Itinerary for the walk to Richmond

As promised, here is the itinerary for the walk from St Bees to Richmond, which Ben and Judy will tramp with Joe and Toni.  Joe or I will add the itinerary for Richmond to Robin Hoods Bay (the end) later.  This section is about 120 miles and covers 2/3 of the total distance.  It also features the most rugged terrain and includes the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales.

Friday, 9th - St Bees to Cleator Moor, 8.5 miles - fairly flat, 1st few miles along the high cliffs of the Irish Sea coast; a good warm up walk!

Saturday, 10th - Cleator Moor to Ennerdale Bridge, 5.5 miles - leaves the coastal plain and enters the Lake District, goes over the first "hill" with elevation gain of 400 ft (the lull before the storm!)

Sunday, 11th - Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite, 14.5 miles - this is the longest day, with a steep climb to 2000 ft elevation and a downhill back to 400 ft elevation, and one of the most beautiful (if we are not buffeted by rain, fog and wind)

Monday, 12th - Rosthwaite to Grasmere, 9 miles - climb back up to 2000 ft at Greenup Edge and then back down to Grasmere at 300 ft elevation

Tuesday, 13th - rest day in Grasmere, immersed in Wordsworth (we will need this day off!)

Wednesday, 14th - Grasmere to Patterdale, 8.5 miles - climb to Grisdale pass (2000 ft again) and perhaps taking one of several side routes which climb even higher (who are we kidding?) and then back down to about 500 ft elevation

Thursday, 15th - Patterdale to Bampton, 12 miles - a long climb to our highest point on the regular route at 2500 ft (a peak called Kidstey Pike - such cute names!) and then a rather steep downhill to Hawswater and Burnbanks (Bampton) at about 750 ft elevation

Friday, 16th - Bampton to Orton, 11 miles - undulating terrain with much less variation in elevation; we are leaving the Lake District and entering the valley between that and the Yorkshire Dales

Saturday, 17th - Orton to Kirkby Stephen, 12 miles - this walk goes over several hills, loosely referred to as moors and passes through several villages and archeological sites (including "Robin Hood's Grave)"; long but not overly strenuous

Sunday, 18th - Kirkby Stephen to Keld, 13 miles - this day we cross into Yorkshire, cross the Pennines, and enter the heart of the Yorkshire Dales; elevation rises to 2000 ft at Nine Standards Rigg and drops back to 1100 ft or so

Monday, 19th - Keld to Reeth, 11 miles - there are both high level and valley routes (the low level route is actually preferred as being more interesting and pleasant); this area has ancient lead mining sites and other diversions; the low route follows Swaledale valley

Tuesday, 20th - Reeth to Richmond, 12 miles - rolling hills with crests as high as 1100 ft and lovely woodland tracts, dry stone walls everywhere; we leave the Dales for the broad open country before the North York Moors

Wednesday, 21st - rest day exploring Richmond, Ben and Judy leave for Manchester and Ireland

You can find much more information about each of these villages on the Internet.  You can also learn more about the path by searching for "coast to coast walk" on line.

I will fill in more details as we make our way along the path!