Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay

Subject: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Alice
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 06:29 PM

A friend of mine (the fiddle player in our band) is planning this summer to travel to England and walk from the Lake District to Robin Hood's Bay. She will be joining Mudcat soon, and I hope there will be UK Mudcatters who can give her advice and information. Here's another chance for UK Mudcatters to meet a US Mudcatter.

Alice

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Willa
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 06:36 PM

Hi Alice.
Don't know what dates she's working to, but the Whitby festival is August 16th-22nd, and there are events in Robin's Hood Bay each afternoon.

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 06:48 PM

I think that once I got to Robin Hood's Bay, I should have nver left. What a lovely place!
(although I sure love it here in the Sierra foothills)
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: RWJ
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 07:01 PM

The walk is called the coast to coast guide books are out there I will come back with more info , dont know of music on rout

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: BanjoRay
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 07:39 PM

This is a superb walk with a wonderful guidebook by the late A.W.Wainwright - printed in his own handwriting with pen and ink maps and sketches. I've walked many of the individual bits of the walk, but never done it all in one go - I probably never will, now (too busy playing the banjo!). There's an account of someone else's completion of the walk here, with lots of useful information.
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 07:39 PM

The route was devised by A Wainwright and is/was published by Michael Joseph of London. ISBN 0 7181 4072 9. the publisher is about to discontinue these books so buy as soon as possible. The route starts at St Bees Head in Cumbria and traverses the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales National Park and North York Moors National Park
I would like to do this route myself but to do 190 miles will take a little building up to.
There are companies however that will ferry bulky equipment from one destination to the next which may be valuable to someone coming from abroad who does not want to carry their entire load..
If I can be of further help, please let me know.

Good Luck

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Alice
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 11:01 PM

Do we have many Mudcatters living near the route?

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Greycap
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 03:02 AM

I'm not on the route, but a little South at a place called Harrogate. If we can help.....

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: fat B****rd
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 03:22 AM

If you get to Robin Hood's Bay you might get really nosey and find The Carthy-Waterson house !!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: smallpiper
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 06:27 AM

Hey if we can have the dates of her travel and expected arrival in Robin Hoods Bay we could arrnage a session for her. There are plenty of catters in easy travel distance who I'm sure would relish an excuse for a session in the bay.

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Bagpuss
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 06:45 AM

Robin Hood's Bay Folk Weekend
6th - 8th June 2003.

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Grab
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 07:40 AM

I did that walk about 8 years back. It's a good route. I had a first go at it the previous year, but I picked up a stomach bug and had to drop out just after Shap.

First off, buy the Wainwright book - it goes into more detail than the OS maps, and has interesting info about the places you're walking past. Second off, DON'T just rely on the Wainwright book to guide you, as it is sometimes unclear and may be out-of-date. This is mainly the case for the section through the Lake District, where it's quite easy to pick the wrong path. Most of the rest of it you can get away without OS maps, but it's *essential* to get the maps for the Lake District. There's one bit in particular for going up to Grizedale Hause (between Helvellyn and St Sunday Crag) which is very poorly laid-out in the book, which caused me to take the wrong turning the first time I tried the walk. Remember that this is an "unofficial" walk, ie. there is no-one who officially has to label the route unlike "official" UK paths like the Pennine Way, and it doesn't have the same support as some of the Trails do in the States. As Raggytash says, the book is about to go out of print so grab a copy quickly.

Tthe Ordnance Survey maps (the standard government-produced maps) are very good and can be relied on 100%, which according to Bill Bryson isn't the case with US maps! The best choice is usually the 1:50,000 series, which cover the ground in pretty good detail without getting bogged down in it. The 1:25,000 series tries to show walls and fences and stuff as well, but this tends to change and make the map obsolete, which screws up your route-finding, besides being at such a scale that you need to refold the map every hour or so which is a total pain in the arse. The UK is pretty well covered with footpaths, and the terrain can often be difficult if you leave the paths (besides getting angry farmers on your tail!) so try to stick to the paths.

