Just starting to plan a Walk Across England with my wife.
We are both in our early 60's and very fit and active.
Any input from you that have done it?
West to East?
East to West?
Carry our own gear or contract with a company to have it transported. We use R.S.'s travel bags/backpacks.
Best cities/villages.
What to avoid.
We like to learn from others' mistakes as well as sharing mistakes we've made.
Any feedback, no matter how minute, is greatly appreciated!
I haven't done it, though I'd like to. Consider Hadrian's Wall. I understand that you can stay in pubs or B&Bs along the way and have your overnight stuff transported so all you're carrying is lunch and raingear. West to east puts the wind at your back and the morning sun, rather than afternoon, in your face. Not that it shines all the time, of course!
Hopefully Ed will see your post and tell you everything you could need to know. Have fun!
Sherpavan forum might be worth a look.
Of course there are many routes across England, but there is one particular route that is known as THE Coast-to-Coast walk, from St. Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire. It is quiet strenious, and may be too much for you. Length 192-mile (309 km).
Some links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coast_to_Coast_Walk
http://www.wainwright.org.uk/coasttocoast.html
http://www.northwestwalks.co.uk/coast_to_coast_walk/coast_2_coast_guide.html
Go to www.youtube.com and type in: "coast to coast walk" and you will find lots of videos.
There is a tradition, that for it to count as doing the complete "coast-to-coast", at the start you must dip your foot in the Irish Sea at St. Bees, and when you get to Robin Hood's bay, take your boot off and dip your foot in the North Sea.
We did the Wainwright Coast to Coast May 2006 St Bees to Robin Hood Bay (Irish Sea to North Sea). An epic walk.
We did it with luggage support and used the Contours Walking Holiday booking service: http://www.contours.co.uk/walking-holidays/coast-to-coast-walk.php
I was very satisfied with the service and selection of overnight accommodations ranging from small inn to B&Bs. Contours provided guide book, full set of Ordinance Survey maps, luggage service (which would transport walkers who wanted to bail on the day's walk).
We did the 14 walking day version with a layover day at Kirkby Stevens after 7 days of walking. Longest walk was 23 miles, flat but in the rain. Expect rain and wind but also expect sun and blue sky.
Trekking poles used and recommended. GPS got me back on route and unloss after following sheep trails on several occassions. Waterproof map case essential.
Given the luggage transport you only need to carry day gear. That said a couple of walkers were self-contained. We had extra meaning dry boots/ shoes in our baggage. I walked with extra pairs of dry socks in my pack. Even with rain pants and gaiters my socks got soaked on heavy rain days.
Be prepared to enjoy the company and friendship of others doing the walk and sharing a pint or three at the local pub comparing your daily experiences.
A good reason for walking west to east is having a pint and signing the log book at Wainwright's Bar in Robin Hoods Bay.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/11287317@N04/5224205220/
My husband and I did 208 miles on the Coast to Coast this past August. Unfortunately I fell and broke my wrist 12 miles from Robin Hood's Bay. We did it in 16 days which included two 18 mile days. We booked through Mickledore who hired Sherpa for the luggage. We still have our pebbles from the Irish Sea which we intend to drop in the North Sea next summer when we finish the last 12 miles on our way to do the West Highland Way.
One small piece of advice: try it first! Take the bags you plan to use and walk your maximum day trip two days in a row.
Even if you are fit, walking 15 miles with all your luggage is something else.
I am reasonably fit but three days last summer with all our luggage was to much - and I used a proper backpack, not a carry-on bag. That means adjustable shoulder straps and adjustable waist belt. My back was alright, but my legs still bother me 16 months later :-(
Next time we are trying with luggage transport :-)
l.p.enersen is quite right about field testing everything you will be using on your walk from boots and socks to your pack.
When you say that you plan on using your "R.S.'s travel bags/backpacks" I've assumed that they are your "carry-on" bags that you would be having the support company forward to your next overnight location. You would presumably have real packs with suspension systems. You wouldn't/shouldn't do the Helvellyn side trip with a RS carry-on bag.
