83 Miles of the C2C and Great Views!
by Matt Holt
So… the plan was to do the full 190 miles Wainwrights coast to coast route having had this years Northern Traverse cancelled.
Jill and Lilly dog dropped me off in St Bees on Friday afternoon having dropped bags at stop overs in Patterdale and Kirby Stephen along the way. Waved them both goodbye and checked in the Seacote Hotel in St Bees.
Early night for 5 am alarm call and a 6am start on Saturday morning. Lovely morning, overlooking the Irish Sea and could clearly see the Isle of Man. Off along the coastal path, then head east to Dent Fell, first proper climb of the day.
Bit of rain leaving Dent, but soon down to Ennerdale and its lake. Lovely run along the south shore, then past Black Sail Youth Hostel, up Loft Beck and drop down to Honister Slate Mine to clock up 27 miles in total.
The coffee and Sandwich and water top up at the slate mine cafe was much needed, sitting outside due to covid to consume it was a tad less enjoyable. Has anyone been to Honister slate mine and experienced the sun??? I dont think it ever shines there and the wind blows through so it always feels minus 10!
Onward down to Rosthwaite and the long climb up and down to Grasmere, made good time and after a little unexpected detour, off up the last climb of the day to Grisedale Tarn. Finally last few miles downhill to Patterdale.
Total time 12 hrs 20 mins so arrived at 18.20 pm, really pleased with that for 46 miles and 8,210 foot of climb.
Glad to see the White Lion pub, for shower, 40 winks, change of kit, meal and then bed for 9 pm.
Sunday morning was already looking good when I woke up at 3 am to head for my next stop. Left Patterdale at 4.20 am after posting back home Saturdays used kit (poor postal workers who get that in their van for an hour or two).
The 5 mile climb up Kidsty Pike went well with about a dozen deer out on the fells. Angle Tarn had over 20 tents with campers enjoying a great spot.
The decent to Haweswater Reservoir and the next 6 miles though really set the pattern for the rest of the day. I just couldn’t get going or feel that good, so when I arrived in Shap after 16 miles since leaving Patterdale, I took the chance to buy a coffee, water top ups, egg mayo butty, and cheese pasty. I wouldn’t say I looked rough sat of the floor of the coop car park, sunbathing, my top and shorts covered in pasty crumbs while moving on to the egg mayo butty. But… let’s just say, no one really let on!!
Off over the M6, and then across limestone landscape, and past Orton. It was blooming hot in the sun, and the miles kept passing slowly. Finally at 26 miles in I reached a farm selling cold drinks and sat in the sun for a cheese butty and a chilled bottle of lucozade.
On to Sunningdale Tarn then a never ending road section. By now I’d decided I’d had enough so made the call to Jill to rescue me Monday morning from Kirby Stephen.
Dropped down past the dismantled railway to Smardale Bridge then up again over the tops for the first sight on Kirby Stephen. Finally got in town after 4 pm so about 11 hours and 50 mins for the 36 miles. Again really happy with the time, but the body and mind was gone.
Lovely 2 days revisiting the C2C route, but wasn’t prepared to push on just for the sake of it, might have been a different story if I’d had a race number on. Curry and Guiness in KS before another but deserved early night.
In total 83 miles with some of the best views the UK has to offer.