There were some very rainy and windy squalls during the night which kept waking me up. By morning the wind had died down but I was surrounded by thick mist and drizzle. I was on my way out today so had an early start. I was packed up and away at 06:30 and headed up a very wet path to the summit of Hallsfell. The only thing to see was the circular concrete trig point set in the ground. I headed SW along the ridge path which on a good day has one of the finest views in Cumbria.

Hallsfell summit and circular trig point

Distant view of St john's in the Vale through the rain

Today there was nothing to see so I pressed on to the edge of Blease Fell where the main path descends. Just before the descent a sign was stuck in the ground. It was path alteration notice which was to indicate the accurate position of paths on the ground and change the fictitious path which is shown on the map, path FP369021 which does not and never has existed. I’ve written many times about the ludicrous routes of paths on the maps which are not only wrong but dangerous. The notice reads:
We have confirmed orders which have changed the mapped path network in this area. There are no changes to the paths that exist on the ground – the orders have just changed the legal maps to accurately show where they are.

The steepest section has been well engineered into a series of zig-zags but where the gradient eases the paths split. I followed the direct route down towards the Blencathra Centre then left to join the road lower down. I continued down and through the village of Threlkeld to the main A66 road. My plan was to follow the line of the old railway line back to Keswick where I knew there was a footpath. However, I didn’t know where the path started. The path soon turned right, leaving the road and heading down through the trees.

Old Railway Bridge over the River Greta

From tunnel to bridge

I then found myself of the railway path crossing the River Greta by the old railway bridge. I couldn’t really enjoy the walk as much as I’d like as the light rain of earlier in the day had now reached torrential proportions. I walked through the rain until I came to where the A66 crosses the railway route. The railway route had to be obliterated for the road so the path has been diverted along an impressive boardwalk which almost hangs over the river. The rain was too heavy to take my camera out for a photo. I had some shelter as I passed under the road bridge but then was out in the rain until I reached the old Keswick Railway Station. It’s now a hotel but I was able to walk on the platform to get some shelter. I was soon back on Brundholme Road and back to the car. It was a very welcome sight as I had shelter and dry stuff to put on.

Keswick Railway Station this morning

Keswick Railway Station in busier times

Railway Navvies who maintained the track

The last train in 1972