Distance 14 miles
Climbing 2775 ft
Weather Wet but calm & mild.
Difficulty Easy to moderate for the most part but one or two awkward places due to the wet
Please click on images to expand
Climbing 2775 ft
Weather Wet but calm & mild.
Difficulty Easy to moderate for the most part but one or two awkward places due to the wet
Please click on images to expand
One July morning in 2012 I was cycling along Aislabyside, (near Whitby) and slowly caught up with a group of cyclists. Because it was a narrow lane I made no attempt to overtake and began to chat with one of them and as a result we started riding together a couple of times a week with an occasional walk. One day I mentioned that I was hoping to make my first Coast to Coast walk sometime in 2015 celebrating my 70th birthday along the way. Mal immediately asked if I wanted company & I readily agreed.
Our original plan was to backpack with camping gear but I think we were both a little relieved when one of Mal’s old school mates (Big John) offered to accompany us with his car to provide support. Of course we accepted his offer before he had time to change his mind and he then threw himself wholeheartedly into the planning.
After a little thought we decided instead of camping at a different place each night we would have a number of bases and John would pick us up at the end of each days walking, returning us to the same spot next morning, this worked extremely well for us.
On Mon 27th July, John & Mal picked me up from my home at 07.00 for the 2 hr drive to our first camping site at Troutbeck not far from Threkeld on the A66 and after firstly reporting to the wrong site we pitched our tents in a rather wet and soggy field and found ourselves a full ¼ mile from the amenity block which was not the best arrangement after a beer or two with our supper.
Once the tents were pitched we climbed back into John’s car for the rest of the trip to St Bees and after a stop for coffee & cake we arrived at about 12.15pm to start what was to be a wet afternoon’s walk to Ennerdale Bridge. After the obligatory collection of pebbles and photos, Mal and I turned our backs on St Bees and began to trudge through the rain to St Bees Head and eventually, Robin Hoods Bay. Fortunately the visibility was not as bad as it might have been so we could enjoy the coastal scenery but because of the wet we were reluctant to take out our camera’s too often which was a pity because photo opportunities abounded.
Just after turning inland after leaving a quarry we were walking along a narrow lane and were met by what must be the biggest tractor that I have ever seen. It took up the full width of the road and we had to retreat before it until we could find a spot where we could scramble up the bank and get out of the way while he trundled past. Sandwith was like a ghost town, we never saw a soul, and in fact for the whole of the days walk I doubt that we saw more than half a dozen people, they were probably all indoors watching as two walkers squelched past.
The climb up to Dent was not as hard as I was led to believe it would be, but it was a little misty on the top, however, the occasional check on the compass ensured that we were heading in the right direction and when the tall stile over the deer fence loomed into view it confirmed that we were on course. After slithering down to Nannycatch we followed the path which was inches deep in water and in places it was like wading down a stream but in spite of that and the rain, we were both enjoying our walk and what we could see of the scenery. Somehow we missed Kinniside stone circle which was a disappointment, but we found the road ok and began our descent to Ennerdale Bridge where John was waiting for us having spent his day shopping and setting up the camp.
Once back at camp we had a shower and a glass of wine before we set off for the White Horse at Scales where we had an excellent steak and ale pie accompanied by a pint of Black Star which went down very well indeed.
Once back at the tent I turned in early and fell to sleep listening to the rain hammering down, and a stream in flood only a few feet away and hoping that it was not going to over-top the bank during the night.