Another hot day ahead for all of us as we leave Kirkby Stephen at 8.30am and its already nearing 19 degrees.
We set off as a group and leave Kirkby Stephen through a delightful pathway where we are greeted by a macaw parrot flying free. It is a lovely, if unusual sight!
We all stop to have our photo taken at the signpost beside the River Eden which shows 105 miles to go to Robin Hoods Bay.
After the first mile or so the road gets much steeper and a 4 mile walk follows to the top of Nine Standards Rigg, an unusual collection of stone stacks that no one seems to know the origin off. Many different stories have been put forward including them being used as a 'dummy' military site to confuse attacking Scottish armies, built by locals men with nothing better to do too being boundary markers, the later seems to be the most likely. Whatever their reason, its a long hard slog to the top to see them!
So far all water ways have been flowing towards the Irish Sea, from here they flow East to the North Sea
The route down to Keld goes through the Yorkshire Dales National Park which is incredible. We are in luck as due to all the good weather the ground is very dry and progress is swift and we soon reach Coldberg Edge and follow Whitsundale Beck down to Ravenseat.
From here a delightful walk into Keld following the River Swale and passing the Cotterby Scar leads us to our accommodation at Butt House where we are meeting friends for dinner.
Tomorrow for the first time the mileage to RHB will be less than the distance we have travelled, we are well and truly past half way and on our way to Reeth, a journey of 11 miles.
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