Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Riding through the Glen!

The final day....

Started with more trains. Became a tough slog on foot. Great to have a support crew. Yummy Cream Tea at Falling Foss

A need for a "pick me up half" at the Hare & Hounds. Bloody Wainwright for not making a route in a straight line! Nice sea views. 

Thank goodness - we've only gone and ruddy-well done it! Bloody Bay Hotel for not having the Wainwright Bar open! Fond farewells to fellow coast to coasters! Yummy fish & chips. Wobbly walk along the beach to bed at Boggle Hole!

Super glad we've finished the trek for Big Bad Babs, it would have been nice to do the whole thing on foot, but very pleased to have crossed the whole of England under my own steam!

Steaming ahead...

This morning, I donned my walking boots as we left the Royal Oak in Gillamoor. Kathy drove Robert, Urs and I up to The Lion Inn at Blakey to carry on with the walk to Grosmont. It was our penultimate day.

It was lovely to actually get a chance to walk through the heather and across the grouse moor; where we came across some beaters pushing the game towards the butts further up the hill. We had a long walk across Glaisdale Moor and were very delighted to meet up with Kathy at the pub in Carr End for lunch.

We then had a nice walk through the gladed Esk Valley. Across several fords that were as a try as a bone, but we did get to walk across some stepping stones.

It was all excitement as we headed towards Grosmont as we passed a crowd of people heading across to the Grosmont Beer & Music festival. Then in Grosmont itself we got a real show with the steam trains!

Urs and I stayed in the Geall Gallery where they cooked us a lovely meal that topped of our night. An early one again, all this walking malarkey is hard work!!!

Osmothering!!

Basil Fawlty waved us off from the pub in the morning. I was still on the bike and Urs was looking forward to another short walk on her own.

It wasn't the most exciting of walks or countryside. There were more rolling hills to attempt to cycle up. At last we're in the third national park!!!

Osmotherley was a welcome sight, especially the three pubs!

The franchised youth hostel was a disappointment, so we spent a good few hours in the village picking up post cards and having a perfect coffee.

It was an early night as we had a long day ahead!

Less is moor (pun intended!)

Urs hot footed it out of the YHA at 7.15am off up and over the north Yorkshire moors which were looking resplendent covered in purple heather.  The first half of Wainwright's route went along the northernmost ridge of the moors offering some great views and a first glimpse of the North Sea.   Urs tramped for over 20 miles on her own today with only the red grouse to speak to, thank goodness that the Lion Inn at Blakey finally came into view offering a cold beer and comfy seat and a chance to catch up with some fellow coast to coasters.

I meanwhile was off on the bike again...

I left about an hour later, taking a controversial footpath straight up to the Cleveland Way. I mainly walked this bit as it was so steep I felt like I was trying to push a bike up a mountain (wait a minute, I pretty much was). Once on the Cleveland Way it was nice to be able to cycle along the moor off road.  I passed a phenomenal amount of sheep and a ranger in a Landrover fixing a dry-stone wall. A bit like Urs, I spent most of the day without seeing a human soul.

I dropped down off the moorland and had a bit of a dilemma, stick to crazy off roading along unknown bridle paths or attempt the unknown country roads. Luckily I bumped into another cyclist who advised me to use the off pisting routes.  The local roads are a notorious speed route fir motor bikers and she was certain my bike would stand up to the bridlepaths - my fitness levels on the other hand may not!! 

Anyway, after much blood, sweat and mud (instead of tears) I managed 38 miles of off roading - I must have walked about 4 of them. I was very relieved to see the village of Gilamoor and the pub that was to be tonight's accommodation. As Issy Sanderson only lives "round the corner" she popped over the 40 miles for a catch up and provided a taxi service for Urs from the Lion Inn to Gillamoor. So a huge thanks to Issy for that one.

My Uncle Robert & Auntie Kathy turned up to join us for dinner and the next two days of the trek.

My drink for this evening will be a famous grouse please!

Passing over the A1...

We decided on a curry last night, which gave us the energy to say goodbye to Tim and head off to Danby Wiske. Wainwright is quite damning with this section of the walk due to the roads and the lack of kind hospitality; but luckily the hospitality element has changed since 1972.

