Coast to Coast day 2 may 20 2026

Cleator - Borrowdale

 Epic 20 mile trek from Cleator to yha Borrowdale. Knowing it was a big one and not previously having tested my injured foot on a really big walk, I set of early at 6 am. Basically, the first 14 miles were straightforward :

•  Cleator to Ennerdale bridge 5 miles
•  Ennerdale bridge to Ennerdale water 1 mile
• Ennerdale water North shore ( South Shore option would take longer and involve some ups and downs) to black sail hostel 8 miles 

Black Sail Hut

Ennerdale Water

The last 8 miles were along a really good forestry track. Stopped at the Black Sail hostel for a brew and then the last 6 miles were a complete contrast :-

• Steep climb up loft beck - it was less than a mile but took quite a while to get to the top.
• At the top there was a 2 mile trudge in clag and heavy rain before dropping down to honister slate mine. The final track down was a proper ankle smasher
• 3 relatively easy miles down to Borrowdale

Really pleased to finish and get through this first big day.

20 miles. 10 hours. Ascent 2978ft 

Coast to Coast day 1. May 19 2026

St Bees - Cleator

 Up early for a 6:30 train from Langley Mill. Anne kindly dropped me off at the station. It was p********it down. 4 trains , 6 hours travelling. The last one - Lancaster to
St Bees had 14 stops- seemed to go on for ever!. Of course ,by the time I had walked the 1/2 mile down to the beach it was p******* it down again. Quick photo op at the official start. 

My pebble to transport to the north sea

Great selfie

Due to a cliff top landslip, the coastal section was closed, so I had to head inland towards my bed for the night - at Cleator.

It was a 800 yard detour to visit the statue.

A few miles of the route followed a well signposted railway bed, before dropping into Cleator, and the Emmerdale Country Hotel, where I treated myself to a hot bath.

A modest 7 miles, to start the adventure.

2hour 41 mins. Ascent 628ft