Day One

St. Bees Head - Eskdale 32 miles

After our over night stay at Wasdale Youth Hostel, this had been chosen for somewhere picturesque and to relax after a days driving, the alarms were buzzing at half past seven in the morning for us to get up. Although a somewhat slow approach for some, it was down for a good breakfast, final debrief, checks and drinks bottles filled, we were ready to leave for the thirty to forty-five minute drive to our official starting point St. Bees Head.

While being excited to see the North Sea, St Bees and maybe being a bit harsh, there is not a lot here. It was somewhat bleak and uninspiring, which in one-way did not deter us, as we knew there would be a lot of picturesque scenery on our way.
Our estimated time off departure was half nine and this was to be true after spreading ourselves across the car park getting our bikes out with final checks made to them, and what proceeded to happen before starting each day, a group photo. The final thing I did before leaving the information point was ride across the beach to dip my wheels in the sea instead of my feet, and to pick up a small pebble which I placed in my saddle bag.

Ready for the off!! Only 210 miles to go.

Once outside St. Bees, the first few miles follows a disused railway line. Incidently part of this is the same route as the more leisurly route that's known as the C2C by Sustrans. We passed a few groups taking this route noticing they were loaded with panniers and ruck sacks, lucky for us our gear had been transported, mind you we were going a bit further as the C2C route which runs from Whitehaven to Sunderland is one hundred and forty miles long

Up to this point all was okay. Biking via Cleator Moor and a few smaller villages the terrain started to become more up and down and we had to take into account some sharp bends on the country roads. The scenery also now takes on a more presidented view as you wind yourself towards the edge of Ennerdale Water. The route along what is probably the first real off-road cycling is on good forest tracks and once at the end of the water the scenery becomes more open and made it more impressive as it was a fine dry and warm day, with the first mountains not too distant. At this point the track becomes more narrow with open moorland up to and passing Black Sail youth hostel.

Once passed the hostel you soon skirt round Kirkfell when the cycling eventually turns into walking. It is not much longer you had to start climbing. And climb you do. All eight hundred and fifty feet to reach the col with its rocky outcrop which is steep in places. We had to carry our bikes on our shoulders, which luckily were relatively light as we didn't have to carry all our gear.
When we got to the top our adrenalin stated to pump some what with the next best thing, DOWNHILL. Although the first part is quite rocky it does become more rideable while feathering the brakes to keep control you ride all the way downhill to Wasdale Head.

Okay it is at this point the itenary becomes quashed as we stopped for a refreshing drink at the Wasdale Inn, one of my favourites when I visit the Lake District. The time at this point was about four o'clock and we had yet still got one last stiff climb of the day to do. So the stop wasn't for long. From the Inn we made for the National Trust camp site, an option if you were camping, and leave the walkers tourist route for Scafell Pike to head up, and climb, to Burnmoor Tarn which happens to be England's deepest lake at two hunded feet. From the Tarn we headed over Eskdale Fell which incurred some more thrilling down hill riding over rocky paths and moorland to end our first days riding in Boot and our stay at Eskdale youth hostel.
Having covered thirty two miles, Dave had a personal ambition to achieve, that is to cycle over Hardknott pass and back again, which he did. I would of joined him but my bike needed a little love and attention, but shall return one day to do this.

JMC caught out in a bog over Eskdale Fell. He was lucky there wasn't much further to go on the first day of the Coast 2 Coast Challenge.

Day One Route.

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