Coast to Coast
Day 6 Kirkby Stephen – Keld 13.2 miles
Copyright © Barry Smith 2012. All Rights Reserved.
Today the weather was fine and sunny with a cool wind, and commenced with Graham asking for paracetamol as he
woke. (Obviously too much politics the night before!) There would be no rush today, and as befits all of our guest
walkers, Martyn was handed the guide and map for the day’s sector, and we departed at 9.45. We had a gentle pull up to
Nine Standards where we came across the girls chatting to Lisa. We left ahead of them and seemed to do battle with
peat bogs all the way to Keld, which were compensated for by the marvelous views, and RAF Hawk trainers flying up the
valleys. We got slightly ‘misplaced’ above Wain Wath Force, and upon arrival at Keld had ice creams from Park Lodge,
which seemed to be a tea parlour, shop and off license all rolled into one.
We were staying at East View, a new and very pleasant cottage conversion run by Keith and Margaret, and we were
welcomed with tea and biscuits. Our in-house evening meal was probably the least substantial meal not only that we
had had so far on the walk, but which we would have on the whole walk. (could have a lot to do with the announcement
from Keith that “We’re Yorkshire folk & tight”). This was compounded when Margaret suddenly announced that it was
time for one of her favorite TV programmes, and would we please vacate the room! We retired to the lounge upstairs
and sampled the goodies that Martyn had brought.
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