Day 10 (Tan Hill to Clove Lodge)

Distance: 17 miles 
Cumulative: 144.5

Gates: 25
Stiles: 19
We set off at a good pace down from the Tan Hill Inn, over mercifully dry peat moorland passing numerous grouse butts. I was glad to be the right side of the glorious 12th (is it the 12th?).

Tom at the half-way point on the Pennine Way (or thereabouts!)

We were off the moor after 2 hours and reckoned at that rate we would be at the B&B by two. This seemed a touch early so we decided to take the alternative and slightly longer route via Bowes. In my mind Bowes was quite a big place with that splendid museum where we were bound to be able to get a cream tea to celebrate the half way point of the walk. Unfortunately that place is actually Barnard Castle another 4 miles in the wrong direction and there is nothing in Bowes except a ruined castle. We marked the occasion instead with the end of an oft melted bar of chocolate Caitlin had left for us. 

Bowes Castle

We continued on the alternative route over Cotherstone Moor to Baldersdale. 

A little rest....

We had been warned about some killer cows here by friends who did the walk last year and only narrowly escaped with their lives by vaulting a barbed wire topped wall. Fortunately we didn't encounter any cows and arrived safely at Clove Lodge, possibly the most beautiful B&B ever. You will have to wait until tomorrow to see if we can get out of Baldersdale in one piece....

Baldersdale