Day three. Over the hills to Kentmere

Oh What a Beautiful Morning, I sing that song when I wake up to sunshine. It's sunny today just as it was on Wednesday, are you ready for the next installment of the virtual tour.

As I can see the hilltops on this sunny morning I think I will make my way over to Kentmere. Out of the hostel and turn left up the road towards Troutbeck. Here I am approaching Townend, lovely isn't it, oh the joys of being alive. Just imagine, ambling along with not a care in the world, the day is my own, let's have a nosey around and see what I can find.


There is a National Trust house here, also named Townend, with links to Beatrix Potter, but I must have had a lapse of concentration in my relaxed state, and I missed it. Not to worry, I might have been too early for the opening times, and I don't pay to go inside these places.

However, it was free to look at the outside of this interesting building. It looks a bit like a house and livestock shed all in one. There's a ramp leading up to barn doors, possibly for herding the sheep into the upper part of the building, with rooms down below and at each end. A man told me it was built in 1666.

The Post Office is a beautifully preserved building.

Strolling along the long narrow road through Troutbeck I came across this chappie going about his daily business. You don't see many coalmen any more.

There are three drinking troughs built into the walls along the way, with running water from the spout. They are named after saints, and were provided for the horses which made the long journey to Patterdale.

I took a peek over a garden wall, what a beautiful view they have.

I left the road and dropped down on the right onto the main A592, and came across Jesus Church. It was built in 1736 on the site of an old chapel. A lovely place to spend a few quiet moments inside, and sit outside on a bench for a bite to eat. There is more information on Troutbeck here......

www.visitcumbria.com/amb/troutbeck.htm

Just after the church I turned off from the road to head up into the hills, and took the Garburn Road, a wide track. This is the view across the valley, you can see Troutbeck spread out along the road on the other side. Below is a caravan park with wooden type log cabins.

Still climbing, there is a lot of loose rocks which look like they are about to slide down the steep slope.

The views are getting better, a few clouds have come over but it's still dry.

Garburn Pass into Kentmere is very eroded, steep gullies with lots of loose rocks and stones to pick your way over. A lot of looking down at your feet. Here we go, on the way down, this bit isn't too bad, looks like they have filled some of it in.

A little bimble around Kentmere, it is very small only a few farms, houses, and a church, then set off back through the wood and down the side of Kentmere Tarn.

Anyone fancy this old tractor for a restoration project?

I thought this was a jolly sign as the path went through the middle of the factory buildings.

Who's a handsome boy then, come on give me a smile for the camera, ha ha.

I took the track over Hugill Fell to head back through farmland, and joined the road at Broadgate Farm to Longmire and across the two wooden footbridges to the hostel. This was my longest days walk at 14.42 miles.