Saturday 28 April, 2007
Today started with another grand riverside ramble, this time on the Kent. At some point after Cowan Head I arrived in the Lake District National Park. After Staveley height is gained on a succession of lanes and paths, the surroundings sprout knolls and crags and the hills display 
their splendour.
After the marvellous viewpoint of School Knott the path is downhill to the lake in grand surroundings. Or it should do. On the three occasions I’ve been here only once have I stayed on the correct path, by Matson Ground and Brantfell Farm. For the second time I headed downhill prematurely and walked through endless housing estates before eventually navigating to the lake shore. I’d walked all the way to Bowness-on-Windermere without putting a foot, wrong until the last three miles.
Talking of feet – they were sore, with some blistering. I’d been walking in Brasher Ultralight boots. They are comfortable on day walks but probably not up to trail walking.
I met the German couple in the garden of a Bowness pub for a comprehensive debrief whilst waiting for a lift home. We left them off in York with an open invitation to visit them at an unknown address in Düsseldorf.
All things considered I was pleased with the walk. Despite some foot and stamina problems I’d kept to my schedule and walked more strongly as the walked progressed.
The Dales Way is a grand walk which I’d recommend to anyone, particularly as a first long walk.
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