England Coast To Coast Walk With Bronny Tudor

To book please press Book Now or email Bronny direct at bronny@peregrinetravel.com.au
May departure booked out - don't miss this June departure!

Day 1: Friday 6 June 2014
Adelaide—Manchester
Depart Adelaide

Day 2: Saturday 7 June
Manchester
Arrive in Manchester.
Upon arrival we will be collected from the airport and transferred to our Manchester hotel.
Tonight we will enjoy dinner together and get to know our companions for  our epic walk across England.

Day 3: Sunday 8 June
St Bees
This morning after breakfast we transfer to the train station for our trip to the tiny Cumbrian seaside resort of St Bees.
St Bees, on the edge of the Irish Sea, will greet you with views across to the Isle of Man.
You should have time to visit the Abbey church, which has features on the local history.
We overnight in St Bees before our walk starts in the morning.

Day 4: Monday 9 June
St. Bees to Ennerdale Bridge
Each day during our walk our morning will start with a hearty breakfast.
Carrying only our day pack we will set off for our day’s adventure leaving our main luggage to be collected and transported tour our next night’s stay.
This morning we climb from the beach taking a footpath along red sandstone coastal cliffs of St Bees Head. This is the location of England’s only breeding colony of Black Guillemots.
We then head inland over hilly ground to the edge of the Lake District National Park.
Dent Hill is the first real hill that we cross. 
Although short, there follows possibly the steepest descent of the whole tour down to Nanny Catch Gate and beck, then a delightful stroll along until we come to the final descent to leafy Ennerdale Bridge.
Walking Distance: 23.5 km approx. 6 hours

Day 5: Tuesday 10 June
Ennerdale Bridge to Borrowdale
A quiet and scenic footpath along the shore of Ennerdale Water, with a bit of an easy scramble under Angler’s Crag. 
A long walk on a forest track and a steep climb up the Lowther Beck before traversing some of the Lakeland fells, with views down to Buttermere.
Finally we reach the descent path to Borrowdale; perhaps the most delightful valley in the Lakes.
This is a delightful ensemble of hamlets, Seatoller (the wettest place in England but hopefully not today!), Longthwaite, Rossthwaite and Stonethwaite. Delightful riverside paths connect the places and their pubs.
Walking Distance: 26.5 km approx. 7 hours

Day 6 Wednesday 11 June
Borrowdale to Grasmere
Classic Lakeland scenery over Greenup Edge to Easedale and Grasmere.
Hopefully we will have enough time to visit the Wordsworth Museum at Dove Cottage, his grave at the church and the famous Gingerbread shop!
Walking Distance: 13.5 km approx. 5 hours

Day 7 Thursday 12 June
Grasmere to Patterdale
Up and over Grisedale Pass and around the small mountain lake of Grisedale Tarn to Patterdale.
Walking Distance: 12km approx. 5 hours

Day 8 Friday 13 June
Patterdale to Bampton
The day starts with a steep climb up past pretty Angle Tarn, and then up and onwards to High Street to go up and over Kidsty Pike (standing at 2560 feet it’s highest point on the whole route) and then descend steeply to walk along Haweswater, a huge body of water conceived in 1929 to supply Manchester with drinking water. 
At the end of Haweswater, at Burnbanks, we leave the original Wainwright route to complete the final push to Bampton Grange.
Walking Distance: 22.5 km approx. 6 hours

Day 9 Saturday 14 June
Bampton Grange to Orton
We walk over undulating fields to Shap Abbey, the most easterly point of the Lake District National Park.
This was the last Abbey to be founded in England in 1199 and the last to be destroyed in 1540. It is a pretty place to pause. 
Continue into Shap, an old granite mining town with several pubs and shops.
Then a hilly section across Limestone Moors with limestone pavements in places strewn with ‘erratic’ boulders moved there by glaciers.
Finally we drop into the gentler climes around Orton, a quaint picturesque village with Kennedy’s Chocolate factory for well earned temptation.
Walking Distance: 19.5 km approx. 5 hours

Day 10 Sunday 15 June
Orton to Kirkby Stephen
A bridging day between Cumbria and The Yorkshire Dales.
Mainly farmland walking with a section of moors around Sunbiggin Tarn, which is an important site for birds.
A steep descent to the Scandal Beck at Smardale Bridge makes for a nice lunch stop.
Then ascend over Smardale Fell for the pretty descent into Kirkby Stephens an attractive market town, with St. Hedda’s Church containing the 8th Century Loki stone relating to Norse mythology.
Walking Distance: 18 km approx. 5 hours

Day 11 Monday 16 June
Kirkby Stephens
Today is a well earned rest day where you are free to explore the town and take in the fabulous Monday Market.

Day 12 Tuesday 17 June
Kirkby Stephens to Keld
Climb out of town to the cairns of Nine Standards Rigg  with its array of obelisks. They mark the Watershed of England. 
Next we cross squelchy moors down to Keld in Swaledale.
If it is a wet and cold day we might relish a scone and cup of tea made on the farm at Ravenseat, where they breed prime rams.
The moors then become increasingly gentler as you walk into Keld with its many waterfalls and old stone barns.
Walking Distance: 24 km approx. 6 hours

Day 13 Wednesday 18 June
Keld to Reeth
Wild moorland with long-abandoned lead mines, a magnet for the industrial archaeologist, is what we experience today .
We end up in Reeth an attractive Green Village which flourished at the height of the mining age and today does well out of tourism, hence a collection of pubs and tea shops for us to enjoy.
Walking Distance: 20 km, approx. 5 hours

