Day 10 - Half Way-Mark!

Keld to Bowes

Today's Miles - 13.1
Today's Ascent - 2165 ft
Today's Descent - 2286 ft
Total Miles so Far - 138.3
Star Team Member - Sherpa Dad for finally biting the bullet and joining in with 3 lines of our usual ABBA classics!

Today we reached the half way point in our adventure! Reflecting back upon the previous 10 days walking we all agreed that it seems a long time ago since we were leaving Edale, but all of the days have sort of merged into one. This may be hard for you to understand, but hopefully you get what I mean. 

We left Keld and retraced the steps we took coming into Keld yesterday, except we were leaving the quaint village.

Leaving Keld

We walked down to the river Swale and Paddy had his usual morning swim. There were two lovely waterfalls to look at, so we had a quick look and continued on.

Down by the River Swale

It was getting quite foggy as we turned onto a farm track road that took us uphill. Dad helped some coast to Coasters on the wrong route, and having looked at the waterfalls we were off to a slow start. But we kept going as the pub was only 2 or 3 miles away (ATCF).

A gloomy climb

We reached the pub at about 12 o'clock, having walked 4 miles since Keld. The Tan Hill Inn is the highest pub in England, and it was lunch time, so we couldn't walk past! We had some chips and a drink then continued on, with 8 miles to go. Tan Hill claims to be halfway on the Pennine Way, but there is still a bit of uncertainty to how long the walk actually is. Some say it is 267, other 268 and Wainwright himself saying 270. Assuming the walk is 268 miles, the pub is half way.

Nearly Halfway House 

There was a nice poetry board outside too.

Poetry Board

We walked across a lot of moorland over to Bowes on our way. Some D of E lads were stuck so we pointed them the right way, and the river ran by us so Pads had constant splashes. It was a bit boring as the moorland went on forever, and the path was not very clean.

Sleightholme Moor

We had a close encounter with some cows (again!) and soon Bowes was in sight. We walked up a little hill and I did my rendition of the Sound of Music "The dales are alive with the sound of baa-ring". We were finally here! It seemed a long day for only 13 miles, but we had pulled through.

Bowes

We hopped in the car (parked by Uncle John) and drove to our hotel in Middleton (where we walk tomorrow). We are doubling back again as there was nowhere that would take Pads in Bowes.

See you tomorrow,
Caitlin xx