Hi,
I recently did another section of the Pennine Way, Middleton to Alston. ( Having repeated the Middleton to Langdale bit because it is just so good.). Never had to use navigation skills at any time the path was so well defined. However I do have Sussamb's GPS route and as usual it was spot on. I use (in this case, never looked at )an Etrex Venture and smartphone Viewranger. With hindsight I was able to check my actual route with his data. ( For the purists, somewhere in my backpack there is an A-Z ordinance survey map of the Pennine way and a Silva.)
I got my first ever blister under the crook of my big toe?
I think this was due to the trek down to Garrigill from Cross Fell. So far the absolute worst bit of the trail was the eight miles from Greg's hut to Garrigill. Absolute pain in the first degree. Weather was great so I should have been able to enjoy it, but I found that the roughness of the track was such that for a good stretch of the way that I had to watch every step. Talking to others, and there were a lot of people walking that day, they mainly felt the same.
Oh and the pub in Garrigill is shut on Mondays and Tuesdays and is up for sale. I stayed just around the corner at St. John House , a newish B&B who have applied for a drinks license. They popped into Alston to get me a meal when they realised I was unable to get a meal. (They also have a swimming pool and Jacuzzi which guests can use).
Do others have particularly bad memories of other sections of LDWs.