After an excellent ham, leek and chicken pie for dinner and a good nights sleep we prepared to continue our journey onwards to Carnforth
We left Shap – a linear town – and headed towards Carnforth. Although Shap is geographically a small village, it is legally a market town with a charter dating from the 17th century. At one time the granite works (which are situated about a mile outside the village) was in itself a separate community. Shap polished pink granite can be found in many buildings in the UK, including outside St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
A long walk from Shap, along the A6 – onwards and upwards towards Shap summit. The summit is about 1350 feet (408m) above sea level and in a small lay by is a memorial ‘to the drivers and crew of vehicles that made possible the social and commercial links between north and south on the old and the difficult route over Shap Fell’. The scenery was stunning as we walked up to the summit and then down the other side. A pity that the electricity pylons are so evident (we walked close by one pylon and the buzzing / crackling was unreal).
The direct sunshine made it feel hotter than it was and consequently walking was harder as well. We eventually walked into Kendal and stopped in the shade by the river for our packed lunch. Kendal is a market town and is known today mainly as a centre for tourism, the home of Kendal mint cake, and a producer of pipe tobacco and snuff. Its grey limestone buildings have earned it the nickname “Auld Grey Town”, in common with Dunfermline, Scotland. Kendal is a beautiful town and looked stunning in the sunshine – but we couldn’t delay any longer and headed back onto the road.
We passed through Natland, and its lovely village church and then we achieved a momentous milestone – half way! So now we can start to countdown the miles and days to the finish.
Just before reaching our hotel, we passed through Yealand Conyers which it notable for its early support of Quakerism. Richard Hubberthorne, one of the early Quaker preachers was from the Yealands. George Fox preached a sermon in the village in 1652 and the village’s Meeting House dates from 1692. The Quaker’s Old School is today used as a simple hostel and can host people visiting ‘1652 country’.
Thanks again to Louis for being good company, and suffering with us, during the last two days. Exciting times now that we are more than half way through the adventure.