We set off from Richmond, after a breakfast that included fried bread - fried bread! Not had that in at least 10 years!! But before we'd even reached the market place my foot was not standing up to the day's walk. We made the definitive decision that I should bike the next section to give my foot some more time. Urs was very happy to have a little pootle on her todd.

I found a very nice cycle path through Catterick, which went passed all the barracks and Help for Heroes Recovery Centre. It was a stark contrast to all the countryside of the passed week.

We met up at the Farmer's Arms in Catterick for our pasty pack lunch (race day tomorrow, sad we missed the opportunity to place a bet). Urs set off at a fine lick and I had another lime and soda in the pub. I then passed Urs again, as it was a day of walking along the farming lanes of Yorkshire. The farming geek in me was excited to see some silaging.

We had a nice day chatting with fellow coast to coasters as everyone staying in the village seemed to come to our Inn, just working out our detour for the Osmotherley YHA tomorrow.

Day 9 - trekking in various senses of the word.

Today was the 101th (stet) Reeth Agricultural Show. After hearing about the death threats regarding the entries for the ginger bread competition, it sounded like it was going to be a proper village affair. We're sad not to have got a chance to go along. We said goodbye to Elizabeth, John & Anne.

My foot is super sore, so I decided to take a slight deviation in an attempt to give it a bit of light relief. The friendly people at the Dale Bike Centre rented me a mountain bike so that I could cycle to Richmond, where they will kindly pick it up tomorrow. Urs & Tim took on the power walk challenge and completed the 10 mile section of the walk in 4 hours.

My cycle route, was by no mean easy, I can see why the Tour de France are thinking of setting a stage here next year. I attempted to cycle up a hill that had three gradient chevrons on the map!! Needless to say at two points I had to get off and push. I headed off road across some bridle paths for the full experience. I met Tim & Urs along the route and we then had a race to see who could get to the Buck Hotel first... 

The winners were Tim & Urs, as I sneaked off to Mountain Warehouse for some emergency walking provisions. We're looking forward to exploring the bright lights of Richmond this evening before Tim leaves us and it's back to just Urs & I for a few sections.

A stroll along the Swale

After a "romantic" night in the most remote of our B&Bs, that involved beef chilli, rhubarb trifle and log fires we had a bumpy lift up the drive in the owner's Landrover so we could start our day at Keld. Elizabeth was still with us and we met Auntie Anne & John by the pub before we headed off.

It was a beautiful misty morning when we left, that slowly burned off, giving us some great views along the river. The Swale is such a colour, the peat and iron deposits making it take on an almost pink colour in the sun and that of a fine Yorkshire Ale when the sun pops behind a cloud.

We stopped at Gunnerside for lunch. We were hopping to get a nice drink in the pub, but sadly like so many country establishments it has closed. The main challenge of the day was the number of stone wall styles we had to cross, we decided that Yorkshire walking is not for people larger than a size 6!

We stopped my Isles Bridge for a bit of a feet dip in the river. Elizabeth cunningly produced a small bottle of fizz from her bag so that we could have a little toast to my mum, dad and step-dad.

We turned up in Reeth about 5.30ish having done 14 miles. Anne's longest walk to date.  The Dales Bike centre were very welcome and we got a little excited that we had wi-fi signal. We had a grand dinner in the Grinton Bridge, where we learnt some great Cumbrian definitions. All in all a great morale boost for me and Urs.

Bruce Bogtroting!

After a super relaxing bath and thanks to the restorative waters of Kirkby Stephen, we felt ready to embark on today's climb up to the mysterious Nine Standards. Our new fellow walker, Elizabeth turned up in time for a bacon buttie at the Black Bull Inn then off we set.

The first hour or so uphill was surprisingly  ok, looking down into the quarry and wondering who the accident prone Cliff Edge was.  Suddenly however we reached the dreaded bog of doom and the mist came down. This lead us to an eerie encounter with the nine standards followed by about four hours of navigating through the bog canyons before finally arriving at Ravenseat Farm. Sadly we didn't have time to stop for cream tea because we had to be at the Keld Lodge in time for being picked up by Gary in his Landrover to take us back to tonight's little oasis at Birkdale Farm. 

The Curious Incident at Robin Hood's Grave...

After a lovely breakfast at the New Ing Lodge in Shap. We had an exciting start looking out for Eddie Stobart Trucks on the M6. Then on to some wonderful Moorland "Oh Heathcliff!"

