Day 6 – Kirkby Stephen to Keld
Number of steps 27,816
Distance walked 12.3 miles
Highest Point – 2208 ft
Hares - 2
Stiles, Gates – 9
Mid morning break – 60 minutes (at Nine Standards Rigg)
Dead sheep – 1 (and very smelly)
Accommodation Report – YHA Kirkby Stephen
Comfort – 2½ Stars (out of 5)
Hospitality – 4 Stars
Food – N/A Stars
Facilities – 3 stars
Overall – 3 and a bit Stars
Another warm welcome – this is privately owned, but still associated with the Association. The operator Denise welcomed us and we had single beds rather than bunks. Security was relaxed, no locks other than the front door. Free wi-fi helped, we didn't eat there hence the star rating.
Day 6 Walk
We started by saying goodbye to one of our companions of the last few days. Natalie had joined her father on the walk but the punishing walk the day before finished off her feet. She was catching the train from the railway station back home.
We made an early start at 8.00 am, no breakfast organised, we had a sausage roll from the local newsagents. We wanted to be up to the Nine Standards Rigg as early as possible. The climb was long but we made it within 1½ hours. We spent an hour at the Rigg, with the occasional jet aircraft buzzing us. Another brew up and the unfurling of the flag. This is the watershed of the walk. All water now flows towards the North Sea.
Shortly after we were directed onto the red route and into the boggy ground of the moors. I was particularly wary of this section, expecting great swathes of mud. In fact it was amazingly dry. We continued off the moor towards the top end of Swaledale.
We came across Ravenseat Farm, featured in the DVD. We were ready for a tea and scone but unfortunately no one was at home. We aren't having much luck as the fish and chip shop so favoured by AW in Kirkby Stephen had also been closed the night before.
We followed the upper Swale before dropping down to our accommodation for the night, Keld Bunkhouse. We had finished our walk in a little over 5 hours.
Final thing
We have absolutely no mobile phone signal in Keld. Just in case our nearest and dearest are worrying, we will make contact as soon as we can.
