coast to coast 2011
coast to coast - day 7
Barn House B&B, Orton to Old Croft House B&B, Kirkby Stephen
12.62 miles 1,353 feet.
Start: 08:45 Finish: 14:00 Elapsed time: 5:15 Cumulative time: 45:15
It was a beautifully sunny day as I left Orton with dry boots and wearing shorts once again. Perhaps this had something to do with my thinking that, for me, this was the best leg of the C2C. The walk to Sunbiggin Tarn was lovely with fine views of the surrounding countryside and the Howgills in the distance.
From Sunbiggin Tarn the path crossed Ravonstonedale Moor which was dry underfoot. The countryside then changed as I approached Smardale Bridge and the nearby railway viaduct. For a short while I was following the line of drystone walls before dropping down to Scandal Beck.
There was a steepish climb out of Smardale on to the adjoining fell which then gave way to field paths leading into Kirkby Stephen. I stayed at the Old Croft House B&B (6/10) which had the most peculiar Victorian style décor and reminded me of something out of the Munsters. My room didn’t have en-suite facilities but I had use of a private bathroom nearby. Not ideal, but acceptable.