End of the line

We realised today that we are the last group of coast to coasters making the trip using guest houses and baggage moving companies this season. Once we're through, many of the guest houses where we’re staying close their doors and take a well-earned rest until April 2026.

We are the very end of the 2025 C2C ‘tour’ conveyor belt. They must have saved the best till last, I guess.

Pennine Perseverance

The high moorlands of the Pennines. Easier underfoot but LONG treks from Shap, through Kirkby Stephen and into the Yorkshire Dales to Keld. 50k steps /37km in a day is a tough leg – wowzers – but The Old Croft House in Kirkby is a little gem and highly recommended – lovely people.

Great to meet up with old pal Simon Gates plus dog – thank you, Mr G - you are still an unsurpassed pace setter.

And Nine Standards Rig. I’d never heard of it before. It’s worth a read and a visit – have a Google.

Lakeland Odyssey

46 miles of the best scenery you can find anywhere (and I do mean anywhere). Four days, some new routes while others are more familiar fells; all are stunning despite some grey skies. You spot the same C2C ‘buddies’ throughout the day and in the guest houses and pubs in the evenings; most are visitors to the UK. Everyone shares a story and a smile.

We adopted a starter / finisher approach to squad selection over these legs. Chris realised Lakeland was a bit more hilly than Miami and sub’d himself off to be replaced by a youthful Rainbow (Tom).

Got to marvel at how the Romans built a road on top of a mountain in northern Britain 2000 years ago. Extraordinary stuff (https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/learning/archaeologyhistory/high-street-roman-road).

Off and Running

The weather gods were kind. We started literally just a couple of hours after the tail end of storm Amy. Spectacular clifftop views across churning seas, and views of the route ahead and the sea behind from Dent Fell. Couldn’t see it clearly but my mobile provider thought I’d left the country and gone to theA long-ish day and a welcome finish at Ennerdale Bridge. Day one crossed off – tomorrow the Lake District leg begins.