October 27: Travelled up minus Vaughan and Mark to enjoy the last week end before the clocks changed. Unfortunately rucksack rather heavy, about 35 pounds-I had to take the large one even though I had an absolute minimum of food. An uneventful train journey - the train was reasonably empty. I escaped to the quiet coach for most of the trip to get away from the mobile phone brigade. After a quick change in Newcastle, I arrived in Haltwistle at about 5.20. I then started walking, partly on roads and paths, and arrived at Once Brewed at about 7.15. I asked what time the pub stopped serving food, to be told that it would not be "before 8" which meant a bit of a scramble. When I got there, I discovered that they served food until 9, so panic over. I had a good meal, and then prepared for the rigours of tomorrow.
October 28: I set off at about 9.30, and made reasonably good time along Hadrians Wall, and arrived on the outskirts of Greenhead at about lunch time. I then skirted around the edge of the golf course, crossed a very busy road, and I was then on fairly featureless moorland. I got diverted and took a long dog leg to the east, then a little bit on the road, then crossed the Hartley Burn after a lot of up and down, and then on to less hilly ground. However I was now running out of time as it was now 5pm and beginning to get dark. I rang the place I was staying at and told them I would be late. I started walking down the road, then it started to rain, then it poured down, someone in a 4x4 or of similar size stopped and offered me a lift. I accepted gladly and resolved not to criticise the owners of such vehicles for a while, however I this did not last long. Anyway they took me into Slaggyford, my destination for the evening.
October 29: I went on a disused railway line for a while and then joined the PW. I then went on a strange roundabout route and then walked into Alston and topped up my supplies. I then carried on to Garigill, and arrived there in good time. I was convinced I had booked into the Post office, but here was complete confusion on the owner's face. I walked down the main street and passed a B&B, wondering where to stay and and saw a note to me in the window. Obviously there had been some foul up over the booking. I eventually mad contact with the owner who was out when I arrived. I went out to the local pub for a meal that night. I did not feel that well later, probably the result of carrying a heavy rucksack and a long day yesterday.
Oct 30: I set off after a huge breakfast, still not feeling that great, and headed for Cross Fell, a beautiful day. I started the drag up to the top, and seemed to be going OK. I had lunch in Greg's hut with the weather deteriorating fast. I made it to the summit in zero visibility. I then had a massive navigational foul up, I managed to get completely lost, eventually sorted myself out, and got to Great Dun Fell with the hideous mast on top. I started off down the road and for Knock Old Man in awful weather, then made yet another navigational error, should have headed SW, but didn't....I soon realised my mistake and got on the right track just as night was fall ling. I lost height and got into Dufton, hardly any lights in the village but soon found the YH. The bad news was that the pub was shut, but the warden kindly made me some food.
October 31: I set off from Dufton for High Cup Nick, a long drag but the wait was worth it, a really spectacular place. I then cut across country along Maize Beck, but my feet were killing me, I could not work out why, they were boiling hot, took my boots off and the insoles out. Magic instant relief. I joined the main road at Langdon Beck, unfortunately I could not get into the YH or the hotel, so had to stay at the High Force Hotel, a pretty awful place, but I was past caring, and ate there that night.
November 1: I walked down the road and joined the PW, then walked up to where I had left it the previous night. I paused, turned round round, passed a quarry, then looked at High Force, quite spectacular. I then walked on a really pleasant path by the river almost the whole way, cut across some fields, almost made a wrong turning, and then reached the end of the path. I then passed a cattle market, and walked into Middleton in Teesdale and found my B&B quite easily, Brunswick House, a fabulous place.
November 2: Caught the bus to Darlington, then the train south. A good trip in spite of the heavy rucksack.
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