Day 2: Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite

Our journey was 23km today. The scenery was magnificent and varied. We walked many kilometres along the shores of Ennerdale Lake, and then through the fells to Moses Trod. Then we followed cairn upon cairn to Honister Pass, and walked down the hill to Seatoller. Longthwaite, Rossthwaite and Stonethwaite (where we are staying tonight – in a 500 year old house) are delightful. Tomorrow we walk to Grasmere.

There was a plinth made of Honister slate (at Honister Pass) on our route, which is inscribed with Rudyard Kipling’s ‘If’ (1910). This is an extract:

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,  

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

This pretty much sums up Day 2. A difficult walk (partly because we were still recovering from the Day 1 effort) but the scenery was wonderful. Nothing tastes better than a cup of tea and a digestive biscuit on a stone bench when your feet are tired!