Newtown at 15.6km we were ready for an ice cream, courtesy of a young lady who had set up a small shed. The weather was still cloudy, but at least the rain had stopped. We arrive at the farm B&B just outside Walton in good order around 4.15pm. Our luggage is waiting for us, great. A shower and then taxi ride into Brampton with Brendan our chatty, cheeky Irish driver who though he was on a racetrack!

The Howard Arms was recommended, but we found the service very slow and the menu very restricted. In fact, even at 6.00pm they were only offering a turkey roast. OK, we order the roast, as does everyone else in the bar. After nearly an hour the food arrived, at least it tasted fine and had plenty of vegetables. Unfortunately when it came to paying the bill they also had no idea what we had actually had. It took 4 goes to produce a bill we could pay. Not a good evening for the Howard Arms.