Coast to Coast – St Bees to Kirkby Stephen

After reading the article in a CSSC News Letter I was unsure the Coast to Coast Walk was something I would be able to do. So rather rashly, I sent off the application form and my fifty quid deposit. Several months later and after honing my body into something capable of tackling a ninety mile slog, I found myself stood on the sea front of a very wet St Bees, a small coastal village which marks the start of the Coast to Coast walk.

For the first couple of days the gloomy weather stayed with us but as the rain slowly eased, the Lakes and Fells revealed their beauty to us. Each day we were given a choice from a selection of walks of varying degrees of difficulty enabling us to keep within our capabilities. We enjoyed the majestic delights of Black Sail, Honister Pass, Grassmere and Dolly Wagon Pike; climbing up waterfalls, crossing wet peat bogs and leaping meandering streams.

You have to put up with a degree of communal living but after walking twelve miles all you want is a hot shower, a good meal and if you’ve been quick enough, the lower bunk bed. There was usually a pub near where we were staying that night, and the hostels were licensed if you couldn’t manage another step.

At the end of the week I reached Kirkby Stephen tired and my legs felt everyone of the last day’s twenty miles. However, I have been left with some great memories (and photos) and made lots of new friends within CSSC.

If you are reading this and wondering about joining a similar event I would say go for it. Just be sensible about your level of fitness and get your boots well worn in before hand.