Is that really a relaxing break?

That was the question my boss put to me this morning when he asked what I had planned for the weekend and the early part of the next week that I had booked off work.

Yes, I replied, it's my idea of heaven. 4 days of walking, wild camping and getting outside and away from the headaches, stress and problem solving of office life in the Lake District.

It must have been 3 months ago now that I read an article in Trail magazine (which, along with The Great Outdoors mag is rapidly becoming my lifeline to the outdoors and the life I want to lead and would were it not for the annoying need to earn money to stay alive!) about a 2 day wild camping trip/walk in the Lake District, starting from the railway station at Dalegarth and culminating around 25 miles away at Silecroft station, and it got me thinking....

Ok, so "the Lakes" is a long drive from me, 6 hours ish to be precise, but over a long weekend, say 4 days, and with a good campsite as a base it could be fun - and invaluable experience for the ML course that I'm slowly dragging myself through.

So 2 maps (my love for OS maps is still there but I've discovered Harvey's Maps which, for summit walking, are great), a sleeping bag and a new tent later the route is planned (thank God for TrailZilla - a wonderful site!) and I'm itching to pack up and head off on Saturday morning.

Watch this space for a whole host of test reports (Marmot Grid 2P tent, ME Jacket, ME Xero down bag) and a write up of the walk and camp itself!

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