I was suffering a little with some blisters, so wasn't really on the ball, which was to my detriment, as I twisted my foot coming down into the valley of Robin Hood's Grave (sadly not his grave, just a pile of stones). So we made a decision to head straight to Orton - with me staggering and cursing, a lot.

Once we got to Orton (what seemed like hours later) we stopped by the chocolate factory and had an amazing ice cream. At this point, I bowed out and took a taxi  to Kirkby Stephen. Urs and Tim carried on...

And on, and on.... Over Ravenstonedale Moor "Oh Cathy!".  Fine views of a beautiful viaduct of the Settle to Carlisle railway then up the five frustratingly false summits of Limekiln Hill (what even is a Lime Kiln?), under lots of tunnels and after what seemed like a 100 miles we finally rendezvous'd at the Black Bull in Kirkby Stephen for an emergency hot bath and Whisky!

Oh how our feet hurt.....!!!!!!!

New Kit is the order of the Day.

Woke up to rain!!!

As we had a comparatively short 12 mile hike today, we decided to head into Grasmere for a little look around. We popped into the Jack Wolfskin shop, lots of lovely trekking gear, picked up a nice thin fleece and a sitting mat (for Tim). I went to sit in the bench to pack away my purchase into my brilliant rucksack, and disaster! A rip in my waterproof trousers. So back into the shop - multiple trying on of various types of waterproof trousers. Is it just me or is trying on waterproof trousers a little like trying on wetsuits??? - you can only successfully try on one pair in one sitting as you get sweaty and knackered very quickly.

Anyway after all that kerfuffle we headed out of Grasmere, passed the Traveller's Rest and up to Grisedale hidden in the clouds. We passed a great new hydro-electric project in the making. "4x4 Tim" with his poles set a fair pace. Once up near Grisedale Tarn the wind picked right up and Tim & I managed to persuade Urs that we should head straight down towards Patterdale rather than up and over Helvellyn to Glenridding.

Once the wind died down on our way down the valley we had a lovely descent among the Cumbrian sheep passing Ruthwaite Lodge.

My walking boots finally decided to give up their waterproofness on this walk, so with very sodden feet we headed into Glenridding and I made a beeline for the outdoor equipment shop that we've used  in the past. Thanks to a very knowledgable and lovely chap (sadly soon to be out of a job) and after trying on several (hundred) pairs, I now have a beautiful pair of waterproof walking boots that should see me through many more treks.

We had a nice meal in Traveller's Rest #2, before the last final trudge to our super cute YHA at the foot of Helvellyn. Early start on the morrow. 

First of the long days...

Today was a long trudge! "To Trudge: The slow, weary, depressing yet determined walk of a man who has nothing left in life except the impulse to simply soldier on. "  50 points to the first person to guess the film...

Apart from squashing my sandwich under my derrière, not realising it was there, I accused Tim of stealing it!! The first ten miles were fun in the sun. At one point we felt like we'd fallen down the rabbit hole and had eaten a cake that made us small...

Super glad to stumble across Tom's Honesty Box just over the bridge at Burnbanks! Much needed fizzy drinks to help us crack the last tedious 4 miles.

So 20 miles from The YHA in Glenridding to the New Ing Lodge in Shap, climbed 750m today. Rewarded with nice ales and yummy food by the nice chap in the hostel.

Too tired to blog further, from the 3 Shattered in Shap!!

The Bog of Eternal Stench!!!

So again we took the harder Wainwright route this morning from Rosthwaite to Grasmere. We had a nice gentle climb up Greenup Gill, over Greenup Edge then left over Calf Crag towards the stumbling Gibson Knott with Helm Crag in full view (better known as the Lion & the Lamb).

Just after the Greenup Edge summit pass at about mile 33, the going became a bit sticky and we ended up having to navigate around a bog. We were doing well, then disaster!!! Urs managed to step behind a rock sinking up to her thigh in smelly bog water!!

To make up for that we decided to head down Helmside so we could pop out near our favourite pub in the Lakes, The Travellers' Rest. We had a cheeky half and looked through the guest book for our previous entries before heading back to the Buterhylup Howe YHA. 

