Correction!!

My dad has just corrected me - 117 miles gone, 75 miles to go. Also
above wine from great french restaurant from tonight plus Swale falls
minus the tracksuits !!

Day 10 - Reeth To Richmond, 110 miles gone

Down Swaledale today some 13 miles and into the impressive town of
Richmond. A fabulous walk along the river and up the applegarth scar
to come into the top of Richmond.

That is now 110 miles down - 85 to go.

Unfortunately for us we had to come into Richmond on a very warm and
sunny bank holiday Monday. A good thing you would have thought but
no. It was full of pikeys in tracksuits swimming in the swale falls
and drinking cans of lager (how old do I sound). So if you weren't
smacking kids, eating chips, walking along with your shirt off or
swearing you were definately in the minority.

Thanks for all the words of support on the blog so far - Emily we have
not seen any otters yet but fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Right then off to the pub for a few pints of black sheep and then off
to Danby Wiske half way to the North Yorkshire Moors.

Helen - the ice cream was a double chocolate cone with a scoop of
Ginger and one of blueberry :-) you would have loved it xxx

Day 9 - Keld to Reeth, Through Upper Swaledale

The morning started with bacon and egg baguette bought to our bunk
house by Heather. Eaten with loads of brown sauce and at least 3 cups
of tea and I was fueled up and ready to go. (picture above was taken
standing at the bunkhouse front door!!)

We set off down the Swale and headed off up a precarious valley path
to the head of the gill which led to the top of the moor.

Along the path at most points today were the remnants of the old
industrial past of the lead mines of swaledale now long since
silenced. We had lunch at the remains of the old gang smelting mill a
hugely impressive place and headed down to Reeth - the capital of
upper swaledale.

Reeth is a great place to spend an afternoon with many good pubs all
selling a great pint of black sheep. We obviously were obliged to try
them all.

Off to Richmond tomorrow - need to find a laundrette as my sock crisis
is worsening daily!!

Day 8 - Kirkby Stephen to Keld, Half Way Across England

Having had a couple of beers last night to make sure sleep was had by
all we got up early to put the youth hostel experience to memories of
history. We will laugh about it tonight over a glass of red wine no
doubt. It is worth noting that the yha at Kirkby is not an official
yha but is privately run - one that needs a bit of investment.

We had brekfast in a great cafe who opened especially for us at 8 and
started off on our climb up to 9 standard rigg a climb of some 1800
ft. We were accompanied on our way by our drinking buddies ' the
Geordies ' (picture of john and Kate above) and soon cracked the
summitt and headed off towards keld. The scenerary changed from
highland peak bogs to rolling dale hills quickly and we soon had the
12 miles cracked to the bunk barn.

A big mention must be made to the brilliant farmers wife at Ravenseat
farm at the head of winnerdale gill. A cup ot tea and a scone with
cream and jam for £2 was a bargain. With a warm welcome for everyone
despit having given birth to her fifth child just days before!! By
eck they make em tough in Yorkshire !!

Our arrival to the bunk barn was a nervy event. After our experience
the night before what would our cheapest accommodation be like?? The
answer..... Is wonderful.

Big, new clean bunk rooms set in a converted warm barn next to the
falls of the upper Swale all for £15 a night!! When I say next to the
falls I mean the wall of the barn is the side of the falls!! The owner
heather, met us with a warm smile a large bowl of hot beef curry and a
bottle of red wine. Bacon sarnies in the morning at 7.30 before we
leave. This place is excellent and should be a definately stop for
anyone considering a coast to coast. However it only sleeps 9 so it
is booked up for most of the year!!

Walking swaledale tomorrow over to gunnerside gill. Jay - I will try
and find that path again up the waterfall - I'm sure it's there
somewhere!!

Day 7 Orton To Kirkby Stephen, On To The Dales

We left Orton in high spirits today having had the best over night
stay yet at the village of Orton. We went up to paper shop for the
now customry telegraph for
John, into the little church yard hopped over the stile went on our
merry way.

The walk finished off the rest of the limestone plateau that marks the
edge of the dales (very James Herriott around here!!) and after 12
miles we arrived at the YHA in Kirkby Stephen. Kirkby is a great
place which is more than can be said for the hostel which is a
little.....dated. See below!!

We had a great meal at the forge restaurant and decided (well I did
anyway) that to forget our rubbish hostel we needed to have a few
beers. We bumped into Geordie John, Kate and Davey from north shields
in the pub and had a few drinks.

Thanks to everyone who has commented on the blog so far
and followed our progress. Errr jarvis you head would love this
little stroll!! Speak soon buddy.

