Pennine Way Day 8 - Hawes to Tan Hill

We're Back ! Picking up where we stopped in the summer at Hawes - Just outside the very impressive B&B we stayed at (Crosby House). Fully healed and raring to go - We even managed to lay on the same weather that we had on the day we left (torrential rain).

Tucked up in our waterproofs - we start off on what could be quite a hard section

Hawes railway station is a disused railway station that served the town of Hawes, it was closed in 1959 and now forms part of the Dales Countryside Museum.

The River Ure - As you can see it's very high with all the recent rain we've had.

Heading out into the Wensleydale countryside and leaving the town behind.

Dales single file walking

The Green Dragon Inn - I reckon the Hardraw Falls would be pretty impressive today, but we have got a long way to go and I'm not sure if we could have got through the pub to see them anyway at this time in the morning. Love the sign saying "Hippies use the back door"

Crossing Hardraw Beck - looks more like a river to me

A right turn after Hardraw and its out onto the high ground - Navigation is pretty easy after this point with basically a single bridleway all the way to Thwaite.

Starting the four and a half mile ascent of Great Shunner Fell. Still chucking it down.

Nothing much to see or report for the last hour or so, as a lot was done in heavy rain and low cloud. But for once we decided to stop at the top of a fell for lunch as it appeared to be the only place which offered at least some protection from the elements. Great Shunner Fell summit.

Certainly very soggy up here - but at least it was beginning to fair up.

Impressive looking cairn - but no views yet into Swaledale

He even has a 'stance' when he's walking ! Sir Stancalot himself

The paths have become rivers - The Pennine Way is certainly one for the Goretex boys.

Well things are certainly looking up ! Warm sunshine is helping to dry the outer layers and the views are becoming better and better. Here we are on the descent down into Thwaite. The Buttertubs are over to our right but we won't be visiting them today.

Time for a break in the centre of this pretty dales village - Thwaite.

Leaving Thwaite behind as we start another ascent in what seems like it's the wrong direction. Keld is signposted a different way (and we're due to visit there), but the Pennine Way takes you into Swaledale proper - a longer route but far better.

Seems to be a harder climb this one than the big grind up Great Shunner Fell - but it's certainly more pretty.

Looking down towards the River Swale as it powers it's way towards Muker.

As we approach Keld and start to descend - one of many rainbows today herald our arrival.

A place we've been to many times before (Julia's seat we have named it - bet you can guess why ?) - Pretty impressive today, time for a break I think and enjoy the show.

Here we are at the crossing of two great trails - The Pennine Way meets the Coast to Coast. The C2C should be a national trail by now - It's one of the best and most popular long distance walks in the world, I can't understand why we don't upgrade it to one. We did spot some blue C2C signages attached to the post - never seen these before ? Is something changing regarding it's status ? We should be preserving the best that Britain has to offer that's for sure. Post Walk Note - "The first steps are being taken to establish Wainwright’s very popular Coast to Coast (C2C) Walk as a National Trail. Defra has asked Natural England to make the case for National Trail status for the C2C Walk"

Leaving Keld behind as we head up towards Stonesdale Moor - Yet another uphill trek.

Isolated and soggy - Other than the metropolis of Keld, where there were a handful of day trippers, we only bumped into two other couples of walkers all day long.

Looking back the route we took over the moor - doesn't inspire me much, prefer the lush dales countryside to the moorland.

Ah - I spot a pub in the distance, just as the light was beginning to fade.

On a lonely site high in the Yorkshire Dales stands the Tan Hill Inn, a unique and historic place dating back to the 17th century. The Tan Hill Inn is also the highest pub in the UK. We were planning on staying here in the summer, but as you can see from Day 7, it was not to be.