Day 8 - Orton to Kirkby Stephen

Began today with grey skies and slight spitting rain so we kitted up with our wet weather gear.  It's quite a job to get it all on and make sure that the camera is tucked away out of the rain but reachable when the inevitable photo opportunity arises.  

Our B&B "The Barnhouse" was neatly hidden away down a little laneway in Orton.  It had a lovely conservatory where we could put our feet on the massager while enjoying the beautiful surroundings or just sit and chat with our fellow walkers.        

The Barnhouse

   

The Barnhouse is on the left. 

Looking back to the village made for the first photo shot of the day.            Orton is one of Westmorland's prettiest villages.

The day is very clear so photos are crisp and show the countryside and the sky beautifully.  As you will see, sheep are our continual companions,  as are the stone walls.    

                                                              

As we walk we are finding many ruins which stand as reminders of a past time and are now serving the sheep well as great shelters from the daily downpours.  The fields are filled with buttercups and sometimes many other wildflowers, just gorgeous sights.  Often someone is heard declaring, "Isn't that just lovely" or "Oh, just gorgeous" or 'What a beautiful tree" as we walk past another Hawthorn in full flower.

The Pennines make an impressive backdrop  to these colourful fields.

Some farmers show great care towards the walkers with their signage.

Today is the perfect day for walking; cooler temperature, no sunshine and no rain. The sky is just beautiful.  The cloud formations are great but perhaps an ominous sign of what is to come!

And the flowers stand tall in the fields, making  the landscape interesting and  lovely in the extreme. 

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils. 

Now I know ..... These flowers aren't daffodils but they certainly are a crowd and they are golden!

And the clouds are floating on high over vales and hills...   And when the wind blows they all seem to dance.  

 I am loving the flowers! 

Steve, I took this photo for you.  The rusty roof of a farm shed looked spectacular against the green fields.  Another most beautiful scene.        

They say the grass is greener on the other side of the fence - it's longer too!

The Queen Anne's Lace has reappeared along the country lanes,  along with daisies and geraniums.  They just grow wild everywhere.

At times our pathway leads us through farm yards.  Notice how the corner of  this house forms the edge of the stone wall with the road right beside it.  Love the names of the farms and the cottages in the towns.

Sunbiggin Farm 

We passed by the straight and narrow

He makes me lie down in green pastures...

The dry stone walls stand as a tribute to the workmanship of the men who built them two centuries ago. 

We walked down a long hill to a disused railway station and crossed over another old bridge.  The walk up the other side was beautiful, overlooking the valley with a bridge over a lovely stream.

The Smardale Bridge 

Often, along the way, some running repairs are required, actually they are essential if our feet are going to carry us all the way.

The spectacular railway viaduct spans  Smardale Beck which flows through the delightful 

valley of Smardale.  

Allan and his black cloud.   And yes it did drop its load but not until we got into town.

Today was a wonderful walk in the English countryside.  It was our easiest day even though we still walked 20.5 kms, slightly hurried because of the impending rain.  Our great desire was to not get too wet.  We had our first sighting of Nine Standards Rigg, which sit on the Pennines.  We visit them on the way to Keld.