P.W. Day11- Garrigill to Knarsdale 10miles

  My plan today was simple, a leisurely saunter to Alston barely four miles away followed by a late breakfast, a little shopping and resupplying for pain killers, plasters and bandages before picking up the last lot of maps and walking another six miles to the campsite. No climbs whatsoever, it should only take four or five hours. I'd not bathed in forty hours and I'd put on the same soaked clothes as the same before so I was desperate for a clean.  The path out the village is a little hard to figure out due to private owners fencing sections off without signing clearly but after a bit of backtracking I did find the path and from there it was a simple enough river walk. Navigation is a little tricky but any mistakes equate to the length of a field and can be quickly rectified. I does make slow and tiresome walking but there's a wonderful little town waiting at the end. The Blueberry's Teashop is lovely and very reasonably priced, there is also a handy hiking supply shop next door. 

  The next six miles to camp were unremarkable and I didn't feel compelled to use my camera much. Therefore there's little to remark upon. Pretty fields, clumps of trees once in a while, a farmer rounding up sheep just before Castle Nook Farm. At Slaggyford I decided that I'd rather follow the road all the way up to Knarsdale rather than meander back up through the farm fields. It meant I reached Stone Hall Farm around four with the sun still clear in the sky. Its a stunning farm, wonderfully flat and enclosed but without a shower. After the lady finally got back I set up camp and procured the use to a cold water hose to wash myself. I'd also given in and bought myself conditioner, shampoo and moisturizer in Alston, weight be damned. Washed and drying myself I got a welcome phone call from Anton, dressing while talking I hung all my wet clothes, and shoes out to dry. Kirkstyle Inn was next, and a little disappointing. The food was very expensive and not really worth it but I suspect this was more my choice than their fault.