One of the problems with the walk is that the toughest section is the bit through the Lakes, and that comes first! :-( The first day from St Bees to Ennerdale isn't too strenuous, but after that it gets more difficult. So do at least get yourself fit before you start.

Make sure you've got YHA membership. Youth Hostels are vital for getting clothes dried and regrouping, if it turns out to be a wet walk. If you've got more money then B&Bs will serve the same purpose, but they won't have the same "community" feeling of Youth Hostels - you often meet up with other walkers, which is nice.

Unofficial campsites are usually cheaper and more fun than the official ones. You'll sometimes find ads pinned to trees as you approach towns/villages, or see signs when you get to the villages. Often pubs will let you put your tent up in their back garden. The OS maps show official campsites, and you can also get guidebooks of British campsites which are useful. IIRC the campsites on the last third or so are awkwardly spaced, so you tend to have to either do several short days or a fewer very long ones.

If you can spare the time and your legs will take it, go up Helvellyn on the way. It's a helluva trek up Dollywagon Pike to the top of Helvellyn, but it's a great view. You can then (carefully!) go down Striding Edge, which is one of the classic British ridge-walks. Unfortunately I did this in Easter and it snowed pretty comprehensively the week before. I made it up Dollywagon OK, but Striding Edge and Swirral Edge were impassable sheets of ice! :-( It'll be fine in summer though. Do be warned that Striding Edge is a bit of a scramble, so if you're not 100% confident with a big pack on your back then maybe avoid this. It's easier to do this if you wild-camp at the top of Grizedale Hause, but wild-camping is generally frowned upon by the Park authorities, especially in summer when the idiots turn out in force.

There's a valley in the middle which is 30-ish miles of boring flatlands. This is a fast but tedious day of lowland walking on paths and roads - as Wainwright says, just get it over with quickly.

Oh, and don't forget the free half-pint (courtesy of Wainwright) at the pub in Robin Hood's Bay! It used to be a pint (as a challenge, he said when he originally published the route that anyone doing this deserved a pint on him! :-) but it was costing him too much money when the route took off in popularity!

I can try and dredge my memory for more useful info if you like. If you've got any specific questions, fire away.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Noreen
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 07:56 AM

There are plenty of catters in easy travel distance who I'm sure would relish an excuse for a session in the bay.
Yes, smallpipes, and some catters not in easy travel distance too!

Robin Hood's Bay is one of my favourite places in the world; I thought you'd love it, Joe!

Lots of catters who may be not exactly on the route, Alice, but not far off it, including me. Let's know more about your friend's plans and we'll surely arrange something.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: GUEST,The Fantum
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 07:57 AM

I live at Guisborough which is 30 west of Robin Hoods Bay and some 12 north of the coast to coast walk at its closest point.
If you want information about the North Yorks Moors end of the walk let me know.
Pubs, Folk Clubs, places to stay, sights local interest and so on let me know and we can arrange to get you the information.
The interesting point is there is a F C at Robin Hoods Bay every Friday night in the Dolphin Hotel

The Fantum

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: GUEST,Smallpiper -missplaced cookie
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 09:03 AM

Noreen I was basing my "withing easy travel distance" on the idea that any where withing the UK is within easy travel distance of anywhere else in the UK as compared to the US

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Alice
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 09:25 AM

Hey, Fantum, my grandmother was born in Guisborough. I wish I could go on this tour with my friend Antonia.   

Smallpiper, you are right about relative distance. There is a hammered dulcimer player who drives from a town 158 km away to attend our session.

Antonia has joined the Mudcat and will probably post to this thread as plans develop.

Alice in Montana

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Noreen
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 09:27 AM

Fairy nuff.

