Three days in the Lake District
I had three days off at the start of September and no plans, which is usually how the best trips start. The idea was simple: get the train up, walk a loop from Keswick, sleep in hostels, and not look at my phone more than necessary.
Day one: rain
The forecast promised "showers". What arrived was eight hours of the kind of rain that comes at you sideways. I took the low route along Derwentwater and up the Borrowdale valley instead of going over the tops, which turned out to be the right call — the becks were full and loud, and the path by the river was more stream than path in places.
Lesson learned: waterproof boots are only waterproof until water comes in over the top. Gaiters next time, or at least socks that dry overnight. Merino ones did; the cotton pair I packed "just in case" did not.
Day two: the good one
The second morning was clear and cold, with cloud sitting in the valleys below the ridges. I went up from Seatoller towards the fells, and for about three hours I had the kind of views you see on postcards and assume are exaggerated. They are not.
I shot two rolls of film that day, mostly on a 35mm lens. Half of the frames will be the same view slightly to the left or slightly to the right, but that is the price of not being able to check.
Day three: back
A gentle walk back to Keswick on the other side of the lake, a very large lunch, and the train home. Total distance was around 55 km over three days, which felt about right with a pack and with stops for photos.
Kit notes for next time
- Gaiters. Really.
- A proper map case — a freezer bag works but tears.
- One less jumper, one more pair of socks.
- Hostels need booking earlier in September than I assumed.