Day 14 - Cross (-ing the) Fell

Dufton to Garrigill

Today's Miles - 15.6 miles
Today's Ascent -  3592 ft
Today's Descent -  3080 ft
Total Miles so Far - 187.9 miles
Star Team Member - Mam, for taking the lead, and powering up Cross Fell. 

Today was a really tough day! We climbed the highest point on the Pennine Way- Cross Fell. If those of you are more familiar with Lakeland hills, then Cross Fell is about the size of Skiddaw; so quite high, but on top of that we had 16 miles to walk, with our packs, so it is fair to say it was quite hard going. 

Dufton Pike

After a hearty breakfast, we left the cosiness and warmth of our lovely B and B in Dufton, to brave the harsh Pennine elements (Ok, maybe I am exaggerating a bit about the weather!). I feel the cold lots so I felt the wind and had to put on my fleece. We walked along the main road for a short distance then turned off to a country lane, and passed through a farm. Then we started the climb upwards, passed through some fields with cows grazing, and kept walking up and up. We were aiming for the summit of Knock Fell, our first hill of the day, at 2604 ft. We had lots of chocolate and had done 4 miles, 25% of the way, and had gained some hight.

Top of Knock Fell

 We walked (I have never used the words 'we' and 'walked' so many times in my life before!) down from the top of Knock Fell, only to walk up to the top of our next hill, Great Dunn Fell, at a hight of 2780, so we were gradually gaining hight. It had an early warning system station on the top, and it looked a bit like a giant golf ball.

Odd looking cairns- golf anyone?!

From here we walked (there it goes again!) down and then up to Little Dunn Fell, summit three at 2761, just a bit smaller than Great Dunn. i had a stone in my shoe, and there was a handy wind shelter, so I took off my boot, and Dad waited with me, while Mam took the lead up to the top of the big one (how many hills have been branded 'the big one' on this blog? Black Hill, Pen-y-Ghent, and now Cross Fell. Well, Cross fell is the BIG one, so all the others can be 'nearly big ones'.), anyway, back to the topic! Mam took the lead and powered on ahead. Dad said to me "let's go and catch Mam up", but it was impossible! She was marching onward, lulled by the lovely thoughts of her dinner. We got to the summit after a long climb over 8 miles, at about 1:30. We were very pleased with ourselves and the view looking over to the Lake District was amazing, as the weather was perfect. It had not rained the whole way up so we were feeling very good. After sitting the wind shelter and enjoying our lunch we pressed on, with Garigill 8 miles away.

Summit of the Pennines

 We dropped down from Cross Fell and after about 1.5 miles hit a small shelter called Greg's Hut. I asked if there were any pasties, but unfortunately not. We popped in and signed the visitors book and had a break with 5.5 miles to go.

Gregg's Hut (no cheese pasties)

We joined a rocky track that would take us all the way down to our final destination for the day. It was very lumpy and bumpy, and not easy underfoot, but we kept going. We walked along this road, it was tediously long, and turned corner to see Garigill. Cross Fell was always looming behind us, reminding us of the previous climb done today.

Looking back to Cross Fell

With 1.5 miles to go, we thought we were on the home straight, the village was in touching distance, a mere 3 fields away, but then the road turned right!? It took us the long way round after that tediously long bumpy road, it was such a pain!

Garrigill still 1 mile away

With our feet on fire, we reached the village (finally!) to a J20 and cider bought by Dad, who walked ahead, and our two fellow Pennine Wayfarer friends, Petra and Emma. We got a taxi to Alston, and got out of the car like robots, we were so stiff. Pads especially!

The end of a long day

We said farewell to our German friend Petra, she is walking to Greenhead, while we only go to Slaggyford (don't snigger!). I am going to stiffly walk to bed and get some rest, to wake up revitalized for tomorrows walk to Slaggyford (not funny!)

Caitlin xx