Wainwright's Coast to Coast - Day 7

Shap to Patterdale via Kidsty Pike

Distance: 18 Miles. 

Time Taken: 9 hours.

Weather: Cool with sunny spells and dry.

The Ruins of Shap Abbey in Cumbria.

The Walk

Day Seven was the day in which I'd get to test my theory about Alfred Wainwright's Coast-to-Coast Walk.

Most modern walkers' tend to make the crossing from the West Coast to finish at Robin Hoods Bay in the East.

The theory seeming to be that prevailing Westerly winds will then be at your back as you walk along.

But it always struck me as odd that people would start on the West Coast and then immediately have the toughest three days at the start in the Cumbrian Mountains - before they've had any chance to walk themsleves into any fitness.

Much more sensible - in my theory - would be to walk from the East Coast, allowing the legs to build stamina over six or more days walking before tackling the really tough days in the Lake District.

Well, that was my theory!

And today I'd put it to the test.

Path Through the Meadow on the Way to the English Lake District.

Day 7 started off easily enough with a gentle hike through rolling meadows between Shap and the hamlet of Burn Banks - built in the 1920s to house the workers who constructed the dam to contain Haweswater Reservoir.

The reservoir provides drinking water to Manchester.

First View of Haweswater Reservoir.

The footpath route then runs the whole length of Haweswater.

So it's pretty much impossible to get lost!

And the walk at this stage rewards with the first proper views of the Mountains which are to be crossed in coming days.

It really is a beautiful setting with magic scenery; at least if you're lucky enough to be walking - like me - during a period of good, clear weather.

A Solitary Path Through a Wildflower Meadow in Cumbria.

On reaching the head of the reservoir, the route begins an immediate and steep climb upwards towards Kidsty Pike - one of the highest points on the entire Coast-to-Coast.

There is one particularly steep section which involves a fair bit of scrambling; and a lot of huffing and puffing for me with my backpack.

But the views from the ridgeline above; and on reaching the top of Kidsy Pike make all the earlier effort worthwhile.

Cumbrian Mountains Seen from Kidsty Pike..

The route stays up high for several miles and a good couple of hours of walking before it begins to track downhill once again into Patterdale.

It becomes quite a steep little descent but the good news is that there's always a pint and some late lunch awaiting at the White Lion Inn when you arrive in the village.

Good news in deed!

Really Enjoying the Mountains

NOTE TO WALKERS: The only reason that people seem to walk from the West to the East is that the luggage ferrying services are all based out of Kirby Stephen in the West - so it is easier for their businesses.

Whilst it may be true that the wind will be behind you during some UK seasons; I did not have any issues with wind direction during my summer walk in June 2016.

I believe the benefit of walking into fitness by coming from the East and building stamina crossing the North York Moors and the Pennines before talking the really tough sections in the Lake District far outweights any other considerations.

If I was planning the walk for the first time, I would plan to come from the East and finish in Cumbria!

It certainly paid off for me - an overweight, averagly fit 51 year old who enjoys a drink!

I'm no athlete!!

But at no time did I struggle with fitness issues during the walk (just blistered feet).

And I found that day 7, 8, 9 and 10 which all involved crossing the higher mountains was actually pretty easy; because I'd already had a weeks' worth of miles into my legs getting across Yorkshire.