Coast to Coast Walk- Cliff Collapse at St Bees

Oh my goodness how terrifying! I hope no one was hurt!

Thank you for this information.

I’m struck by the irony that as an ‘unofficial’ trail for several decades the route was (relatively) trouble free, but almost to the minute it becomes an official National Trail, a large chunk of the Coast to Coast path falls into the sea. Somewhere Alfred Wainwright, behind a cloud of pipe smoke, is having a quiet grim chuckle!

Ian

Luckily there was no-one around.
Had it been mid summer it would have been a different story on the beach at low tide. That is a very popular family rock pooling beach down below and I can remember using the open air sea water pool back in the 70's and early 80's.
And there would have been a mixture of long distance walkers and local dog walkers on the cliff.

You can't out-run such a fall.

As it was it was a cold, still, misty morning. Beautiful after the storms but not the weather to encourage you on a cliff walk.

Oh, no! Thank you, isn31c, for posting this. I hope the new rain won't be as bad as predicted. My C2C walk doesn't start until August.

UPDATE- I have been to St Bees this morning- a Boxing Day Tradition- the Coast to Coast path is now legally closed (on a 21 day notice, a 2nd 21 day notice will follow, then a 6 month notice- that is the legal process) from the base of the cliffs to the northern approach to Fleswick Bay (that includes Fleswick Bay itself, although the bay approach path from Sandwith is open.
There is police incident tape up, and a blocking fence (you can easily get round the fence but I urge people not to do so).

There is no legal alternative route.

However the practical alternative is to start at the beach at the ceremonial start sign, go along the cliff wall to the beck then the path along the beck to Rottington, road walk to Sandwith, then turn left in the village centre and walk the track to the sandstone quarry.
For completionists and those who like their lighthouses turn left at the bifurcation of the track past Tarnflatts Hall to St Bees Lighthouse then rejoin the walk at the fog station.
But that is adding a good mile and a half to the day.

The good news, for anybody planning to walk the C2C, is, that while it’s now an official National Trail (this in itself means the path will either be repaired or rerouted in fairly short order one would hope) Alfred Wainwright himself in the original C2C book says his route is merely a suggestion and those who also plan to walk across England should feel free to devise their own route. Stuart’s alternative above seems as good as any while the official route is out of commission and while it may not have National Trail sanction, AW would have approved of the seeking of an alternative (and if it passes a chip shop so much the better) and while it’s difficult to argue with the great man’s choice of route, you do have his blessing to go ‘off piste’ a bit as it were!

Belated Christmas Greetings to all users of the forum!

Ian

Thank you for the update!

The 6 month closure notice has now been issued, with effect from 29 January. Cumberland Council expect it to last the whole 6 months, to late July, and possibly then add a further 6 months on.
This does not seem to be expected to be a quick fix.
St Bees Parish Council are aware of the effect it will have on the village, and are in liaison with Cumberland Council, but that is the latest situation.