We have now completed the final 34 miles of the Cumbria Way from Keswick to Carlisle in just three days, having walked the first 46 miles from Ulverston to Keswick last year. Our intrepid ‘Fellowship of the Nine’ set out to complete the Way, initially skirting the East side of Skiddaw, before finally following the River Caldew into Carlisle. The remaining 9 (of our group of 18) undertook shorter walks, through Dodd Wood, Latrigg and around Caldbeck. The Muddy Duck Café in Caldbeck was voted probably the best we have ever visited, particularly for their delicious sausage and bacon baps.

We also enjoyed the many tourist attractions in Cumbria. At the pencil museum in Keswick, we discovered that the high value of graphite required armed guards to prevent theft during its shipment, and that WW2 pencils for RAF airmen had both maps of Europe and a compass concealed within them. King William II built Carlisle castle after he had defeated those reaving Scots and taken back control of Cumberland and Westmorland. He is now best remembered by JD Wetherspoon naming the ‘William Rufus’ pub in Botchergate after him.

Finally, showing our cosmopolitan tastes, we enjoyed an excellent end of walk meal at the Alexandros Greek Restaurant.

So where next?