As per the post here, Bro. Darrell Harris and W Bro. Nigel Ziff are doing the Coast to Coast (C2C) walk, from St.Bees beach in Cumbria and finishing on the beach at Robin Hoods Bay in North Yorkshire for charity.
This is their daily diary. It will updated every day during the 10 day walk.
Day 1 – Monday Aug 5th
Our first day started from St.Bees, on the Irish Sea. The weather was overcast and windy but warm. We followed the West Cumbrian coastal plain and then on to the Lake District. The route followed the cliffs of St.Bees heading north for a few miles before turning inland and passing through the villages of Sandwith, Moor Row and Cleator. We climbed our first hill (Dent) in heavy mist and fog, reaching Ennerdale Bridge and then along the edge of Ennerdale Water. Sadly hard rain came down. Here’s a very wet Darrell !
The last 4miles up to our first overnight stop at the Black Sail Youth Hostel was tough. Luckily a bottle of cold beer and pie n mash cheered us up.
Day 2 – Tuesday Aug 6th
There was an early 5.30am start on Day Two. Heavy overnight rain meant the climb up Great Gable and descent down passing the disused slate workings and the Honister tramway, was a little treacherous.
After walking through Borrowdale we headed our second big climb to Greenup Edge and down to Grasmere. After lunch here at the Travellers Rest we headed north, climbing once again through the pass of Grisdale Hause and finally down to Patterdale and our overnight stop at Noran Bank Farm.
Day 3 – Wednesday Aug 7th
After a hearty breakfast and weather check (the morning forecast was overcast and light rain) half way up the climb to Angle Tarn the weather rapidly changed…. for the worse – 40 mph winds meant we struggled just to walk. The heavy driving rain was so hard it actually hurt. To make matters worse the temperature dropped to near freezing, so much so that fingers and toes went numb. The expensive new waterproof boots, proved NOT to be so! Visibility dropped down to just a metre. The steep descent off Kidsty Pike was a scary scramble on slippery rocks and then onto flooded bogs. Along Hawswater we trudged through miles and miles of prehistoric sized ferns without sight of either our feet or the path.
A brief summary of the day would be Rain….Sun….Rain….Sun. Waterproofs on….off….on….off.
Yet despite everything there is still (just) a smile on our faces. 62miles done, 133 to go. Lake District behind us. Yorkshire Dales ahead.
Day 4 – Thursday Aug 8th
Day 4 of the walk took our boys from Shap to Kirby Stephen; a distance of just 20 miles but with 2,000ft of climbing.
After a tough few days in the Lake District we entered Gods Own County’. The constant rain all day wetting our appetite.
Today was a gentler 20 miles, entering the Yorkshire Dales crossing the open farmland pastures of Crosby Ravensworth Fell. The walk passed close by the village of Orton and then over the large upland limestone plateau of Great Asby Scar, through the moorland of Crosby Garrett Fell and Smardale Fell before the pastureland of Waitby and onto Kirby Stephen.
There’s no picture of our intrepid walkers today, but here’s a local resident that they passed by.
Day 5 – Friday August 9th
Day 5 consisted of the stretch from Kirby Stephen to Reeth, covering another 22miles and 4000ft of climbing.
The day started with a long hard climb out of Kirby Stephen over the watershed of Britain known as Nine Standards Rig. Conditions were difficult due to yet more heavy rains, 40mph winds and boggy terrain.
towards the bottom of the climb we were the first ever walkers to walk on a new path being laid.
However it was a day of two halves and in the afternoon the sun finally came out. The second half was a trek from Keld along the river and through a stunning valley, and finally across Melbeck Moor and then down into Reeth.
Congrats to the boys as they have now passed the 100 mile mark !!
What are were the masons originally known for? Building. So it was right that Nigel and Darrell were the first to walk on a new path currently being laid.
Day 6 – Saturday August 10th
Day 6 took our boys from Reeth to Catterick Bridge; a walk of ‘just’ 18 miles and ‘only’ 1,600ft of climbing.
As Nigel and Darrell suffer with aches, pains, trench foot and shin splints, day 6 was a gentler, shorter day and came as a welcome relief. Our gallant walkers were joined by two additional brethren from The Lodge of Dawn. Bro. Bernard Nelson joined along the way to add some very welcome chatty company and then they all met up with Darrell’s parents (Bro. David Harris) for the last few miles and a very pleasant dinner.
After herding cows off the path, the day started with a relatively small climb up over Marrick Moor and then mostly flat until they reached Catterick Bridge just after crossing the A1. Along the way Nigel and Darrell passed through the lovely village of Marske and through the historic North Yorkshire city of Richmond.
Day 7 – Sunday August 11th
Day 7, one week into the trek, took Nigel and Darrell from Catterick Bridge to Osmotherly; another 22 miles with 1200ft of climbing.
In a huge contrast from the days in the Lake District, Day 7 was hot hot hot. The good news is that Darrell has overcome his trench foot, but now has blisters. Not to be outdone, Nigel is struggling with a painful shin splint but both boys are still smiling !!! With 145miles done there are now only 53 to go.
Day 7 saw our intrepid pair track the River Swale and through the fertile flat farming land of the Vale of Mowbray. Around the halfway point they crossed over the main railway line from York to Edinburgh or is it Edinburgh to York?
To keep the travel links going they crossed the A19, dodging the busy weekend traffic and finished the 22mile day with a steep climb through Arncliffe Wood. Overnight the guys are staying at the Ghyll Hill Youth Hostel in Osmotherley. We’re not sure they qualified to stay there !!
Day 8 – Monday August 12th
Day 8 took our boys from the youth hostel in Osmotherly all the way to Blakey Ridge, covering another 20 miles and a huge 3,600ft of climbing.
A much harder day with many hills in the first half the day followed a long flat trek along an old railway line. The early part of the day was a climb up Beacon Hill with views over the moors and then up again, this time to Carlton Moor with even more stunning views over Cleveland, and then a short brunch stop at the Lord Stones Café (and what looks like very tasty poached eggs).
After leaving the café there were more climbs up/down Cringle and Cold Moors following the Cleveland Moor. After which we walked on old railway tracks before reaching our overnight stay at the Lion Inn at Blakey Ridge.
Day 9 – Tuesday August 12th
Blakey Ridge to Egton Bridge, and a brief 12 miles and only 600ft of climbing.
The penultimate day’s walk and the shortest day of the trip, which we both need as we lick our wounds, aches and pains.
After a hearty breakfast we hiked across the North York Moors, passing by ‘“’Fat Betty’ (see below… she’s the one in the middle).
The visit to Fat Betty was followed by a walk along Glaisdale Rigg, before descending and a short walk along the banks of the river Esk. The finish point of the day was the lovely village of Egton Bridge for the night.
180 miles done and only 16 left. Nearly there !!
Day 10 – Wednesday August 13th
They made it !! Huge congrats to both Nigel & Darrell.
The boys were to tired to write a diary entry, but they did send us this photo to prove that they made it !!
You can read their post-walk summary here.
Last year Darrell was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer and, after successful treatment, is now fully recovered. Because of this it was decided to put their walking skills (and alleged) fitness to the test and to raise funds jointly for Bowel Cancer UK and the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding Festival Appeal.
You can donate to these two nominated charities via their Go Fund Me page.
Joining The Lodge of Dawn
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