(13 days of pure bliss, except for your feet)
Our day to day log of how we found the walk
Photographs from the walk
| Date | Day to Day Route | Amount of Miles |
|---|---|---|
| 21 July | Start of walk: St. Bees | 0 |
| 22 July | St. Bees - Ennerdale Bridge | 19 |
| 23 July | Ennerdale Bridge - Stonethwaite | 20 |
| 24 July | Stonethwaite - Grasmere | 13 |
| 25 July | Grasmere - Patterdale | 12 |
| 26 July | Patterdale - Shap | 16 |
| 27 July | Shap - Kirkby Stephen | 20 |
| 28 July | Kirkby Stephen - Keld | 12 |
| 29 July | Keld - Reeth | 12 |
| 30 July | Reeth - Catterick Bridge | 17 |
| 31 July | Catterick Bridge - Ingleby Cross | 18 |
| 1 August | Ingleby Cross - Blakely | 22 |
| 2 August | Blakely - Glaisdale | 9 |
| 3 August | Glaisdale - Robin Hoods Bay | 22 |
Total distance estimated about 210 miles, in 13 days
The coast to coast walk was the first long distance walk that any of us had done, despite us having extensive knowledge and experience of walking in the UK and Europe. However be under no preconceptions like most guides will say, it is very much a walk that can be done by anybody with only a limited amount of knowledge, as we found out. How tough one finds the walk will obviously depend on personal fitness levels, whether you camp/bed and breakfast each night, what luggage you take and more importantly whether you carry it yourself each day or use the coast to coast pack horse service (yes they will for a small charge take it from each or every stop to the next!). Camping and carrying all your gear yourself has to be regarded as the toughest way (I am bias however!), however do not be disillusioned by this if you do not fancy it - It is an achievement to just finish the walk, regardless of how you do it! We met plenty of people en-route who ended up quitting because of one reason or another, usually through no fault of their own - but shit does happen!
What to take is a difficult question, it is dependent upon who and how many people are going, how you intend to travel, and the time of year you intend going. Like a lot of people we all took too much gear - particularly clothes, but then we underestimated the amount of cash that we would need for the trip, the pub at the day for most people is just a necessity for relaxing and chatting to people who you meet during the day. Few places, except for some towards the end take Switch or credit - when they do we were very grateful and ran 'tabs' and paid for everything together. Be warned however we and most other people did not find it a cheap holiday at all.
The walk took us 13 days, it can be done in more or less time - its entirely a personal thing - remember it is classed as a holiday for most people. Physically we were all pretty fit but carrying all our gear (pack estimated about 15Kg) we knew certainly knew about it, in particular our feet, most of us getting severe blisters, and having to do blister control - treating them each morning (I recommend compede's or lint and moleskin as effective treatment). Personal hygiene is also very important, camping it was almost possible to have a shower each morning at the sites where we stopped - the quality of them varied enormously, be prepared to live rough but try and have at least a good hands and face wash each day + teeth clean. Odours from feet can also get out of hand if you don't air them sufficiently or wash effectively (sandals are a godsend for the feet!).
Also remember pen, paper, sun tan lotion, toilet paper, Swiss
Army Knife
Food: pasta mixes are good, sandwiches made daily (Marmite
recommended) or bought from village stores.
After the first week or so we just couldn't be bothered to write
anymore down!
I don't know if you will find these funny - We did at the time!
| Place | Pub | Beer |
|---|---|---|
| St. Bees | (Coast to Coast Bar) Oddfellows |
Theakstons Best, Bombardiear Jennings cumberland Ale |
| Ennerdale Bridge | Fox and Hounds | Theakstons Best, Jennings Best, Guinness, Jennings Old Smoothy |
| Borrowdale (Seatoller) | Jennings Old Smoothy | |
| Borrowdale (Stonethwaite) | Langstiath Hotel | Black Sheep Special |
| Grasmere | Travellers Rest | Jennings Best, Dark Mild, Sneck Lifter |
| Patterdale | White Lion | Castle Eden |
| Shap | Bulls Head | Bass Mild |
| Kirkby Stephen | Croglin Castle | Beamish Red |
| Reeth | Black Bull | Theakstons XB, Best, John Smiths Magnet |
| Richmond | Bass | |
| Catterick Bridge | Bridge House Hotel | Ruddles County, John Smiths Extra Smooth |
| Danby Wiske | White Swan | Burton Ale |
| Ingleby Cross | Blue Bell | John Smiths, Guinness |
| Blakely | Lion Inn | Theakstons XB, Best, OP, Mild, Black Bull |
| Glaisdale | Anglers Rest | Theakstons Best, XB, OP |
| Robin Hoods Bay | Coast to Coast Bar Victoria Hotel |
Theakstons Best, Ruddles County Camerons |
Basically all said and done... about 50 pints and 20 different beers each!
Copyright © Peril Sports 2000
Page produced by Dave Lees
1996, converted to HTML 4.0 Aug 2000