Carlisle to Armathwaite (16 miles)

Lookiing north across the Eden from Stony Holme Golf Course

Our aim was to complete a 16 mile walk and we did it! It was a cool day with a strong north easterly breeze blowing in across the Eden as we set off at midday from the top of St Aidan’s Road. Within an hour or so we had gone under the M6 and emerged away from all the traffic noise into the peaceful countryside between Scotby and the Eden. After a short rest and lunch spent watching swifts and thanking our lucky stars that there was a large body of water between us and the cows rampaging on the opposite bank of the river we set off again, feeling much refreshed.

We left the Eden and reached Wetheral via Scotby and a footpath adjacent to the railway line. This stretch of the walk was pleasant and away from the windswept river bank so we soon warmed up and enjoyed a pleasant Sunday afternoon walk, reaching the half way point by 3.15 and very pleased with our time. A short rest again on the Green in Wetheral before setting off again.

Our third section took us through woodland and riverside meadows. The path through Wetheral Woods is very pretty and well defined and the air was filled with birdsong and the scents of river garlic and sweet rocket. The Eden is wide, fast and deep at this point and well stocked with salmon. A few lone fishermen stood thigh deep and still as statues in what must have been very chilly waters. The stretch along the Eden to Armathwaite is around 8 miles and we were all pretty bushed by the time we left the main river path, with its frequent ups and downs and headed for Drybrook Farm. From here we knew from our guide that we only had around 2 miles to go before reaching Armathwaite, and our spirits and pace lifted so that we had finished the whole walk by 7.30.

We achieved our goal of completing a good long walk and it was done in a very reasonable time. The 26 km stretch is just over a quarter of the total 100km we will do in July; we need to walk a little faster when we do the Trailwalker walk. But we still have 6 weeks training and who’d have thought any of us would complete a 16 mile walk and have so few aches and pains the next day? I wouldn’t have got off so lightly a couple of months ago! Next walk: Maryport to Silloth, Friday 12th June.