The Master Joiner’s Walk and Run Charity Challenge – the Coast to Coast Walk
One of the principal fund raising event’s being held by the Master is his sponsored Walk and Run Charity Challenge. The Walk being the formidable 192 mike Coast to Coast Walk from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hoods Bay in Yorkshire devised by Alfred Wainwright and the Run being the 13.1 mile Hastings Half Marathon.
Sunday morning on 12 September 2009 saw the Master supported by Court Assistant Kevin Cooke and his wife Satu and his two pals, Terry Hopper and Sue Richardson, standing in the bay at St Bees Head where by tradition a pebble is collected and then carried to Robin Hoods Bay to be thrown into the North Sea. The adventure had begun.
Day 1 – St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge (15 miles). The walk started with 4 miles round St Bees head itself and the St Bees lighthouse before turning inwards at Sandwith. After traversing some boggy countryside and passing through Cleator, this hardy group opted for an optional extra being Dent Fell from which they were rewarded with stunning views of the route back to St Bees and onwards to the Lake District. A steep descent led to the path to Ennerdale Bridge for the first night’s stop where a first class dinner was enjoyed in a local pub.
Day 2 – Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite (15 miles). A simple path led to the edge of Ennerdale Water where a lakeside path took them the length of the Water where they crossed to the south side. On the way they picked up a fellow walker called Roger Jarvis, who asked to join the Master, Terry and Sue on the arduous optional extra of the Buttermere Ridge while Kevin and Satu followed the valley up to Black Sail Youth Hostel and over the saddle to Honister Pass for the descent into the Borrowdale Valley. The ascent of Red Pike proved to be very steep so it was four very red faces that reached the summit and then enjoyed the views over Crummock Water and Buttermere. They then folloed the ridge over High Stile and High Crag and then over Haystacks, which wasd Wainwright’s favourite peak before crossing the fell and descending via Honister. The Master’s pace increased at this point as he knew Rosthwaite enjoyed one of the best tea shops in Cumbria and sure enough Terry and Roger who lagged behind chatting, found him with Sue drinking a pint of tea and eating an enormous jam and cream scone! While the Master was holding up well Sue was suffering some knee problems and Terry’s feet were blistered due to forgetting his boot insoles
Day 3 – Rosthwaite to Patterdale (17 miles). The Master and his team were now in the heart of Lakeland and with Terry having dumped his boots for his walking trainers, the team followed the path up the Borrowdale Valley to Greenup Edge where they were able to gaze down the Easedale Valley towards Grasmere. Rather than take the valley route, the Master opted to take the Helm Crag Ridge which culminates in Helm Crag or the Lion and the Lamb as it is sometimes known because of the shape of the rocks on the summit when viewed from the east. The Master and Sue opted to visit the summiot and they then took the steep decent for the main road where they immediately crossed to meet the path to Grisedale Tarn. There were two routes up and Kevin and Satu who were ahead took the right route and the rest of the team went left and overtook Kevin and Satu without noticing, much to the annoyance of the latter. This was a steep and tiring climb and it became clear why some walkers opted for a night in Grasmere. However, Grisedale Tarn was successfully reached and the path down the Grisedale valley straight to Patterdale was chosen, in preference to a climb up either Fairfield or St Sunday Crag; it had been a hard day.
Day 4 – Patterdale to Shap (16 miles). Having acquired an excellent large Cornish pastie at Patterdale General Stores, the Master and his team crossed the river and struck up the fell to Angle Tarn and then on to Knott before traversing Kidsty Pike and dropping down to Haweswater where a 4 mile hike along the lakeside awaited them before turning across country and heading for Shap and the ruins of Shap Abbey and the Greyhound Hotel where a farewell dinner for Kevin and Satu was held as they were returning to London.
Day 5 – Shap to Kirby Stephen (21 miles). The Master, Terry and Sue now left Lakeland and entered Lancashire by symbolically crossing the M6 via a footbridge. The walk was largely through farmland and along the odd country road. We passed the attractively named Robin Hood’s Grave, which, of course, is not his grave at all but a stone cairn! The walk then passed down to the rather bleak Sunbiggin Tarn before heading down to the impressive Smardale Bridge and then on to Kirkby Stephen where the Master felt he had most definitely earned his two pints of bitter! Sue’s knee was worse and Terry’s feet were much better.
