Our son Matt shows off his videography skills below.
Coast to Coast from matt vogt on Vimeo.
There is something innately appealing about setting off on a planned course with a specific goal. Walking across England seemed an admirable example of such a journey, one reason the Coast to Coast route, pioneered by Alfred Wainwright, moved to the top of our list for a walking tour.
We decided to stay at B&Bs rather than camp, and determined we preferred a self guided approach. We elected a relatively leisurely pace, allowing 23 days, and adding 3 layover days to the traditional schedule.
Rather than undertake the onerous task of organizing accommodations, we employed the English Lakeland Ramblers to make our arrangements. Our luggage would be transported daily to the next lodging by Packhorse, freeing us from the burden of heavy backpacks. This was starting to sound quite luxurious!
Not so fast, there were still a few challenges, like the weather,
and the elevation gain,
seemingly always followed by elevation loss,
and a few boggy stretches.
The longest day was 17 miles, the shortest was about 5 miles.
Fortunately there were compensations, such as the discovery of Millionaire’s Shortbread,
and the chance to savor the varied landscapes along the way.
The compensations far outweighed the challenges. It was indeed a privilege to spend three weeks immersed in gorgeous landscapes, charming villages, and welcoming people.
The hike has been broken up into five sections for the purpose of organization. Some are transition zones that do not fit neatly into the named categories.
Before we set out on foot, a few rest and recovery days are in order, Oxford here we come.
Let’s go!