Day 14 Thursday 19 June
Reeth to Richmond
This morning we walk through pretty Swaledale lined with limestone crags on either side, allowing time in Richmond for sightseeing. 
The Norman Keep towers above the Swale on one side and the ancient cobbled market square on the other greet us in this quaint town.
Walking Distance:  20 km approx. 5 hours

Day 15 Friday 20 June
Richmond to Danby Wiske
A gentle rural day awaits us today. Walking out from Richmond beside the River Swale and across the fields to Catterick Race Course.
We then thread our way to Brompton on Swale, we take an ideal lunch stop in the church yard before trundling along beside tiny streams and quiet country roads reaching the village of Danby Wiske. Perhaps a welcome ale at the The White Swan Inn on the lovely village green.
Walking Distance: 22.5 km approx. 5 hours

Day 16 Saturday 21 June
Danby Wiske to Osmotherley
Today is primarily a road walk although there are cross country sections.
The two hills are towards the end, a short climb to (what was) East Harlsey Castle, and then with the North York Moors. We take a lovely woodland footpath up to Osmotherley.
On the way we can visit Mount Grace Priory (built 1398) this is a ruin but there has been restoration work and there are remaining duck ponds and drainage features.
Osmotherley is a quaint hill village with three pubs to choose from, and Britain’s oldest functioning Methodist Church 1754. John Wesley came to preach here.
Walking distance: 16 km, approx. 3.5 hours

Day 17 Sunday 22 June
Osmotherley to Clay Bank Top
This is a roller coaster walk.
A steep stretch from Osmotherley introduces us to the North York Moors, sandy heather clad hills with areas of forest.
After coming off Scarth Wood Moor, there is a long ascent up Live Moor and Carlton Bank (408 m) before descending to Lord Stones Café, almost hidden in an off road embankment, ready for coffee time.
There then follows the succession of Cringle Moor, Broughton Bank and White Hill all at or over 400 metres.  You lose and then re ascend 100-200m between each one.  Great views in clear weather, Roseberry Topping, Vale of Mowbray and back to the Pennines. 
You come off the ridge at Clay Bank Top and descend.
Walking Distance: 18 km approx. 5-6 hours

Day 18 Monday 23 June
Clay Bank Top to Blakey
Today the walk follows a moorland ridge up over Round Hill (454m) and the track maintains its height as it follows the line of the old dismantled Rosedale railway line.
The moor is punctured in places by standing stones some marked with inscriptions.
There are enticing views at times into the fertile upper valleys of Farn and Esk dales. 
Walking Distance: 11.5 km approx. 4.5 hours

Day 19 Tuesday 24 June
Blakey to Egton Bridge
After a bit of a road perambulation there follows an easy undulating descent down to beautiful wooded Eskdale.
Today you will get some great views opening up to the sea.
The latter part of today's walk follows a pretty path through the woodlands on the banks of the River Esk.
Walking Distance: 16km approx. 4 hours

Day 20 Wednesday 25 June
Egton Bridge to Robin Hood’s Bay
Following a delightful private road to Grosmont we might get there in time to see a steam engine pull out for Pickering.
There then follows a very steep pull up across heather moors with views down to Whitby and its Abbey.
But the sea and journey’s end is still tantalizingly far as the route abruptly changes course to visit the May Beck valley with its Falling Foss waterfall.
A last area of high moor brings us to the coast, where the last 5 kms are spent on the coastal cliff path to Robin Hood's Bay, which appears almost by surprise as you near it.
This is a village of red roofed houses clustered around its harbour on the North Sea coast marking the end of this 300 odd kms crossing of England.
Normally a drink at the Bay Hotel follows a paddle in the sea (both optional activities!).
Walking Distance: 25.7 km approx 7 hours

Day 21 Thursday 26 June
London
After breakfast we transfer by bus and train to London for our last night together.

Day 22 Friday 27 June
London
This morning we enjoy breakfast at the hotel before being transferred to the airport for our flight home.
Alternatively you may leave the group here if you choose to extend your stay.
Please speak to us about any other flight, accommodation, car hire, rail passes, cruises or car hire arrangements you may need.

Day 23 Saturday 28 June
Flying Day

Day 24 Sunday 29 June
Adelaide
Welcome home.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Grading
Moderate to Challenging.
Some long days and steep climbs and descents. Generally however undulating.
We would not recommend the route for first time walkers.
Note that often the trails in the Lake District especially are steep and rocky at times.

Weather
Weather in the UK is unpredictable. 
We will be walking in spring and early summer. 
Expect ANY kind of weather—hot, cold, wet, dry, windy, calm—I think that covers it all!!
We plan to walk in ALL weather unless it is unsafe.  Some days it will be possible to opt out of the day mid walk and take public transport/taxi (at your own expense) to our final destination for the day. 
Other days you will either have to commit to the whole sector or take a rest day (again transport to our final day’s destination at your own expense). 
Public transport in the UK is very efficient and inexpensive.

Meet Bronny Tudor
Bronny joined Peregrine Travel in 1986 and has travelled all over the world and to all seven continents, including sixteen visits to Africa one of which saw her summiting Kilimanjaro.
She has walked extensively in many European countries including France, Italy, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Spain, Hungary and the UK.
In America she has walked in most National Parks and extensive sections of the Appalachian Trail on the eastern coast.
She has trekked in Nepal in both the Everest and Annapurna regions reaching Everest Base Camp in 2005.
Bronny has also explored  China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and South America.
She has sailed both Polar Regions - to the Antarctic twice including The Falkland Islands and South Georgia and to both the Canadian High Arctic and Scandinavian High Arctic circumnavigating the island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago - the home of the polar bear.
Bronny is a highly experienced walker and travel guide who will make your adventure one that you will not forget!