… then it must be time for a walk; a good long walk. Early each year I hang up my secateurs, lock the greenhouse, pack a rucksack and go walking. And this year I’m going on my longest walk ever. Like last year, I’m walking right across England – only this time my route is a little less direct; a little more crooked.
I’ve drawn you a rough map of my route. Here it is:
I’ll start with a fish and chip supper in Ulverston on Morecambe Bay, and then walk north along the Cumbria Way for 70 odd miles to where it ends at Carlisle. From the Border City, I’ll walk eastwards along Hadrian’s Wall for three days before turning northwards once more along St Oswald’s Way. It’ll take me three days to reach the Northumbrian coast, which I’ll follow for a further four days (passing Bamburgh and Lindisfarne) to finish near the Scottish border at Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Bridge, Rosthwaite on the Cumbria Way – Feb 2010
The total distance is about 220 miles and I’ve allowed myself 15 days to complete the walk. Last year, I walked into the worst March weather for decades (see ‘Wainwright’s Coast to Coast … in Winter’). This year the forecast is pretty good but who can tell what it’ll be like?
I suppose I’ll find out soon enough.
