Coast to Coast day 9 May 27 2026

 Brompton on Swale to Swainby.

Despite it being flat and the weather perfect( warm with cloud cover) this was a big day at 24 miles.

I set of early, and just after Brompton I was going down a quiet country lane near a wildlife reserve and I saw at least one hundred rabbits pottering around on the lane.

First village of the day was Bolton on Swale. I walked through the village and then I. A field just outside the village I crossed a beck I shouldn't have - for my feet wet and then realizing my mistake had to cross again !!

Then it was a combination of road walking , passing through villages, and crossing agricultural land ( loads of cows!).

Track near Catterick Bridge

Village pub at Danby Wiske

O my way o East Rointon - no where to sit - I had a lie down on the edge of a field

The mistake I made near the end was to follow the official route which takes you to East Rounton and a bridge over the A19. This meant several miles of road walking to get to Swainby ,and some of this wasn't quiet country lanes. Also no footways in any of this section. The only positive here was the Roots farm shop at East Rounton where I stopped for something to eat. The original route would have involved a crossing of the A19, and then following the trail thru Ingleby Cross, and then before the climb up to the moors there is a turnoff to Swainby which would have been less than a mile downhill into Swainby.

As it was I was wiped out by the time I got to Swainby. I couldn't get into the acconodation until 6 so I went for some food at the village pub. I definitely picked up some new blisters on this leg. The topo trail shoes are really comfy, but are proving not to be a match for the altras.

24 miles, 760 ft ascent. 10 Hour 44 minutes

Ciast to Coast day 8 May 26 2026

 Grinton - Brompton on Swale 

Another hot day in store, so I set of early 5:39 (and took my yha room key with me!!). Last night some lunatic was playing a bloody trombone in the yha at 9:30!!

Lovely evening last night with Anne, Erica, and the kids. Definitely upped my morale, so the wobble from the previous day is now gone. There was a little bit of climbing as I passed through the villages of Marrick and Marske, and it seemed I was in the outskirts of Richmond fairly quickly( I had been going for 5 or 6 hours)

Some of my new friends

Farmyard at Brompton on Swale

River Swale near Grinton early morning

Super hot again. I found a bench at the village of Marske and stopped for breakfast - it was a brilliant idea to take an insulated bottle that I could put boiling water so I could have a brew on the trail. In Richmond I found a small supermarket to top up my supply of paracetemol, and then found a cafe for a brew and a toasted sandwich (perfect). Next I popped in an outdoor shop abd bought a pair of sunglasses, and finally found the tourist info point to point me in the right direction out of Richmond towards Brompton on Swale ( this is where I left the official trail for a few miles).

Breakfast

Lovely woods after leaving Marske

Just after the main climb of the day near Applegarth Scar (I think?)

Richmond

St Mary's Richmond

River Swale on the outskirts of Richmond

Just leaving Richmond and heading to Brompton on Swale

Brompton on Swale bunkhouse - I got a room to myself

The last few miles to Brompton on Swale were straightforward with a stretch of road walking just before reaching the village. The bunkbarn was perfect - shop over the road, pub 100 yards away and the whole place dripping character. Just before getting my food in the pub I met the manager from the YHA , on his way honme from work, and handed my key back.

This was in the lounge /common room at the bunkbarn

An excellent day's walking.

15.5 miles. 8 Hours 11 mins. Ascent 1392 ft

Coast to Coast day 7 May 25th 2026

 Keld - Grinton.

Nice evening in Keld Lodge with Anne, where she helped me path up my feet.

In theory this should have been one of the easier days, but due to the temperature getting as high as 28 29, it was anything but easy. I chose the low level route because of the forecast, and both feet aching - mainly the tendonitis in the left foot My book said it should take 11.5 miles to Reeth

 and then 1 mile to Grinton, but by the end of the walk I had clocked  13.8 miles. 

The part along the Swale with the pennine way on the fell opposite was spectacular. Swaledale is a beautiful part of the country.

The Swale just before Reeth

Grinton Lodge

The walk was hard due to the heat, so every time I found some shade, I stopped for a rest. I stopped for a nice cuppa and scone in Gunnerside. Half a mile before the yha I stopped for a pint at the bridge inn, and then Anne picked me up , drove me up the hill to the yha,where I checked in , and then she drove us to middleham where Erica and the kids were staying at an airbnb, and then we then went for a nice pub meal all together. By the ebd of today, the 'wobble' I was experiencing was completely gone, largely due to seeing Anne, Erica and the kids.

13.8 Miles. 6 Hours 53 Mins. 1319ft Ascent.