Tradition dictates that a pebble should be picked up on the beach so that it can eventually be thrown onto the beach at Robin Hood's Bay. Start the walk proper by climbing up onto South Head. This is steep and not a good omen for the rest of the trip. Sellafield can be seen to the south and ahead is the lighthouse on top of North Head round Fleswick Bay. Past the lighthouse Whitehaven suddenly comes into view. Eventually turn right away from the sea and walk into Sandwith along paths and metalled roads. Pass the Duck and Partridge pub and get sight of the chemical works which is nowhere near as extreme as it sounds in some guidebooks. Pass Demesne Farm, Bell House and Stanley Pond and reach the main road at Scalegill Hall. Follow road into Moor Row which is a pretty depressing little collection of buildings but does have a pie shop. Along the road to Cleator and an opportunity for more pies at the post office. From Cleator climb up Dent which is initially pretty straightforward but the track becomes steeper and steeper and becomes quite a climb - this is a minor peak on the Coast to Coast but is quite a shock. Over the slightly higher eastern peak and then with some tricky navigation reach Nannycatch Gate, under Ravencrag and then by the beck to the east of Flat Fell. Get to the road at near Blakely Moor and the stone circle there. Simply follow the road down into Ennerdale Bridge and to the Shepherd Arms Hotel.

Accommodation

I am booked into the Shepherd Arms Hotel £55.00 single b&b ensuite.

For other accommodation follow the Sherpa Van link

Signed up for this day: David Brawn, Keith Case, Nigel Williams

Some notes on the day

David persuaded Enid (who worked in the stables associated with Stonehouse Farm) to give us a lift to where we had finished the previous evening on the B road. The walk continued down through the valley to Low Moor where there was a ‘pop-in’ walkers’ cafe run by a very talkative women. Carried on our way through Cleator and climbed Dent with an even steeper slope down the other side. Along the valley of Nannycatch and eventually out onto the road into Ennerdale Bridge. Stayed at the Shepherd’s Arms and called in at the Fox and Hounds in the evening which is a community pub