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Introduction
In 2008 I started to
plan my coast to coast crossing – tempting fate I know, but
as I was only following Wainwright’s footsteps to Shap, it
required some thought. The Lake District route was an easy
choice, but I also love the Northumberland landscape and
enjoy the path less trodden. So I took out an atlas and did
as Wainwright did, and drew a line up to Holy Island on the
Northumberland coast (his line of course went over to Robin
Hoods
Bay). Once I had chosen a
rough route, I refined it over the next year and a half,
using memory map to join all the map sections up and then
viewing it on a large scale roadmap. It seemed to work out
ok, although I set myself some long sections and inevitably
there is some road work. But most of the roadwork is limited
to minor roads, and as some of the WHW route was on an old
military road (hard on the feet at times) I was quietly
optimistic that the paths and routes would be manageable. A
new GPS was the key for me so I wouldn’t get lost up on the
Cheviots. The big choice is do I savour the Lake District to
finish the walk or do I walk East to finish in the North
Sea. It was decided by me after walking the St Cuthbert’s
Way path that I was best to turn around and walk the other
way, and then I decided to walk from Bamburgh instead of
Lindisfarne as I had already done that bit. All that was
left over the winter months was to refine the route and book
my accommodation for June 2010. The route took in many bits
of existing long distance paths - St Cuthberts Way, The
Reivers Way, The Pennine Way, the South Tyne Trail, and
Wainwrights Coast to Coast path - I'm glad to say I did it
my way. The only real problems were
booking rooms for the weekends, especially so in the Lake
District where most places will only book for 2 night stays
– the problem was solved once again by acquiring a
chauffeuse to ferry me back and forth from my finish/start
points. Some would say that is not in the spirit of long
distance walking, not being self sufficient. I would say I’m
just using the facilities open to me – that’s what I work
for so why shouldn’t I? Last but not least - get to the
start in one piece, without carrying an excess of weight in
my pack or on myself. I failed on the second count and hope
that my knees can take the punishment. I think I might loose
a few pounds on this walk.....I didn't, and my feet
complained a lot, but I did really enjoy myself
The Geology
The geology along the
way. varies considerably. It starts with the Whin Sill in Northumberland made up of
hard Dolerite - an intrusive volcanic sill. It provides a
very distinct feature in the landscape of
Northumberland. Then I walk across some Carboniferous
sandstone before hitting the
intrusive volcanics of the Cheviot hills. The Cheviot itself
is a great big blob of granite, which is why it’s so boggy
up there. There's not much porosity and permeability in granite.
Then it’s back to the Carboniferous grits and limestones
before hitting the softer Permian-Triassic sandstones as I
cross from the Pennines to the Lake
District. Into the Lake
District and a whole host of volcanics, slates
etc – all these changes give our countryside great character
and it often changes over very short sections. I’m going to
enjoy them all.
The plan
Day Zero:
Leave
Manchester
early. Train up to Newcastle and onwards to Bamburgh. Walk
to the B&B at Budle. 2.9miles. Ascent - 232ft
Day One:
Leave Bamburgh & walk to Wooler. 16.5 miles. Ascent -
1676ft
Day
two:
Walk from Wooler via
The Cheviot, and try to find Barrowburn. 16 miles. Ascent -
3450ft
Day
three:
Amble along to Thropton
– good Italian restaurant there. 15.5 miles. Ascent - 2108ft
Day
four:
Tiptoe from Thropton to Elsdon, avoiding the wet
patches. 13.2 miles Ascent - 2020ft
Day
five:
An easy day from Elsdon
to Bellingham.
11.2 miles Ascent - 1356ft
Day
six:
Bumble on from
Bellingham to Burnhead on
Hadrian’s Wall. 17miles. Ascent - 2640ft
Day
seven:
Wander along the wall and south to Alston. 15.9
miles. Ascent - 2160ft
Day
eight:
March from Alston to Dufton . 16.7 miles. Ascent -
2988ft
Day
nine:
Stagger from Dufton to Rosgill. 15.8 miles. Ascent -
1477ft
Day
ten:
The lovely lakes from Rosgill to Patterdale. 14.9
miles. Ascent
-3883ft
Day
eleven:
Patter along from Patterdale to Stonethwaite. 16
miles. Ascent -4422ft
Day
twelve:
Run from Stonethwaite to Ennerdale Bridge. 15.3
miles. Ascent -4950ft
Day
thirteen:
Enjoy the last leg from Ennerdale Bridge
to the Irish Sea. 15.5
miles. Ascent -2834ft
Total
Ascent at 40,370ft .....Total mileage....222.....Totally
Knackered?...a tad fatigued