Cumbria Ways Day 13 - Carlisle to Caldbeck

Distance: 16 miles
Ascent: 230m
Weather: warm and sunny
3 helicopters (inc a Chinnook) and 2 fighter jets

Today's walk is more commonly done in the other direction as the last day of the Cumbria Way - and I've read that many people don't even include it, as it lies outside of the national park and is considered a bit boring.

We had a lovely day's walk - helped by the fact it was a stunningly beautiful day, with blue sky and sunshine.

We set off from the cathedral in Carlisle, via Boots for lunch and supplies,  and then walked out of the city along the banks of the river, where there are many visible flood defence systems.

Once out into the countryside, there were fish in the river, grassy banks with buttercups and many songbirds,  including chiff chaffs and reed warblers.

We wandered around some of the bends of the river, but generally the path shared the way with the Reivers Way cycle route,  which was quite busy. We were passed by some cyclists who had good bells or called out in good time, and also a stealth cyclist who whispered 'excuse me' when she was about 2 inches behind me.

We stopped for elevenses at a picnic table on Dalston green, then crossed the bridge  into some very smart parkland. There were a few large houses, a castle and a posh school, all with wide views of rolling hills, fields and large trees with sheep resting in their shade.

We had lunch at a shady spot on the river bank, hoping that the clouds of midges stayed away, and then took a detour through woods and fields to Bog Bridge, to avoid a bit of flood damaged bank. We crossed the foot bridge and walked down to Bell Bridge, or to where Bell Bridge used to be before it was washed away. A quiet lane followed the course of the river, and we saw more fish, a heron and an as yet unidentified wading bird (ed- common sandpiper), mallards and ducklings (not an otter), a goosander on a rock. We passed a cottage with an amazing garden and at the end of the lane discovered that it was so quiet because it was closed to traffic,  presumably to stop the busy traffic thundering up and down it.

Crossing the road, we took a shady track beside Dentonside Wood, watching a buzzard circling above. We followed the path into Parson's Park, there were no notices about the path being closed, although there were at the other side. There were a couple of spots of subsidence but it was manageable. The wildflower filled woods led us to Caldbeck,   where we are staying at the Oddfellows Arms - we have had a nice meal, despite some confusion with our ploughman's starter.