Tim has now joined us, offering plenty of opinions on how best to elevate our aching muscles with his foam roller! Luckily now that there are 3 of us we can have the luxury of our own dorm, thank goodness! Just in Tweedie's for a bit of home comfort cooking and the wonderful 3rd of a pint glasses that let you sample more of the wonderful Cumbrian Ales!!

Wainwright's Superwomen!!!

So if anyone asks if you'd like to do the High Stile Alternative on Day 2 of the Coast to Coast - heed Wainwright's warning in his book!!! "Beyond High Gillerwaite a delectable alternative route is available in clear weather (only) for very strong and experienced fell walkers (only) it is a route for supermen (witty drawing of strong fell walkers starting off and then looking broken at the end)."

Thank goodness we were not responsible for any fellow support walkers today!! It was tough!! Probably not ideal with my foot still feeling slightly sprained. Nevertheless we bagged White Pike (we seemed to miss Red Pike) High Stile, High Crag (with the craziest, steepest decent either of us have done without actually absailing) then on to Haystacks, passed a tarn where Wainwright's ashes are scattered and down Honister Pass to Seatoller. Phew! It got a bit scary at Haystacks when the wind picked up and the weather closed in - first use of waterproof trousers, but we're sure it won't be the last!!

We had a beautiful last mile from Seatoller to Longthwaite YHA. Dropping down into Borrowdale proper, we walked through the very picturesque mossy and wooded glen, known as Johnny's Wood, along a babbling stream. Just as the YHA came into view we spied the perfect swimming spot. Had to be done. Bracing but the best thing after our tough day!!! Looking forward to our curry, half a pint then to bed in our packed dorm. Top bunks tonight!!!

Day 1: Ennerdale Forest

What a day! A little pooped now. 19 miles down. Lovely to have Uncle John and Auntie Anne and Uncle Robert to set us off at a good pace. Robert walked the whole way from St. Bees to Ennerdale  providing the occasional corny joke which Ed, my Dad, would have thoroughly appreciated. The first steep descent completed and the foot didn't grumble. Finishing off the evening in a YHA that is surprising reminiscent of Rickmansworth Masonic School - feeling the need to add Drill to my evening stretches. Looking forward to getting up onto the peaks tomorrow. 

And the other one is off...

After a night if culture (in the loosest sense of the word) watching The Book of Mormon with Nicholette and Jon, I'm hitting the tracks (with Jon on his way to Exeter) and the road with my Uncle Robert. St. Bees, see you in 6 hours!!

And they're off!

It seems the weather is starting as it was destined to.....

Urs starts her long train journey and I'm not far behind. I hope Uncle John and Auntie Ann have a nice cuppa waiting for you in Wigton.

Walk Schedule

Thought you might like to know how many miles we will be walking each day!  Less that 3 days till we start!  Ahhhhhh!

Date	Day	Start Point	End Point	Miles to cover	Notes
16/08/2013	Friday
17/08/2013	Saturday	London!	St. Bees	Let the Train take the Strain!
18/08/2013	Sunday	St. Bees	Ennerdale Forest	19
19/08/2013	Monday	Ennerdale Forest	Borrowdale	9
20/08/2013	Tuesday	Borrowdale	Grasmere	9.25
21/08/2013	Wednesday	Grasmere	YHA Helvellyn	8?
22/08/2013	Thursday	YHA Helvellyn	Shap	16+
23/08/2013	Friday	Shap	Kirkby Stephen	20
24/08/2013	Saturday	Kirkby Stephen	Keld	12.75	being picked up from the pub.
25/08/2013	Sunday	Keld	Reeth	11.25
26/08/2013	Monday	Reeth	Richmond	10.5
27/08/2013	Tuesday	Richmond	Danby Wiske	14
28/08/2013	Wednesday	Danby Wiske	Osmotherley	11.5?	Not really the nearest place to Ingleby Cross!
29/08/2013	Thursday	Osmotherley	Farndale	13?	Call Gallery B&B to discuss lunch.
30/08/2013	Friday	Farndale	Grossmont	13.5
31/08/2013	Saturday	Grossmont	Robin Hood Bay	15.5
01/09/2013	Sunday	Robin Hood Bay	Home!!!	Let the Train take the Strain!

More ways to sponsor us

One week to go before we head off to start the trek.

