We’ve arrived in Carlisle which is our home for the next two nights. We’re staying at Willowbeck Lodge in Scotby which is a really nice place and far higher quality than I expected to encounter on this trip. We’ve enjoyed a good meal with a few glasses of wine and retired for the evening to prepare for the long day tomorrow.
In the morning we will be getting a taxi to the west coast and Bowness-on-Solway which is the start of the Hadrians Wall path. We will then walk back to Carlisle (circa 15 miles) and Willowbeck Lodge where we will stay a second night before heading out of Carlisle in an easterly direction on Sunday morning. There’s a good pub in Scotby (The Royal Oak) which will keep us entertained on Saturday evening once the walking is done for the day. The weather forecast remains a worry; 19 degrees with lights winds but an 88% chance of rain and thunderstorms !
So far so good, everything’s gone to plan. More to follow after our first days walking tomorrow evening.
Stephen Arnison 