Cowling to Gargrave

Weather today: Cold and cloudy

Daily Miles Covered: 12.00

Total Miles Covered: 514.90

Things of Interest: Fox and Deer (No, not a pub!), Panoramic Pennine Views

Personal Comments: Picked up the Pennine Way from Cowling and quickly gained hight heading for Cowling Hill. Stayed high until dropping down into the extremely attractive hamlet of Lothersdale - described by Alfred Wainwright as "one of the jewels of the northern England".
We climbed from here on to moorland heading for Pinhaw, a well known popular trig point summit.
We descended from here heading for Thornton in Craven where we were met by my two friends Michael Frost and Keith Prosser (fell running friends from Clayton-le-Moors Harriers).
They joined us for our walk as we continued on the Pennine Way finally arriving at East Marton on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Here we crossed paths with two guys both called John (one a vicar), who were travelling from John O'Groats to Land's End and has reached this point after only 43 days - inspirational!
From East Marton, we marched on to Gargrave - our overnight stopping point.
My lower shin problem had improved slightly, thank goodness making the walking easier!
We met our walking mates Frank Mitchell and Mick Wolstenholme in Gargrave for a drink or two! - They are spending the next few days with us on some of our walks and social activities!!
On route today we saw a fox, some deer and splendid views of Pendle and in the distance could pick out Peny-Ghent and Ingleborough.