30th July – August 6th 2005

We completed our walk on Saturday 6th August, getting in on schedule and, as anticipated, thoroughly exhausted! The team (James Owens, Andy Blackett and Adam O’Byrne) took just eight days to walk the entire Wainwright route from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire – 192 miles in total.

All of the team experienced injuries along the way which variously threatened to end the trip, but persistence paid off and we battled on to finish.
We set off from St Bees on the previous Saturday at 8:45am following an overnight coach journey from London, which left at 10:30pm the previous evening. Our bags were stripped down to the essentials, carrying just bivvy bags instead of tents.

Everything was going to plan, and although the days were tough we were making our target landmarks each day. However, nothing could have prepared us for the mammoth day that took us from Ingleby Cross to Glaisdale Town on the 7th day! Due to a slight planning and map reading error it was necessary to push out 32 miles that day with a large ascent in the morning – we all felt the distance in our legs. This tough day was exacerbated by the loss of the seventeen pounds worth of pasties we had bought the previous day to get us through to the next shop! Luckily we found a small café that furnished us with a fantastic breakfast and we were off again!

The final day was rather unusual again. We adopted a dog (or should I say he adopted us!) on the way to the sea. The poor old thing (nicknamed “Jeff”) was rather old and on returning him to his owners they told us how shocked they were that he had managed to walk 12 miles with us to the coast!

The walk itself was very challenging but enjoyable, with stunning scenery through the hills and valleys, and very hospitable locals! We were all amazed by everyone’s eagerness to help – epitomised by the offer of a total stranger to let us sleep in her back garden!

All in all a very successful and enjoyable trip. We managed to raise £1,142 for CRY and a further £500 for Hazel’s Footprints Trust our second charity.

Many thanks to all those who supported us both through sponsorship and help.

James, Andy and Adam.