Day 10 Coast to Coast Reeth to Richmond

Day 10 Pictures
The day opened with high winds whistling around the open window on our room and gray clouds.
It did not bode well.
Things improved when we were given back our boots that had been on a holiday in the furnace room overnight and they were dry.
The usual breakfast in which I suffered bacon and eggs once more, the other,s various versions of the full English, some of which was neatly placed in toast for later consumption, as lunch.

View over the River Swale

Then we were off with clear skies and some sunshine, and that was how it was to be all day.
Our path today, 18 kilometres to Richmond was pretty gentle, following the ever present River Swale, with some minor deviations.
Sometimes we were high above the river with great view across the valley, occasionally quite close to the river.
We crossed verdant fields where the feet didn't squish and eject water with every step.
We transitted the usual odd named places, past the Marrick Priory, previously a large Franciscan establishment, and then our major climb up the Nun's Steps, reputedly 500 in total.
We then passed the intriguingly named Nun Cote Nook. Some opinion's were canvassed as to the name, none all that complementary to nuns, I am afraid!
It was then a very steep descent into Marske, a small village famous for nothing in particular, then a very please walk along the face of Whitcliffe Scar, a limestone cliff facing over the Swale.

Are we there yet?

We had no idea how much further we had to go?
Then a short walk through a very pretty Whitecliffe Wood and we had our first view of Richmond.
Richmond is a very pretty Georgian town, though the castle dates back to just after the conquest ie 1066.
Our arrival coincided with lunch, so that's what we had, in a park just close to the information centre and the first fish and chip shop in Richmond, the old Friary. The head Fryer and chip monk were not in.
We then hit our accommodation, another Georgian house, and our accommodation (for two days) is quite up market. They even have a hot tub.

The castle keep

There's a town tour at 2.15 PM so we toddle along to that and have what is effectively a 90 minute free tour of Richmond.
The tour finished we sort out some lunch for tomorrow, then head off for dinner-it's Italian night, spurred on by our colleagues successful completion of the Mont Blanc circuit and their impending attempt at the Cinque Terra.
Tomorrow it's forecast 80mph winds and rain.
Wish us luck.