Day 2 – Derwent Water – Crummock Water

11 miles (via Buttermere)

Wet start to a grey day. Rejoined the CW/AR along the shore of Derwent Water.

My morning porridge soon wore thin so I popped into a riverside café in Grange. It stopped raining then started again.

Miraculously, as I climbed from the pretty village, blue sky emerged illuminating Borrowdale in all its glory. Simply gorgeous.

Dark cloud

Not so steep now as I gaze down on Rosthwaite on route to Little Gatesgarthdale and Honister Hause. At the slate mine I refresh with a coke and change a very sweaty shirt.

An ominous dark cloud has again descended, this time over Fleetwith Pike. I opt to take the Honister Pass to Buttermere which turned out to be a good decision.

On route I had a personal aerial display by a couple of falcons and witnessed the helicopter rescue of a walker on Fleetwith Edge above me. I'm glad I took the road.

Pleasant amble

Buttermere has to be my favourite lake. Hay Stacks and High Stile watch over this serene water. A quick cup of char by the waters edge then a pleasant amble to the Fish Inn at Buttermere village.

Looking for my next campsite, two red squirrels chase each other in a tree. One has a white tail. Never seen that before!

Disaster! I put my left foot in a sink hole up to my knee. Or should that be stink hole. The stench is unbelievable!

Sodden gear

I eventually pitch up hidden amongst bracken under a tree near the shore of Crummock Water.

There's a brook nearby and plenty of boughs to hang my sodden gear.

After two pints at the pub, some more couscous and a pretty sunset, life is good.

The beauty of Buttermere.

Wild camp at Crummock Water.