Day 6 May 18th

Thursday morning and all ready to start three days walking across the Yorkshire Dales, the first two I would be accompanied by my good friend Lew, he joined me last year for the first and last two stages of the Pennine Way. If they turn out as good as those, I am sure Lew will be as pleased as myself. Before I left our evenings accommodation I had a brief stroll in the town, I saw Mike setting off early, today he was carrying on to Reeth, I wouldn't be there for two days so our paths wouldn't meet again, I wished him well and good luck.
Me and Lew started off on our way, not too early as it is a reasonably short walk, about 11/12 miles to Keld. Already the sun was out and this remained with us nearly all day, making it a pleasurable walk. We headed alongside a lane to take us onto the Dales, gradually climbing onto Hartley Fell where it then became a track then a walking path up to Nine Standards Rigg. These are a series of cairn type structures, the origin of which is unknown.

Outskirts of Kirkby Stephen, fingerpost shows I will reach halfway today

View back down Hartley Fell

Nine Standard's coming into view

We had a few minutes rest on top, enjoying the views and taking photos of ourselves and for a few other walkers, a fair few about today. We carried on, clear flagged paths are now layed down around this notoriously boggy area, a great job's been done of it. From Nine Standards there are 3 routes you can take, you are advised to take the one for the time of year, probably to give the other areas time to establish growth etc, we fell into line with this and took the seasonal "red route".

Well deserved rest for Lew

Lew and myself, Nine Standards

It was then a pleasant walk across the open expanse of moors, roughly 4 miles on we stopped at Ravenseat Farm, had tea and refreshments, served by host Amanda. Now any dedicated walker will tend to watch TV or videos about walks, ie Julia Bradbury documentaries, and one thing, if you do watch these you will surely have seen this place and Amanda, a "celebrity" of these programmes. She and her husband  live and work raising sheep in this very remote area of the Dales. She was serving me and Lew with our tea, one little girl was playing close by, I said to Amanda "wheres this one down the line" I think she said number 7, she now is the mother of 9, yes 9 children. 

Lew with Ravenseat Farm just behind

Cuppa tea time, "Earl Grey" naturally !!!

Photo with "celeberity" Amanda

We left the farmstead, said our goodbyes to Amanda and fellow walkers, of which there were quite a few taking refreshments there, we soon came into the bottom of the dale and walked alongside the River Swale on our way into Keld. This was turning into a lovely last few miles amble, sunny, warm and lovely scenery. At one point we spotted this bird, very distinctive wing markings, black with a broad white band running the length of them, Lew as been taking an interest in ornithology for a short while now, he couldn't make out what the species was though. Later I googled it, found out it was an oyster catcher, I felt rather pleased with myself after seeing one of these, but, it turns out they ate rather common in these neck of the woods. We passed a small waterfall, pleasant area where we took more photos, then made gentle unhurried progress to Keld Lodge, the nights stopover.

Crossing over River Swale

Beauty spot alongside river

Best way to finish a fine day's walk, enjoy Lew

 The evening wasn't spent in Keld village, as we had our own transport we decided to take Jo and Lew (Jo drove actually) to a place me and liz stopped last year, Tan Hill Inn, 4 miles north. This pub is the highest pub in England, as remote as anything you will find, we enjoyed our dinner and a few pints, a chat with a couple of guys, one walking the Pennine Way for a 7th time, the other a keen cyclist. A pleasant evening all round.