Day 6 Shap to Orton, Towards The East

A rest day today after our long slog out of Patterdale. We left the
Ing Lodge Farm on old coaching house on the old great west road from
London to Glasgow grabbed the daily paper and left shap and headed east.

We crossed the M6 (which is about one third of the way across) and
passed onto the high limestone plateau that links the lakes to the
northern pennines. A great place to walk and full of massive granite
boulders.

John was in his element and gave us a geology lesson as we crossed the
plateau - which we actually found quite interesting but don't tell him
that. The plateau is also full of archeaological pre history with
some large stone circles that have yet to decoded.

We then came down off the plateau down into Orton. A fabulous little
hamlet between Appleby and Kendal and found the local pub - the George
and the local chocolatiers!!

Our accommodation is the barn lodge b and b which is excellent. An
old converted 18 th century barn restored beautifully with just 3
rooms. A real gem of a place that is fully booked until next summer!!

Off to Kirby Stephen tomorrow and the start of the Yorkshire Dales.
Lots of Blacksheep to be drunk!!

And in case you were wondering - it's been 6 days now and 6 full
English breakfasts. Going for 7 tomorrow!!

ps a big hello to everyone at BWB back in the office. Hope all is
well. Dom I hope that you get through the next few days without half
the team there!! Nic - good luck for Saturday I hope you have a great
day.

Photos Through The Lakes

Whilst I have a half decent connection sitting here in shap I have
posted below some of the photos taken so far... Need to get some more
action shots!!

Day 5 - Patterdale To Shap, Leaving The Lakes

After a few beers last night in the White Lion in Patterdale (a must
for visitors to this part of the lakes) the hard slag over to Shap
felt a little daunting this morning.

Not to be peturbed we started the hard pull out of Patterdale and we
were rewarded for our efforts with some of the best views and walking
of the trip so far. We continued up past angle tarn and onto the High
Street massif up to the highest point of the coast to coast at just
over 2500 ft.

At this point we turned east went down to haweswater reservoir and
said a farewell to Lakeland.
It's been a fantastic start to the walk and the weather has been
amazing but it's time to move on. The Yorkshire Dales are waiting -
something I am looking forward to immensly.

I have also been reminded that I have not said hello to anyone yet on
the blog so it is high time that I corrected this so...

Hello mum - hope the garden is coming along for the opening soon.

Hello to Sarah, Ted, Emily and Abi - emily I hope you are feeling
better.

A huge hello to Lizzy and Chris who have recently become new parents.
Congratulations on the birth of little Lois Elizabeth Willets it's
made us all smile thinking of you doing the walk. Apparently mum and
baby are both doing well.

And last but no means least a very very big hug to my wife Helen who I
miss immensly.

Day 4 - Grasmere to Patterdale, The Rest Day

Only 8 miles today up and over Grisedale Tarn and down towards
Patterdale were needed today. A day to recharge the batteries ready
for the long hop over to Shap tomorrow.

Thankfully the weather has taken a turn to the cooler side so no
danger from heat stroke like the previous days!!

We could have decided to do high level route over St Sunday crag but
the cloud was obscuring the peak so we decided to give our feet a rest
and headed for the pub.

So a charge up the mountain then back down again had us sitting in the
White Lion at Patterdale by just after lunch.

I think a hot shower followed by steak back at the White lion will be
a good platform for tomorrow!!

Day 3 - Borowdale to Grasmere, this is what it's all about

Woke up this morning and had a brekfast fit for a king. Cereal,
fruit, yoghurt, toast, croissant, juice, tea, coffee and full English
were all on offer. So I had them all. All that for £4.50 in a
beautiful spot next to the river. I am a YHA convert!!

We headed off up the fells and bumped into the usual coast to coast
crowd that we have had the pleasure of meeting over the last 3 days.
There was young Rob in his sleeping atire, the prof and winnie, the
wise 2 from Lincoln, Malcolm the feet and the Geordies. Soon we were
all heading off up to Grasmere common on another warm day....I thought
it was supposed to be cooler today?

Over the top and a breathtaking view down far easedale into Grasmere
village. We decided upon the high route into the village which
involved a 3 mile traverse of the northern ridge ending in a fine
coffee stop ontop of helm crag. Across the valley could be seen the
walk up the valley for tomorrows ascent across to Patterdale.

Today was a great day of walking. Only topped by seeing my wife Helen
and mother in law Jo for dinner this evening. A bit of home cooked
dinner in the luxury of pullwood bay takes some beating along with a
hug and a kiss from the wife!!

Anyway off to bed to dream about brekfast and what should be a great
trip across to Patterdale in the morning.

Ps a big hello to my 2 little nieces who have promised that they are
following us on the blog. So hello emily and abigail - we will see
you for a sleep over soon.