You can now sponsor us via text.... (Gosh who thought we'd embrace technology with such ease!  Urs has even been posting on Facebook!)

For the Brain Tumour Charity Text:

BBBT 70 

£5

Send to 70070

For Hurstwood Park Text:

TBBB 70 

£5

Send to 70070

Any amount would be gratefully received so even if it's just a quid, please sponsor us.

Back to Charmouth for some training and pub dancing...

Last weekend was a busy one, but not all due to walking.

Urs and I went camping near Charmouth, in the tiny village of Seatown.  We'd stopped in the village pub - The Anchor Inn - as the first pit stop of the Savills' LeJog and thought it would be lovely to use the pub and neighbouring camp-site for a training weekend.

So we decided to drag along a youthful support team in the guise of my nieces, Imogen & Verity and Tim's daughter Emily. Luckily the rain stayed away, the kids got on like a house on fire and the teenager did not think "it was too dull for words".

We met Urs and Emily on Saturday lunchtime after fighting through traffic on the Dorset tourist trail.  After pitching the tent we hot tailed it down to the beach.  Once there the waves looked a little intimidating!  But after much persuasion by myself and Imogen we decided to go wave jumping.  Which provide at least 45 minutes of brilliant entertainment. Below is proof of just how mad the waves were - it totally justified the girlie screaming by all!

We then managed to drag ourselves up one of the steepest hills in Dorset to take in the beautiful view from the Beacon.  I'm not going to publish any stats for this walk, as it was  a very poor effort, but something is better than nothing!  But here is some proof that we actually made the hike.

We rounded the evening off in the pub eating some yummy food and listening to a hip, beardy man signing and playing his guitar in the pub.  Luckily for all he played a version of Dancing Queen which made Emily so happy she got up to dance.  Phew!

A Hampshire Stroll

This weekend I went for a walk in Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Hampshire - you may have passed it when travelling on the A3, as you go passed Waterlooville.

To mix it up, I walked with some friends, Ryan, Fay, Frank and their dog Mollie.  Fay did better than the rest of us, as being pregnant, she was carrying a whole extra person!

More sock testing - this time a pretty pair of pink bridgedales - and I have to say it was a great success.  No blisters, no sores and no hot feet!  Whoop!  So feeling like I might have the shoe options sorted for the trek.

The walk was lovely, the rain stayed away, the country park was very pretty in the sunshine and Mollie kept us all entertained with her sticky up ears.  It was a bit of hill training, as there was a  bit of an incline compared to the walks I've managed in Dorset, but still not a Helvellyn!

Stats:

Time: 1Hr 57 mins
Distance: 6.43 miles
Climb: 1,443.6ft 

Savills LeJog relay -Proper training

Date: 5 & 6/06/2013

Now that I am back within the Savills fold, an opportunity came up to be part of a sponsored walk/ride/cycle/kayak relay that the Rural division within Savills are undertaking from Lands End to John O’Groats (or LeJog if you will).  Urs and I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to do two days of long distance walking in a row, so we merrily signed up to walk the sections from Lyme Regis to Lulworth Cove; a stunning part of the south west costal path.

It was a fabulous two days of amazing sunshine (I hope that wasn’t the entire sunshine for the summer) with some great camaraderie,  stunning countryside and the highest point on the Dorset coastline – the Golden Cap.

The first day started off hard, with a necessary requirement to stop in a pub in every valley we came to.  Followed by a long hard slog along part of Chesil Beach to finish.

The second day started from Hardy’s Monument (not the famous Dorset writer, but that of “Kiss Me Hardy” fame) with a stroll over the gently rolling West Dorset countryside progressively getting harder as we headed towards Lulworth Cove.  We saw some amazing sites that day - the skeleton spines of a ship wreak; Durdle Door; Tim in 4x4 mode with his walking poles.  We had a well-deserved pint at the end of that walk, in a pub that played an excellent choice of 90s grunge hits into the garden.  I must go back to that pub – my idea of “old man pub” heaven.

5/06/2013 Stats:

Distance: 17 miles

Climb: 666ft (oooh scary!)

Time: 8 and a bit hours - there were several pub breaks!

6/06.2013 Stats:

Distance: We think 18 miles (my phone died!)

Climb: 575ft - before phone died.

Time: About 9 hours - a hard slog!