Contours instructions on baggage transfers:
https://www.contours.co.uk/general/guide.php#BaggageTransfers
Ensure that your belongings are packed in one bag weighing no more
than 17kg (37lbs). Your luggage should be available for collection by
0930 hours. We will advise you in your itinerary if the collection
time is different from this. We aim for your luggage to be waiting for
you when you arrive at your accommodation. Very occasionally however,
there may be delays due to poor weather, road works or a traffic
accident. If your luggage has not been delivered by 1730 hours, please
contact us and we will assist you.
I will be doing the coast to coast in June2015. I have friends who have done it and plenty of tips from them. The walk is west to east and everyone uses a guide of some sort( map, GPS) although they have been lost with both of these. Mickledore served two of the walkers well, made the B & B reservation and moved the cases. It is a very true thing that you MUST get into excellent condition. I am in Oregon and have been walking 8-10 miles a day in preparation. I will step this up as the weather here gets better with my day pack and hiking boots. I hike here with pack and boots so boots are well broken in although I have not done 12 + miles day in and day out so that is what I will do in the spring. As the others have indicated rain gear is a must, even an umbrella to keep the rain off your head, and gaiters. As well your favorite "plasters", as they call bandages in the UK. Everyone says you will end up with blisters.
Now maybe some one could help me with some advice on where to stay for the first few days I am there. I had thought to go to Dublin or Manchester to get over the jet lag. Any ideas greatly appreciated. Thanks
Six friends (mid-to-late 60's) did the Coast to Coast this summer and trained for the walk by doing 20 km hikes 3 times a week for the eight weeks prior to their departure. Even with all their training, they found it hard going. Two of the group had climbed Kilimanjaro a couple of years ago and found this walk just as hard, if not harder - mainly because they were doing ups and downs all day everyday, instead of one long climb up and then down. They used a company to Sherpa them (bags picked up and moved to next B& B) so just had day packs for water, lunch etc. They went east to west. Lunches were supplied by B & B's and apparently were so large they were sharing with other groups met enroute! I heard lots of good things about the ale pies at the various pubs!
Six friends (mid-to-late 60's) did the Coast to Coast this summer and trained for the walk by doing 20 km hikes 3 times a week for the eight weeks prior to their departure. Even with all their training, they found it hard going. Two of the group had climbed Kilimanjaro a couple of years ago and found this walk just as hard, if not harder - mainly because they were doing ups and downs all day everyday, instead of one long climb up and then down. They used a company to Sherpa them (bags picked up and moved to next B& B) so just had day packs for water, lunch etc. They went east to west. Lunches were supplied by B & B's and apparently were so large they were sharing with other groups met enroute! I heard lots of good things about the ale pies at the various pubs!
Contact Penny @ Celtic-trails. She was very helpful:
We were taking a very short hike along Hadrian's Wall several years ago, and met a couple who were doing the entire length of the wall. They were using a hiking company who were transporting their bags for them each day, and the company had made all their overnight accommodations bookings for them along the wall. Their company was Mac's Adventure. Here's the website of Mac's Adventure:
Lots of good advice here.
We found that the collapsible walking poles are quite useful and they can be disassembled to fit in your luggage. You might also want to pack a couple of space blankets along with a larger sleeping bag and tube tent; all made of the same material. Very light and very thin. With your walking sticks and emergency supplies, you can equip yourself to spend a night in the wild in case of a twisted ankle or other problem.
Similarly, we'd suggest being fully waterproof when you're hiking. It is England, after all. RevivEx is a product that can help in that regard.
An alternative to luggage transfer is to plan your route around a base. England has lots of trails and canal paths, so you could stay for two or three nights in one place and then take loop trails during the day. Then you can move on to your next base by train or bus and repeat the process. It doesn't quite have the attractiveness of "walking across England," but there's more than one way to skin a cat.
Have fun.