Day 2 - Ennerdale YHA to Borrowdale, In To Lakeland

We set off from ennerdale this morning into another cloudless blue
sky. Ennefdale valley is new to me as it is a part of Lakeland not
easily accessed from the east. Pillar rock stands guard on the
southern arm of the valley and dominates the scenerary for many miles.

For those who are thinking of a coast to coast ennerdale yha is gem
amongst gems. Tucked away miles from any road they promote an
interest in the great out doors and the friendly staff will happily
while away hours discussing the latest sightings of red deer, ospreys
and even hedgehogs!!

Having left ennerdale we proceeded up the valley past pillar and
ontowards great gable and the famous black sail youth hostel. We
spured off just before black sail and began our climb out of ennerdale
towards wainwrights favourite peak - haystacks.

A bit of scrambling had us sitting on top of haystacks for morning
coffee watching red kites ominously circling over a herd of new born
lambs!!

Next we headed over to the slate mines of honiston and down into
borrowdale. In the pub in seatoller at the foot of the pass we whiled
away a couple of hours over beer with other coast to coasters
discussing the merits of slate souvenirs versus the prospect of
carrying them all the way to robin hoods bay!!

Another picture postcard evening had us sitting next to the river at
the youth hostel waiting for our supper of sausages, mashed potatoe
and gravy.

The only other question to be answered is should it be full English
tomorrow?? Is 3 times on the trot too much?? When it comes to
brekfast is there anything such as too much??

This and answers to other burning questions will not be found here
tomorrow. But our progress towards Grasmere just might be.

Ps if you were expecting photos with the blog very sorry but the
mobile service in the lakes is a little eratic so expect some up loads
when we near shap.

Day 1 - St Bees to Ennerdale YHA - It Aint Half Hot!!!

We set off from st bees with full stomachs courtesy of a full English
with high hopes and not a cloud in the sky. The first 3 miles
followed the Coastal path up to the lighthouse which was a great start.

The temperature steadily rose through the morning as we progressed
through the villages heading for our first climb dent fell.

Through out the morning the trend for the rest of the walk had been
set. John up front as the van guard, me in the middle as the midfield
general, dad bringing up the rear as rear gunner!!

So in regemented formation we set off up dent fell. Within 10 minutes
the temperature was starting to tell and the legs beginning to flag.
But a bit of true grit and determination saw us over the top and down
into nannycatch fell.

A little sprint through death valley ( or at least dad thought it must
be as hot as that in the next valley) and we were down into ennerdale
bridge. A well deserved pint in the fox an hound and onto the youth
hostel.

Now for all those who are thinking of following in our footsteps a
word of warning here. Ennerdale youth hostel is NOT in Ennerdale
Bridge....it is a further 6 miles up the valley on the c 2 c path on
the other side of ennerdale water!!!

So with a heavy heart we left the pub and began the walk along the
water. A stretch of the c 2 c that is not for the feint hearted or
those ensure under foot but the effort was well worth it. The upper
reaches of the ennerdale valley are little visited by holiday makers
to the lakes. The walk up the valley near some of the giant peaks
like Pillar and High Stile is awesome.

20 hot And sweaty miles from st bees we staggered into the YHA found
an evening meal of curry washed down with a couple of bottles of local
Scafell Blonde beer very very welcome.

The Calm Before The Storm

>

> Well we finally made it to St Bees on a beautiful early summers
> evening. Helen dropped us off at our guest house where mrs Irvine
> gave us a warm welcome and we dropped the bags and headed for the pub.
>

> A quick glance around the pub in the coast to coast bar revealed
> many little groups pouring over maps discussing the possibilities of
> the coming fortnight. We will make it all the way? Will it rain?
> Is there a bar at Ennerdale youth hostel?
>
> Well it's off to bed ready for the full English in the
> morning....well may be one more pint!!
>
> Ps get well soon Tedmondo

The Calm Before The Storm

Well we finally made it to St Bees on a beautiful early summers
evening. Helen dropped us off at our guest house where mrs Irvine
gave us a warm welcome and we dropped the bags and headed for the pub.

Our Route Across England

Our proposed route will follow Wainwrights tried, tested and much followed route. It crosses the 3 national parks of Northern England – The Lakes, The Yorkshire Dales and The North Yorkshire Moors. 198 miles, a total of 21 000 feet climbed and at least 20 pints of black sheep. Bets are on to see how much Gin we can consume!!

The Walking Wounded

Well its 2 weeks to go until we are off and all members are in the peak of physical condition. John has a bad hip, my dad has to spend at least 2 hours a night lying on a hard floor for his back and my knee still has a slight 'niggle'!!

The odds of us all making it across as one unit are falling by the day. Is there a record for the slowest coast to coast walk????