I woke as always , early.
As gear was pre packed from previous night I had little to do except have a basic breaky and get going.
I was away by 8 but spent 10 mins trying to get out of the grounds as the gate had a padlock . After wondering like a fool I climbed over the gate and in the cold sun .
The route up Great Shunner was icy peaceful , only the sound of skylark and lapwing seemed to disturb the still crisp quiet. It was not a hard climb but more steady and gradual . I stopped to look back down the route with mist below obscuring the village I had just left . It was a realisation of the reason I did these sort of things , seems lately that I had little time to 'stand and stare'.
As I gained more height more snow lay , not fresh , icy and part thawed making it almost a case for the light crampons I carried.
I sat on the top for a few mins taking in the view, I had taken me less than 2 hours , a grey tinge of fog the Thwaite side , my direction had me hoping the spring sun would burn it off before I got to the bottom. In a training walk 10 months ago I had done this journey in reverse trying desparately not to be over taken by some army bods who seemed as determined to catch up , they didn't until they jogged past on the descent, I let them !
This descent was more snowy /icy than the ascent, the slabs preventing erosion quite often obscured.
I got to the bottom and walked into Thwaite , stopping at Kearton Country Hotel for a coffee. I was pleased I did not have to remove my boots and spared others of my perfumed feet , they had a natty little step in gadget that enveloped the boots in blue plastic to keep the posh carpet clean.
I left and made my way through a farm yard and up passed barns and skirted fields with friendly signs like 'no camping'. Once height was made the views ahead and behind were excellent as I skirted the Kisdon hill at around 400m.
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| Looking back to Thwaite with Great Shunner in background | | | | |
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| View ahead to Keld, River Swale Valley |
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| Kisdon Force,having crossed the Swale , I sat here briefly with other folk taking in the beauty, the sun was shining so anything would of appealed but this was magical. |
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| After a hike over high moorland passing old lead mines I arrived at Tan Hill Inn...of course I had to have a pint,and great chips. I charged phone and willingly was forced to give to the nominated mountain rescue charity by the landlady. |
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| This was a boggy , flat stretch which got better as I went , when I say better I mean drier, much to my relief. The moorland heather was being burnt off to allow new shoots for the grouse. |
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| Frumming Beck |
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| Crossing under the A66 |
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| With light descending over the A66 I headed north a wee bit to pitch on bleak moorland. |
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