Day 7 Bampton to Orton (19.7 Km, total ascent 447 m)

Day 7 Bampton to Orton (19.7 Km, total ascent 447 m)

With a cloudy day, we headed south back to the usual Coast to Coast trail.  Enroute we met up  with John's group and together we made our way across farmland to Shap Abbey.  Here we separated as Elaine and I spent a little time at the Abbey ruins whilst the others continued on to Shap.  In Shap we stopped at the Abbey Coffee Shop where John, Carol, Chris and Jane were enjoying their morning tea.  We had a cuppa and the best custard tart for morning tea.  We picked up freshly made sandwiches at Anderson's Newsagents and continued on to cross the M6 Motorway.                                                                    Then we crossed moorland with limestone pavements and a stone circle. At Robin Hood's Grave we decided to head due south for Orton as the weather closed in, and reached Orton just before the rain started.  After checking in to The George Hotel, we paid a visit to Kennedy's Chocolate Factory for a hot chocolate and cake. Yummy.

Morning mist in Bampton

Church at Bampton Grange.

Crown and Mitre, Bampton Grange where we had dinner last night.

We walk towards Shap through fields.

and sheep

With several rather narrow stiles.

Trees in the mist and cloud

Another narrow stile

Ruins of Shap Abbey

Gary at Shap Abbey

We leave Shap Abbey to head to the town of Shap.

As some sheep watch on, I think these are Texels.

We reach Shap ready for morning tea.

And spot the Abbey Coffee Shop

With hand knitted tea cosies

Leaving Shap we reach the M6 motorway with pedestrian overpass.

M6 Motorway.

Elaine feels her way across the boggy ground.

and we enter limestone country

Scattered granite boulders left behind by glaciers.

Stone Circle

Inner Stone Circle

with few signs or landmarks the two trees on the horizon are our next target.

We reach the trees and the limestone pavement

A pile of rocks with the unlikely name of  Robin Hood's Grave.

Old Limestone Kiln

At Robin Hoods Grave we met up with John, Carol, Christine and Jane and decided to head due south to Orton as the weather closed in.

Approaching Orton.

Church in Orton , the belltower was limed recently to prevent damp.

Church at Orton

Old wooden stocks at Orton.

The George Hotel, our accommodation for the night. It started raining 5 minutes after we arrived.