Journey's End: Robin Hoods Bay

While it would have been lovely to linger over, and savour, our final few miles, this wasn't actually an option as we had a deadline to keep. We were due to catch the Pack Horse minibus to take us back to our Bearmobile at Kirkby Stephen at 4.00 p.m.

As we had nearly 16 miles to do, we'd hoped to breakfast at 7.30 a.m., so as to be on our way at 8:00, but were told breakfast was at 8.00 and we didn't feel like arguing. However, our landlady assured us we would easily be in Robin Hoods Bay by 3.30 so we decided not to worry and to take the time needed to extract the last ounce of enjoyment from our last cooked breakfast.

We were still on our way by 08:30 and it was a good job we hadn't skimped on breakfast, as it was a long and steep road climb out of Grosmont - about 2 miles of 1:3 gradient, it was a good job we were now well honed walking machines.

After the road we had moor walking to Littlebeck, then it was into some attractive woods which included this very old hermitage (it's Gio perched on the poles to check it out) ...

... and also the impressive Falling Foss waterfall. We then alternated more road walking with more moor walking which included some very squishy sections. The sea came into sight and with it the realisation that we really were looking at the end.

We approached the sea via a caravan park and found ourselves on a delightful stretch of coast path. The views were wonderful and the sun was shining and the sky was blue. It could hardly have been more perfect and quite different to the windy and stormy weather as we set off along the coast from St Bees 2 weeks earlier.

We had made excellent time, reaching the coast at lunchtime. We therefore stopped on the coast path to enjoy a leisurely lunch and to admire the spectacular rock formations.

As it was such as lovely day and it was a Sunday afternoon, there were loads of people out enjoying the coast path. We were pretty certain though that most had only walked a mile to two and certainly not the 190 miles we had walked.

The saying that all good things come to an end is never truer than with the Coast to Coast walk. As the coast path ended we found ourselves strolling down a tarmac street with lots of other day trippers getting underfoot. It wasn't quite as exciting as the footpaths we'd covered, but it was still the C to C route until ... the beach was in front of us and the path had quite literally ended.

On one side there was the fairly modern map of the route, telling us we were at journey's end, on the other was a pub with the more classic end of the walk plaque which has been there quite a few years ...

... our female minder thinks she remembers it from her first walk completion around 18 years ago.

We had the traditional dipping of the boot in the sea and we sent a postcard or two, then there really was no reason to linger. The walk was over and our minibus transfer was waiting and ready to go whenever we were, so it was hello and goodbye to Robin Hoods Bay, giving credence to that old adage that it is better to journey than to arrive. The journey was what it was all about, and we had arrived.

We'll look back and reflect, next time.

Lots of love George, Yorkie, Gio and Wooly xxx

More Moor then No More Moor

As we left the Lion Inn, it began to really feel as if we were on the down hill stretch to to Robin Hoods Bay. There were only 2 days to go and neither was going to be particularly long or hard. We were determined to enjoy every last minute and so we did.

The first 3 miles weren't the best of the walk though, as they were, unusually for a National Park section, along a road. It wasn't that busy, but the cars were driving very fast, especially a group of hot hatches who were clearly racing.

It was a relief to get back on a moorland track and to enjoy the piece and quiet of the countryside. As our walking was along a very flat track it was a surprise to come across a trig point, a reminder that though flat, the moors are quite high.

As you can see it was another glorious day and we weren't the only ones enjoying the sunshine and heather. Our friend Mr Mole also thought it was a great day for a stroll and joined us for a section of the route. 

After the mole, we had the company of a horse and rider and then, all of a sudden, we came to a gate and the moors ended. We looked ahead to rather different scenery, but as you can see from our next picture, it was still very pleasant. 

From the edge of the moor it was downhill to the river at Glaisdale. As it wasn't quite lunchtime and we hadn't got far to go after Glaisdale, we took advantage of an outdoor table at a pub serving a rather fine pint of York Brewery's Guzzlar. 

Our next section of path took us through woods and beside the river Esk. At Egton Bridge we practised our pole vaulting again across another set of big stepping stones. 

Our destination for the afternoon was the railway village of Grosmont. We reached it via the old Barnards Toll Road. Wooly checked out the list of tolls to see if we owed anything. Horses and hearses got mentioned, but not sheep and bears, so we put our wallets away. 

As we came into Grosmont we discovered there was  steam gala on, and the station was just yards from our bed and Breakfast. Our landlady actually told us to keep our window shut to keep the smoke from the engines out. We had plenty of tine to go and see them on the platform though, but we preferred the engines we see at home at our local North Norfolk Railway. 

We ate at the Railway Tavern that night, and we were sad to think this was our last night on the Coast to Coast walk. 

Lots of love, George, Yorkie, Wooly and Gio xxx