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: GUEST,Andy
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 07:04 PM

Worth using the Coast to Coast Packhorse. They run a bus which picks up baggage each day and takes you back at the end of the walk. They will also book accomodation for you.

http://www.cumbria.com/packhorse/

Enjoy the walk.

Andy

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 05:00 AM

check out bunkhouses along the route. these are similar to the YHA hostels but you do not need to be a member. The site is " the independant backpackers hostel" or something .if I find it I will Post again.

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Sibelius
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 07:04 AM

I'm sure there's an Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 map of the whole route, laid out in sections.

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: BanjoRay
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 08:01 AM

Stirling Surveys make a pair of Footprint maps that cover the whole route as a long thin strip. I used their pennine way map and found it excellent. They also make the event maps for the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon - they know what they're doing.

Waterproof - £4.50
Coast to Coast West (St Bees to Swaledale) ... ISBN 1 871149 63 0
Coast to Coast East (Swaledale to Robin Hood's Bay) ... ISBN 1 871149 64 9
Stirling Surveys
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: BanjoRay
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 08:17 AM

Actually it looks like the map I mentioned is a brand new one, not out until the end of March. Even better.
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 08:18 AM

True there is a (very Friendly) Folk Club at the Dolphin on Friday night, true the Hosts of the Dolphin Dave and Ellen are great .............True the Folk Club smells like a chippy because it also doubles as the restaurant until they stop serving food. It also gets very crowded, a mixture of folkies and diners who remarkably get on very well together. If you want a comfartable seat get there early.

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Les from Hull
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 12:54 PM

Actually the fish 'n' chips in there are pretty good. Don't just smell 'em!

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: nutty
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 05:33 PM

Folk Club in Whitby (just down the road) on Wed. evening and session Sunday evening.

Folk Club at Mickleby (15 miles) on Saturday nights. Lift to the club for free if you stay B&B with the club organisers. PM me for details.

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: nutty
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 05:37 PM

Link to website of White Hart Folk Club, Mickleby

White Hart FC

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: GUEST,Bardford
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 05:48 PM

I might be a little off the path here, but a geographical query - does this walk go anywhere near Orton?

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From:
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 06:54 PM

Give me a shout if she's planning a session in Bay...

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Alice
Date: 10 Feb 03 - 01:15 AM

This information is very helpful. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Antonia
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 02:55 PM

Hi all,
Thank you so much for all the advice and encouragement! I am making lists and ordering maps and trying to figure out all the gear I'll need, so all the suggestions have been helpful. Can I maybe get a picture of the weather in this region from June through September? I'm still unsure of the dates (based on work), but by the sounds on all the fesitvals and whatnot in Robin Hood's Bay in June, I'm hoping to shoot for that.
Thanks again,
Antonia

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Alice
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 03:06 PM

Welcome to the Mudcat, Antonia. It is good to see that you have arrived!

Alice

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Les from Hull
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 03:56 PM

You could hardly have had a better welcome to Mudcat, Antonia.

June's good for music but August (Whitby Folk Week 16th-22nd) is even bigger and better. Certainly the biggest Folk Event in the area, with anything you could wish for. Whitby is a short bus ride (buses every 2 hours, I think) from Robin Hood's Bay - or a very nice walk. Several of your compatriots have experienced Whitby Folk Week and are usually planning return visits.

The weather thoughout the June to September period is what we like to call 'variable'. It could do anything except (probably) snow! But at least the rain is usually warm. Anyway, the Whitby area seems to have its own weather system and rarely conforms to what the rest of the country is doing.

When you know your dates, come back here to Mudcat and your new friends will be glad to let you know what is happening at that time.

Les

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Tig
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 05:28 PM

Fantum, The Badger and I will be in Guisborough one day next week visiting Magician and Gillie. We might already know each other and fancy meeting up for a drink :-)!

Join and PM me!

