C2C Route Alternatives

There were some significant route variations between my two C2C crossings: some determined by the climate, others by inexperience.

Our earlier crossing was in often appalling weather and saw us generally choosing lower level routes: going around the High Street ridge by Ullswater, Moor Divock and paths along the Lowther valley; taking the Nateby to Keld road across the Pennine watershed; ambling along the valley route through Swaledale.

On our second crossing we varied the way through Ennerdale, selecting the path along the north shore of Ennerdale Water and that along the River Liza (much better than the trudge along the forest road). With good weather we tackled the glorious walk along the ridge above Easedale, climbed over Kidsty Pike and explored the high level route above Swaledale, through the old lead workings.

On the first C2C there was much more road walking between Orton and Sunbiggin Tarn and, if my recollections are accurate, a little more on the traverse across the Vale of Mowbray.

This time, weather, stamina and inclination permitting, I hope to be a little more adventurous. The following are variations I’ll consider when on the ground (and, in the case of the more demanding routes, maybe reject):-

1) Leave the Ennerdale valley by the path up to Scarth Gap, afterwards continuing over Haystacks to Honister.

2) At Greenup Edge leave the main route and proceed to Grasmere via High Raise, Sergeant Man and Blea Rigg.

3) Take the St Sunday Crag route over to Patterdale. The Striding Edge alternative is probably pushing my tolerance of exposure too near the limit.

4) From Rampsgill Head aim for the Haweswater shore at the Measand Beck outlet (via High Raise, Low Raise, Long Grain and Measand End). It appears, after some discussion on the C2C forum, (hosted on the Sherpa Van site) that this route is viable and carries a faint track. As a bonus there is a small saving in distance and it avoids much of the rather tedious walk along Haweswater.

5) In the section between Shap and Kirkby Stephen I may follow an approximation of Wainwright’s original route (A Coast to Coast Walk, First Edition) over the Orton Fells, from the B6260 road to Sunbiggin Tarn, crossing what is now open access land. There is no distance saving, and there may be a time penalty, but a contributor to the C2C forum recommends this option as by far the most interesting.

6) Similarly the onward route, following Wainwright’s original way from Sunbiggin Tarn, by Rayseat Pike, to the Mazon Wath/Newbiggin lane, crosses what is now Access Land. This would avoid a fair bit of road walking and saves some distance on a long day.

7) On the two occasions I’ve walked over Nine Standards Rigg to Keld I’ve used the Whitsundale Beck alternative. I’d like to vary this by going by Ney Gill, but I guess I’ll take whatever is the recommended route on the day.

8) Having walked both suggested routes between Keld and Reeth I’ll probably take a low route, but vary the walk by crossing to the south bank of the Swale at Gunnerside and improvising an onward route using lanes, tracks and available field paths.