It was a calm night but I was disappointed when I peered out of the tent to see thick mist. I was packed up and on my way just after 8am. I waited for more light to make the descent a bit safer. I’d originally planned to descend by the ridge heading north but its quite steep near the top and I didn’t want to take any chances so decided to head SE across the Greyrigg Pike area. It was an interesting succession of humps and bumps but the thick cloud continued so I only saw my immediate surroundings. Eventually the ground began to descend and I’m glad I’d come this way as the way down didn’t present any problems. I came out of the cloud and could see the A685 below.

gloomy view on the descent

mast on Dillicar Common

As I approached the road I noticed a rut in the ground which looked as though it could have been the old route of the road. I followed it down to the left but it soon petered out. There were no gates in the wall so I continued to a gap where a piece of wire had been put there to try and block the gap. It was fairly useless so I stepped over it and joined the road. It’s a good job its Sunday and there’s hardly any traffic as the road doesn’t have a footpath. I headed towards Tebay for a couple of miles then took the left branch turn before the motorway bridge and headed for Roundthwaite.

I could’ve stayed on the main road all the way to Tebay but decided to return along part of the route I took on Friday to use the footbridge over the River Lune. I retraced my steps under the motorway and then the railway. I crossed the footbridge, which had just had new timbers fitted to the steps and footway across the river. The main bridge structure is steel. On the far bank a path took me to a track then to the tarmac road up through Tebay and back to the A685. I got back to the car just after 10am. I was surprised how quick the return journey had been.

footbridge across the River Lune