L2L Day 51 Keswick to Cockermouth - 9 miles

Keswick was worthy of a longer stay and with it being Market day there was a lot going on. 


In the time I had, I didn't do it justice but the buildings and spaces are very  attractive and there's even a promising sounding Bohemian quarter.




While pondering on a plan for the day, I had a coffee sitting in the Market Square and watched as the sky darkened and eventually a torrential hailstorm put paid to an early departure.




The routes I'd considered to Cockermouth were either over Grisedale Pike or the Whinlatter Pass. In view of the changeable weather, I decided on the latter, took a short bus ride to Braithwaite and walked from there.


This was going to be road walking but the views were fantastic.


The road wasn't busy but with lots of bends, it meant carefully choosing which side of the road to walk.


I'd heard of rolling in the heather, but this would be something new!!

It was warm walking in the sunshine but as the rain come on again, I managed to get to The Cottage in the Wood and took shelter in their porch for 20 mins while another downpour passed over.

For a couple of miles I was walking on the C2C cycle route  - spoiler alert - there are some seriously steep hills both up and down.


Very attractive buildings in High Lorton as the dark clouds gathered again.


Unfortunately, for the last few miles it seemed there wasn't an alternative to walking along the narrow and busy B2592 so rather than risk life and limb, I decided to go retro and hitch. The fourth car stopped. It turns out that they'd passed me,  intrigued by my appearance clad in every item of waterproof clothing, taken pity on me, turned round and picked me up. Brilliant! 


They'd just finished work at Buttermere and were on their way home. I very gratefully climbed into the back of their 2 door car and was delivered to my hotel, armed with a list of recommendations of where to eat and drink this evening.
The Manor House Hotel is a grand building - a Grecian Villa built as a home for a local milliner.


A beautiful staircase.

There's been a local furore over the badly timed pollarding of some of the beautiful lime trees that line the main street. Pollarding is one thing but doing it in the Spring just after the new leaves have appeared seems crazy.



...... and especially in front of Wordsworth's family home.

I had a very enjoyable evening at Tarantella 


before a comfortable and long sleep.

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