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 12:21 AM

Wow Antonia! You are sure an inspiration to me... I went walking today up a nearby mountain, and I had all but forgotten how much I love to get out and hoof it... What a great idea! Whitby has been mentioned so many times, that I'm certain it would be a fine crecendo for a once in a lifetime trip! Good luck, and happy trails! ttr

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: GUEST,The Fantum
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 04:52 AM

Tig, Badger, Magician and Gillie
It is inconceivable that we don't know of each other. Folking is not so big in the area that four of us are strangers.
What night what pub?
Lets see who is who
I do comrade olga and my name above is descriptive

The Fantum

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 06:36 AM

Antonia,
Whitby Folk Week is the biggest, best, most beautiful festival in the UK season (apolgies to those who prefer Sidmouth) It starts this year on Saturday 16th of August and continues until Friday 22nd August. There are about 800 hours of organised events ranging from Street Threatre and Morris Dancing through every type of Britsh Folk music, please note it is British and not world music, a point the organisers stress.
The events take place in numerous venues round the seaside tourist/fishing port. It is still a working town in many ways with a fascinating ecclesiastical history, the date of Easter was decided here at the Synod of Whitby in 665 AD. Captain Cook discovery/ explorer sailed from here .............I could go on.
In addition to the organised events at the folk week there is also the "fringe" which are free events which probably outnumber the festival itself, starting in small ways on the preceding Thursday and often lasting until the Sunday afterwards.
There are loads of catters go to the festival who will gladly show you round ...........keep in touch with us all

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 08:07 AM

Antonia,
Me again, hope I don't upset anyone in Robin Hoods Bay with this, but the festival, which I attend every year (cept last cos my beloved was ill)is a tiny event. Two venues, one in a hall another in the Dolphin are great as far as they go, but please do not get the impression that this is a major festival, it's not. It's a very pleasant gathering and the "Bay" is beautiful. During Whitby Folk Week, see my earlier thread, they have "half a day at the Bay" for either 4 or 5 days when artists from the main festival go down the 5 miles to R H B and perform in the Dolphin. Local telephone number of the Dolphin which may prove useful to you is 01947 880 337 (Is that international 00 44 1947 880 337)
Hope you have a great time whenever you go

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: John J
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 08:28 AM

Yes, the walk does go through Orton.
I'm fairly sure there's an accommodation guide for the C to C route. We stopped at some tremendous places some years back, even having a sing at one of the pubs in the North York Moors. I can't recall the place name, but it's at a point where the route crosses a railway which should help narrow it down.

John

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Hamish
Date: 14 Feb 03 - 08:28 AM

Superb walk. At 190 miles, it's a perfect length for a fortnight's holiday. If you're fit before you start! There's a longish day in the middle which has very few places to stay, and requires about 24 miles of level walking - that's a toughie. If you're not purist about doing it all in one stretch you could do well to miss that bit out (i.e. take a bus or taxi). But the Lakes are superb, and the Clevelands were quite a revalation to me.

Striding Edge (coming down off the top of Helvellyn) is a bit tricky - it's a fairly serious bit of what we call scrambling (i.e. not really rock climbing, but you do need to use all four limbs to manage it) but well worth it.

I did it about 15 years ago in September and had two weeks of non-stop sunshine - so that helped, but nevertheless do it!

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Antonia
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 03:46 PM

August is sounding better with my schedule anyway; a good excuse to miss the wretched (albeit brief) Montana heat, and what great fun it would be to see the Whitby festival! I will have to work out bringing my violin, food and clothing and gear are already going to be a lot to pack...
And as for being an inspiration Thomas, I thank you, though I'm anything but, it takes much to convince me to walk 10 blocks in the weather we're having now! Most of my training is indoors for the time being, so in that I admit that I'm a bonafide wuss. If I can stick to the training plan, I might make it to Robin Hood's Bay without completely giving up the ghost when I stick my boots in.
In that vein, any advice for training, all those hardier than me with a few moderate distances under their belts?
Thanks so much again, it feels great to be a part of this community.
Antonia
:)

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: nutty
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 04:44 PM

HI Antonia ...... using the 'images' search in Google might give you an idea of what you are taking on.

