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I've been thinking a lot about ways to improve the Cumbria Way, with a suggested new northern end, some options for a new southern end, and a number of ideas for "quick fixes" to liven up the standard route. But now it's time to actually put my money where my mouth is and share the … Continue reading An Alternative Cumbria Way
In my last post I talked about my proposed new Northern End point for an amended Cumbria Way, and also discussed the merits and demerits of the other options. In the northern case, I felt the answer was pretty clear cut - to me there was one outstanding candidate for a revised end - the … Continue reading Fixing the Cumbria Way – Southern Endings and New Routes
As I discussed in my earlier post, the single biggest issue with the Cumbria Way is where it ends.  No one wants to spend a week walking through lovely Lake District scenery and end it all walking through an industrial estate or next to a railway.  There has to be a better way. Of course, moving … Continue reading Fixing the Cumbria Way – A New Northern End Point
In my previous post, I talked about the problems with the Cumbria Way official route, and in this post I'm going to propose some quick fixes to the route that involve minimal change overall, and importantly don't create a whole new long distance path. Really these are just some ideas for varying the walk, but … Continue reading Quick Fixes to the Cumbria Way
"If it's not broken, then don't fix it", so goes the saying, and there's a lot of truth in it. But for me the Cumbria Way is broken and what is generally a fine walk has got serious flaws that almost stopped me doing it in the first place and would weigh heavily on my … Continue reading Fixing the Cumbria Way
"I looked down over the edge of the fell at the tarn below and to my right, glistening and beckoning me down to say hello. After what seemed like a long day, I was tired and knew that once I was at the tarn, all I had to do was follow the path down to … Continue reading The Joy of Tarns
Not everyone is interested in the stats, so let's keep the analysis in a separate post. Summits bagged The 29 Wainwrights "bagged", in order, are: Dodd (Skiddaw) Whinlatter Barf Lord's Seat (M) Broom Fell Graystones Ling Fell Sale Fell Barrow Outerside Mellbreak (M) Rannerdale Knotts High Crag (H) High Stile (Wainwright summit) Red Pike (Buttermere) … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): The Stats
This has been a bit of a strange trip, and I have to say after 15 trips to the Lake District, I didn't expect to still be learning lessons about my walking capabilities. This trip was really two in one, and if I'd just done the first, longer, part it would have felt about right, … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Debrief
Glenridding to Penrith I feel awful. An early night was a waste of time as I couldn't get to sleep, and with the 4 bunk dorm full, anytime someone moved on the uncomfortable beds all 4 were aware of it. And the banging and crashing upstairs didn't help. I woke with raging hay fever, courtesy … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 11 – Thursday 14 July
Making up for yesterday Despite me saying last night that I'd do today's original planned walk and tack yesterday's omitted walk on the end of it, I never thought I'd actually do it. But I have the aching feet to prove it....The day dawned fine and bright with high broken cloud and it stayed that … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 10 – Wednesday 13 July
Wasdale to Borrowdale Having weighed up whether to do the walk over Lingmell or chicken out and just take the easier option straight over Sty Head Pass from Wasdale, there was a certain irony in me ending up doing both. Here's how it happened...I woke up in a more positive frame of mind, had a … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 8 – Monday 11 July
Ennerdale to Wasdale Just as I thought I'd gained some fitness, it all seemed to desert me today. Or maybe I overdid it yesterday. Or could it have been being woken by a Hungarian at 4:48 this morning ?It took me nearly an hour to get back to sleep and then I struggled to get … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 7 – Sunday 10 July
The Unglamourous End of Ennerdale Today started slowly and at one point I thought I might not make it to the top of any fells, but ultimately I achieved everything I'd planned.With breakfast being half an hour later here, this contributed to quite a late start, and I think I was the last person to … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 6 – Saturday 9 July
Buttermere to Ennerdale After yesterday's lack of energy, I was worried about the big walk I had to face today - over 1000m of ascent in heavy mode. And with limited escape routes - one at Scarth Gap (before I'd really got anywhere) and one on Red Pike (by which time the walk's back would … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 5 – Friday 8 July
Keswick to Buttermere Today was a day of comparisons with past trips, in particular my long Lakes trip during my sabbatical 4 years ago.After some overnight rain, the day dawned relatively fine, with Skiddaw looking colourful opposite my bedroom window. Breakfast was a bit disappointing today - only 1 rasher of bacon and only one … Continue reading A Lakeland Round (2011): Day 3 – Wednesday 6 July