WALKING COAST TO COAST ACROSS ENGLAND

Photo by Brian Downing

I am departing tomorrow for England, where I hope to complete a coast-to-coast trek across the country, following the path established in 1972 by Alfred Wainwright, the renowned fell-walker and author of numerous guidebooks about the Lake District.  I will be hiking with a group of about ten people organized by NorthWestWalks (www.northwestwalks.co.uk), a small British company that specializes in walking trips in England and Europe.

The Wainwright path begins in the village of St. Bees, on the Irish Sea, and extends to the village of Robin Hood's Bay, on the North Sea.  It is approximately 200 miles in length and passes through three national parks: The Lake District National Park, The Yorkshire Dales National Park, and the North York Moors National Park. According the Wainwright, "the countryside traversed is beautiful almost everywhere, yet extremely varied in character, with mountains and hills, valleys and rivers, heather moors and sea cliffs combining in a pageant of colorful scenery."

Since I will not be taking a smart phone or laptop on the trip, I do not expect to make any postings to my blog until I return on June 20.  That could change, however, if I find access to any publicly available computers during the trip.

For those interested in seeing the magnificent terrain through which I will be walking, I  recommend that you check out the Brian and Gail Downing Photo Diary, www.byron.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. In 2005, Brian and Gail completed the same coast-to-coast trip that I am taking.  Their photos provide a visual, day-by-day journal of the trek.

Here's hoping that all will go well and that I will be dipping my toe into the North Sea in the late afternoon of June 18. In any event, I look forward to reconnecting with all of my friends as soon as I return. During the meantime, be well and be happy!