Day 6 – Kirkby Stephen to Reeth (23 miles). This was the toughest day of the walk as most Coast to Coasters take two days for this walk stopping in Keld. Undaunted the Master and his team struck out for Hartley Fell and the 6 mile steady climb to Nine Standards Rigg, a curious collection of cairns overlooking the Eden valley. Their origin is unknown. The team then headed for the “August to November” path down through a wet and muddy Whitsundale to Keld. It became clear during this walk that Sue’s knee would not stand more punishment and so she stopped at Keld and got a lift to Reeth. The Master and Terry, however, lunched at a farmshop and celebrated the fact that Keld was halfway before heading up out of the village towards Swaledale and the ruins of the splendidly named Crackpot Hall and the famous lead mines of Swinnergill and Gunnerside. These were fascinating to see but did not prepare the Master for the route march that was 6 miles along the old miners’ tracks to get to Reeth. Having passed Surrender Bridge (and refused to surrender!) the Master and Terry arrived tired and thirsty in the little village of Reeth. Both the halfway point and the 100 mile mark had been passed.
Day 7 Reeth to Richmond (11 miles). This was an easy day designed to give the Master a chance to wash his kit and spend some time in the only town that is passed on the route. The walk was a beautiful Dales walk through fields and over low fells. The ruins of Marrick Priory and Marske village were passed and the path took them through the beautiful Whitecliff Wood. Having arranged the laundry of their kit (the Master’s cap in particular which Terry described as being ideal for a sheep’s salt lick!), the Master, Terry and Sue enjoyed a relaxing Italian meal.
Day 8 Richmond to Ingleby Cross (24 miles). This turned out to be the toughest day as the Master and Terry crossed the Vale of Mowbray even though it is the only day devoid of hills. It took the Master over farmland and roads from Swaledale to the Cleveland Hills and the views were all rural. The day started with a pleasant walk out to Catterick Bridge on Catterick race day and the chance to pass under the A1, another milestone for the walkers, and proceeded through Bolton-on-Swale and its famous pump and then on a road route march to Danby Wisk and the halfway point. Here disaster fell as the village pub had been closed! However, an entrepreneurial lady had set up an honesty refreshment stop in her garden. The Master and Terry bought sandwiches and drinks, putting their money into the honesty cash box (could this happen in London?). Having said hi to Sue who passed with the man who moved the bags they pressed on towards Ingleby Cross along more roads and a couple of farmyards with typical country smells. On arrival the village could only be entered by crossing the very fast A172. Seeing the extremely tired Master and Terry scurrying across the road gave the locals a bit of a laugh.
Day 9 Ingleby Cross to the Lion Inn at Blakey Ridge (21 miles). This was the day with the besty scenery since Lakeland. The refreshed Master and Terry immediately set off up the Cleveland Hills finding their way to the summit of Beacon Hill. The intrepid duo then dropped into the Scugdale valley and promptly took a wrong turning, something they discovered when talking to a stooped little old lady of around 80! Having checked the compass they took the paths east and finally traversed back to the path at Live Moor where they passed the Gliding Club and dropped down Carlton Bank to Lord Stones where refreshments were available at a first class café. The path then took them over a succession of hills with open moorland on the right and steep cliffs leading to farmland on their left.Eventually they reached the dismantled Rosedale Ironstone Railway, whose old track they followed the 5 miles necessary to reach the Lion Inn, which is perched in splendid isolation on the summit of Blakey Ridge.
Day 10 Blakey Ridge to Egton Bridge (12 miles). This was another short day and it enabled the Master and Terry to have a most enjoyable stroll over the last of the moors as the path followed the Moorland ridge as far as it could go passing the wonderfully named Great Fryup Head. The path dropped off into Eskdale and the village of Glaisdale where the magnificent Beggars Bridge was admired which was built in the 17th century. Egton Bridge was reached in time for a late lunch and an afternoon nap!
Day 11 Egton Bridge to Robin Hoods Bay (17 miles). This was the final stage and the Master and Terry were now fighting fit and able to keep up a very good pace. They passed down the old toll road (with the old tolls displayed!) and arrived in Grosmont, home of the North York Moors Railway Society and concluded that it would have been a better overnight stop. Pressing on they crossed Sleights Moor and then into woodlands where they admired both the famous Hermitage resting place that had been hewn out of rock in 1790 and the Falling Foss waterfall. They then passed over moorland again to Hawkster and enjoyed an enjoyable lunch at a caravan site pub. Replete with sandwiches and coffee the Master and Terry struck out for the coast and met the sea at Maw Wyke Hale. They then followed the coastal path to Robin Hoods Bay having met Sue on the way who had walked out to meet them. They walked down the narrow main street and then out into the bay where they threw their pebbles into the North Sea to signify the end of the walk. The Master celebrated with strong tea and a jam and cream scone before a bigger celebration involving champagne over dinner.
The Master had completed his walk and with only one blister. He now needs to turn his attention to training for the 13.1 mile run!