Day 2

Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite

Another glorious day. We came prepared for wind and rain and possibly even snow, but the greatest risks are now sunstroke and heat exhaustion.




We have seen all manner of flora and fauna. The wild flowers are at their best at the moment with bluebells everywhere, even on the clifftops. Over the first two days we have seen copious violets, dandelions, celandine, sea campion, red campion and sea thrift. Today we spotted a red squirrel in the forest above Ennerdale water and heard our first cuckoo of 2011.



We walked from Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite, a distance of 14.07 miles (on the GPS). The first 4 miles we walked alongside Ennerdale Water, then slowly climbed the forest road to Black Sail Youth Hostel. There we had lunch with a pair of tame chaffinches, a guy from northern California who visits England every year and a guy walking the coast-to-coast to raise funds to restore his local war memorial.

After lunch we climbed 1000 feet straight up the slopes beside Loft Beck onto Brandreth Fell before descending to Honister pass and the slate quarry where we had a welcome cup of tea.



We are staying at Yew Tree Farm in a National Trust B&B. The landlady also runs the "Flock Inn" tea rooms next door - they won an award for tea-room of the year (or something similar) on Radio 4 a few years ago.



Liz is taken with the little lambs in the adjoining field, they look to be only one or two days' old. Liz is also miffed that we shall miss the royal wedding tomorrow as we cross the bogs of Green-up Edge on our way to Grasmere. We're also missing the build up this evening since this B&B doesn't provide a TV!