Feast your eyes on the finishing post here .....
Robin Hood's Bay

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: BanjoRay
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 07:03 PM

Indoor training won't do it - get out with a map and compass as often as you can and walk a lot, practicing and honing your navigation skills. Build up from say 5 miles to 15 in a day, to the extent that 15 steady miles doesn't wear you out. The first couple of days of a long distance walk are never too much bother, but after that the quality of your training really starts to tell. Put your wuss uniform into a cupboard till it's over - go for it!
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: John J
Date: 07 Mar 03 - 01:59 PM

Re: your fiddle, why not see if any 'catter is going to Whitby festival and leave the fiddle with them to bring along. I'd offer, but I can't do Whitby this year.
You might find some C-C relevant stuff on: www.ldwa.org.uk and also on the Backpacker's club website (I don't have the address to hand).
I'm a member of both and can thoroughly recommend them.

Good luck!

John

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Willa
Date: 07 Mar 03 - 05:35 PM

Thanks for the pics, Nutty; I love the Nycam 030400 ones. Must do that walk one day!

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Hamish
Date: 10 Mar 03 - 03:02 AM

"Most of my training is indoors for the time being"??? Ummm... I don't mean to be discouraging, but that's not ideal. Some of the days will involve a bit of a grunt (technical term for steep climbs). The best you will manage to average on most days will be 2 miles per hour: and on difficult terrain it'll drop to 1.5: so you could find yourself working pretty hard for 7 to 8 hours per day to cover the required distance. As BanjoRay says - you need to get out on real ground with close to realistic conditions (i.e. some luggage, some hills, rough ground, longish days) and do a couple of full weekends. With suitable fitness levels you'll have a great time; without, you could get seriously miserable.

Good luck! (But you can help that luck along a bit by preparation!)

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 10 Mar 03 - 04:48 AM

Antonia,
Whitby is very busy during Folk Week and accommodation will be hard to find. Are you camping, Youth Hostelling or Bed & Breakfast. If you let me community know I am sure someone can help you find a place to rest your weary head after a days singing, playing & drinking. (Poke your head into the Plough or the Black Horse as well as numerous other venues to find sessions. If camping Stoupo Cross the nearest site to town, it is normally packed over the first weekend but slackens off after that. The owners tend to give up collecting rent after they've handed out all their keys to the shower/toilet block !!
Cheers
Raggytash

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Mar 03 - 08:54 AM

Nice images of Robin Hood's Bay, Nutty.

I have wondered about this thread for some time without bothering to read it through. But that was probably because I grew up in a small coastal village in Maine on the shores of Robinhood Cove. We were always told that the Cove was named in honor of a local Indian chief who's real name no one troubled to pronounce. But maybe there was a deeper connection among the early English settlers to your Robin Hood's Bay. I don't suppose any of old Benjamin Rigg's family still lives there? He was our village founder, shipowner and dockmaster, and we've always wondered what dreadful deed he had done before he settled here.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, whose family farm is still on Robinhood Cove

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Mar 03 - 05:33 PM

Must have been a major scandel. Their lips are still sealed!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: gnomad
Date: 12 Mar 03 - 02:39 PM

Charley Noble: Local phone book shows only 3 Riggs, all in Scarborough rather than RH Bay.

I'll have a go at a clicky for the Whitby Gazette site, this local paper covers the Bay and could be the place for an appeal for info if you want to try it.

Whitby Today

Subject: RE: Walking Lake District - Robin Hood's Bay
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Mar 03 - 10:43 PM

Thanks, Gnomad. There's no telling what old bones I'll stir up.

3 Riggs in Scarborough ain't so bad. Good enough for opening verse:

I was up to the Riggs,
Down to the jiggs,
Up to the Riggs in Scarborough Town!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble