Sunday 20th February 2011 - C2C Road Trip, Day 1 - St Bees to Borrowdale

We set off from Macclesfield around 11am and had a good run up the M6 to junction 40. After dropping down the first bit of the A66, we called into the Rheged Centre for a coffee and a toasted panini - very nice. Then we continued westwards to Whitehaven, before dropping down into St Bees - our first main objective. The car radio was tuned to The Mouth FM on 87.7MHz - presumably from Cockermouth.

       

In St Bees, we walked down to the beach, each collecting a pebble to put in our coat pockets, then followed the first few steps of the C2C route along the sea wall and up onto the cliff path. Where it abruptly stopped - "Footpath closed due to cliff erosion". Not a great start for a Coast 2 Coast walk, well not if you're walking it anyway. Fortunately we weren't, so instead we adjourned to the Coast To Coast Bar in the centre of the village for a pint and a J2O.

   

We had collected the first set of photographs for our road trip, and the next photo stop was at Ennerdale Bridge. Not much to see or do here, so it was up over Honister Pass to Borrowdale, taking things very carefully with a small rish of ice as it became dark and temperatures plummeted.

   

In Borrowdale, it was time to end the travelling for the day. I pulled in at the Scafell Hotel, gritted my teeth at the likely expense of overnighting here, and checked us into a twin room. A little later, we went into the Riverside Bar next door for a drink and meal, which was very enjoyable, the highlight being a wonderful double of 17 year old Lagavulin. We had a comfortable night's rest.