Explore England's North
Country in Classic Fashion
May
16 to 31, 2010
We
offer this walk in classic Coast to
Coast fashion. From the Irish Sea to the North Sea - St. Bees to Robin Hood Bay. The
Coast to Coast Walk passes through
some of the most beautiful and varied
scenery that England has to offer
- rugged mountains and beautiful lakes
culminating with beautiful coastal
scenery.
England's
Coast to Coast
walk has to be on any walkers "To Do" list. This
route is often
described as one of best hikes in the world..
Note: You can choose to do 1/2 of this walk and come back next year for the other 1/2.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in the afternoon at our first hotel on the outskirts of Cockermouth, the birthplace in 1770 of Lakes Poet William Wordsworth. Free transport is provided from Penrith train station for trains arriving between 1.30 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. At 5.00 p.m. join with other participants and your tour leaders for a tea reception and orientation meeting. These are followed by our Welcome Dinner. This night and the following night are spent at the hotel in Cockermouth. D
Day 2 We leave the rugged west coast via St Bees Head for Ennerdale Bridge passing by the beautiful valley of Nannycatch and Swinneyside stone circle. (14½ miles) B,L,D
Day 3 Our
way today is along the shores of Ennerdale Water, passing Robin Hoods chair,
to the remote Black Sail hostel. After this a climb up to Grey Knotts brings
us to Honister Hause and a descent into Borrowdale. (14½ miles, high point at Grey Knotts 2287 feet) B, L
Day
4 It is Langstrath valley today, passing Stonethwaite and Eagle Crag. A climb over Linning Crag brings us to High Raise
and the descent into Wythburn valley.(10 miles, high point at Greenup Edge 2000 feet) B,L,D
Day 5 We
climb Raise beck this morning to Grisedale Tarn and pass the remote Brothers
parting stone; this is where William Wordsworth said goodbye to his brother
John, never to see him again. Then we walk down the Grisedale Valley
(Grisedale means Valley of the Pigs) to Patterdale. You will be able to enjoy
some poetry today, since Terry is a noted authority on Wordsworth. (8½ miles, high point at Grisedale Tarn 1883 feet) B,LD
Day 6 We
leave Patterdale today for the walk up Kidsty Pike, passing Boredale Hause and Angle Tarn en route. Kidsty Pike is the highest point on our whole journey and also provides the longest walking day; but there will still be time to visit the ruins of Shap Abbey on
our way to Shap village. (16½ miles, high point at Kidsty Pike 2560 feet) B,L
Day
7 We leave Shap and head for Kirkby
Stephen by way of Robin Hood’s
grave (no he's not buried here!), Newbiggin
Tarn and Smardale. (20 miles) B, L
Day
8 Our route today takes us over the
roof of England, past the mysterious
Nine Standards Rigg, and it is here
where we leave Cumbria and walk into
Yorkshire (some call it God’s own Country!.... well
Terry is a Yorkshire
Man!). The walk ends at the lovely village
of Keld. (12¾ miles, high point at Nine Standards Rigg 1900 feet) B, L
Day
9 Those who have opted to do the first
half only of the Coast-to-Coast route
will leave this morning.
For those remaining, the way today is via Crackpot Hall, past the historic lead mines and “hushes” of
Gunnerside, to Reeth.
We pass en route Surrender Bridge, used as the setting of the introduction to the James Herriot films. (11¼ miles, no specific high point) B, L, D
Day
10 We leave Reeth by way of Marrick Priory
and the Nuns’ Steps on our walk
to the lovely Georgian
market town of Richmond. (10½ miles, no specific high point) B, L
Day
11 We have to cross the Vale of Mowbray
today, from Richmond to Ingleby Cross.
This is an extension of the Vale of
York, so it will offer some (welcome?)
respite from those daily ascents and
descents! (17 miles, no high point) B, L
Day
12 In front of us today are the wonderful
Hambleton and Cleveland Hills, but first we need to complete the Vale of Mowbray to Osmotherly. We
will visit the ruins
of Mount Grace Priory en route. (15 miles, no high point) B, L, D
Day
13 The route is from Osmotherly to “Fat Betty” on Blakey Ridge. We now join up with the Lyke Wake walk, Lyke being a dead body in old Yorkshire
terminology and
wake meaning a procession over the Moors
to a Burial mound. (20 miles, no specific high point) B, L
Day
14 On our walk from Fat Betty to Ellerbeck
today you can meet
the famous Yorkshire Moors ancient crosses:
Old Ralph, Young Ralph, Fat Betty and
Blue-Man-In’t-Moss. For extra Christian input we cross the Monks Trod – all
will be explained! (8 miles, no specific high point) B, L
Day
15 Our final approach to Robin Hood’s Bay from Ellerbeck is via Jugger Howe and Busby Stoop, where we are rewarded by our first sight of the North Sea. Well done! you have as good as made it. No turning back option now… but
would you want to
after so long? (12 miles, no specific high point) B, L, D
Day 16 Departure after breakfast.
Land
Cost $4,720
Includes:
- 14 scenic
guided hikes with lunch daily
- All accommodations with breakfast and lunch daily and 6 dinners
- Double-occupancy
room with private
bath
- Dinners as noted above.
- All
sightseeing visits
and admission
fees
- Luggage
transported between
inns
Notes:
- All of the long days will have rendez-vous points with our vehicle.
- There is a 6 person requirement for this tour departure.
- Double-occupancy room with private bath
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