Caldbeck to Keswick

We had such a great time doing the Herriot Way, we decided we should try and do a walking weekend away every three or four months; to repeat the experience and to keep up the training for the C2C, planned for May 2006. We set aside the 5th and 6th November 2005 for the first of these.

We hunted around for a suitable two day circular, on the basis that linear walks are more difficult logistically, not least in getting to the start or the end without using two cars. There don't appear to be many two day circular walks, not unless you go to the trouble of planning one yourself. In the end I posted a request on a message forum and was rewarded by a recommendation for a section of the Cumbria Way between Keswick and Caldbeck which has high and low options.

Out came Memory Map and I plotted the route for the two days. We would start at Caldbeck on Saturday morning and walk over High Pike to Skiddaw House then down to the B&B overnight in Keswick, returning via Orthwaite on Sunday.

I made the appropriate bookings, making sure we were okay to leave the car at the B&B in Caldbeck for the weekend. Selecting a B&B when there is only two or three to choose from (as in Caldbeck) is a lot easier then selecting one in Keswick where there are literally hundreds. As it was we were not disappointed by either choice.

I finished work early on the Friday and picked Rob up in Manchester. We had been asked to be at the B&B by 6pm as the proprietor was going out for the evening, this at least meant that we would have plenty of time in the pub. We arrived in Caldbeck about 5.30pm and although it's only a small village we still struggled to find the B&B, but after asking at the dental surgery in the town we discovered it was next door!

The Briars is a lovely house with the most amazing views of the Caldbeck Fells and High Pike. The proprietor Mrs Coulthard greeted us with profuse apologies, it was actually tomorrow night she was going out and not tonight, so we hadn't actually needed to be here so early.

I was forced to carry my own pack up the stairs this time (see HW journal), but as we weren't using a baggage company for this two day jaunt, we had packed light and it wasn't too arduous.

We sorted kit for the morning, folded maps and decamped to the pub for a meal and beer. The Oddfellows Arms served a very passable pint of Jennings and although the place was empty when we got there, we were told the restaurant was already fully booked for the evening. People must come from a long way, because it looked to be a reasonable size, certainly more seats that the local residents could fill. However, the bar food was excellent and very reasonably priced.

We requested an early breakfast from Mrs Coulthard who was happy to comply, although I think early for her was 8am rather than the hoped for 7am from us. We compromised and agreed upon 7.30am. We spent the rest of the evening in our room listening to Pink Floyd's The Wall on my phone's MP3 player and polishing off a half bottle of vodka which Rob had supplied.