My Coast to Coast hike across the UK – Days 6-10

The Coast to Coast hike is a 192 mile hike across England from St Bees to Robin Hood's bay. I did this trail between June 20th and July 3rd in 2023.

Day 6

Day 6 was Shap to Orton. Today was a big change as I was now truly out of the Lake District. The countryside became more rolling farmland as opposed to the mountains of the previous 5 days and I would soon be entering the Yorkshire Dales. This was only a 7 or 8 mile day. The Achilles tendon in my left leg was starting to bother me quite a bit and I was wondering if it was OK for me to keep going since it was so painful. I took some naproxin sodium which seemed to help with the pain.

This is called Robin Hood's grave. Pretty sure it's just a pile of rocks, LOL.

I had the Closet Suite. I had to move that chair out into the hall so I would have a place to open my suitcase, LOL. The hosts were super friendly though and it at least wasn't a dorm style room with 20 other people all snoring and farting all night. The Old School is in Tebay, a few miles south of Orton. The host provided a pick up and drop off service.

Day 7

Day 7 was Orton to Kirkby Stephen (pronounced Kirby). The host at my B&B drove me back to the trailhead in Orton and I was soon on my way.

Nice path through sheep pastures at Sunbiggin Farms

I stopped to check out the honesty box/refreshment stall. Sunbiggin also allows camping here for a small fee. Ran into my new friends I dubbed the "Oklahoma Gang" as they were all from Oklahoma. Very friendly group.

It kinda sprinkled off and on for a bit. I figured I needed a selfie in my rain jacket.

Looks like something straight out of the Shire

Bollam Cottage. One of the finest B&Bs on the whole trip.

Very nice room. Bathroom comes complete with Spongebob toilet (because he has square pants)

Days 6-7

Day 8

Day 8 was supposed to be Kirkby Stephen to Keld, then a transfer to Reeth. I really needed to rest my Achilles that had been giving me so much trouble so I decided to skip this section. Since I was on a rigid schedule, this meant I was going to miss a section I had been looking forward to, the Nine Standards. Fortunately for me, it was supposed to rain this whole day and the section with the nine standards was notorious for it's bogs. Later when I asked my new friend Dave about it, he said in one place (but not necessarily the path) he stuck his trekking pole in the mud and it went all the way to the handle. I guess I lucked out. It did indeed rain this day too. Not any pictures this day from me, but I will include a stock wiki photo of the Nine Standards. I do not know what the Nine Standards were made for, and it seems to be a mystery as to their origin. One theory is they were built to look like imposing figures, soldiers maybe, standing guard on the hill. Another is that they were to mark a boundary line. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Standards_Rigg

I was smart to pick this day off since I would be staying in Reeth for two nights at the King's Arms which was my next destination. I took the Sherpa van to get there and was charged £14. A taxi would have been much more expensive. If I have only one regret, it was to not have built in a rest day on this trip. I don't regret not seeing the Nine Standards too much, considering my health at the time and the weather conditions.

Nine Standards Rigg (Image by Kreuzschnabel/Wikimedia Commons, License: artlibre)

Day 9

Day 9 was from Keld to Reeth. I was staying in Reeth at the Kings Arms and had a transport take me all the way back to Keld where I would start the day. My friends Liz and Dave were also staying in Reeth and I was in the same taxi as them on the way to Keld.

Well rested and Achilles feeling a lot better, I took the Keld to Reeth low route. The low route sounded more interesting to me than the high route, although there are some old mining ruins I could have seen on the high route.

Bridge near Keld over the River Swale or perhaps East Gill

I believe this is East Gill, but it could possibly be the River Swale. I didn't take very good notes unfortunately.

Abandoned farm equipment. I am on the C2C Facebook group and it's funny to see stuff like this in real life that everyone posts a picture of.

Waterfall directly behind the old smelting mill on Swinner Gill

Ivelet Bridge dates back to the late 16th century

My room at the Kings Arms. Nothing too special but it was at least clean.

Days 8-9

Day 10

Day 10 was from Reeth to Richmond. I was excited to leave Reeth as I had been staying at the Kings Arms for 2 nights. My room was OK, but the rest of the place... I guess I was just kind of ready to be done with the whole pub/inn thing.