Day 1 - St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge

What a beautiful beginning to our walk. St Bees is named after St Bega, an Irish abbess who set up a nunnery on the site of the Priory Church.    

The Priory Church in St Bees             

The Norman Doorway, which survived  many desecrations  

throughout the church's history. These doors remain one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in the country. It's history can be traced to 1120.

The sunset shining on the local cricket club the night before we set off.

And now for the walk - we begin with a cliff walk along the Irish Sea.  We walk north before we turn eastward.  Our guide book tells us that today will be a bit of a struggle, particularly  as they put it - the haul up Dent Hill!

South Head, our first climb for the day - and the walk.

The lighthouse in the distance.

Even though a strenuous climb, it's nice to enjoy the wildflowers.        

 The lighthouse, a little way inland,  with Fleswick  Bay below.  We didn't actually walk near the lighthouse.

The beginning of our companions, the sheep, grazing on the lush grass.     

Our course is clear, though not an easy path.

The sheer cliffs of South Head where England's only colony of Guilleots nest among the rocks

Our path took us via Sandwith (pronounced 'Sanith')

our first little settlement for the walk,   

And then into Moor Row,  where you walk past a monument honouring walkers who attempt a Coast to Coast walk.

 The track leading into Cleator

 Hiking the Coast to Coast is tiring work.  Lunch by The River Ehen at Cleator was very pleasant.  We just wished we could put our feet in the cool water but couldn't get close enough.  

Getting back over the gate was a bit tricky. Now onward to Dent Hill.....

The view from Dent Hill gave us our first look at the fells of the Lakeland.

Nearing the top of Dent Hill...

View from the summit of  Dent Hill

Here was the tall stile we needed to pass before we could begin our descent down Raven Crag hill.

We didn't climb this one.  Our first stile!!

 Walking down Raven Crag hill, after the long and sweaty climb up Dent Hill was challenging. This climb is aptly named, it goes a long way towards denting ones confidence!  The views at the top had a slight haze but were still worth the effort.  The path down is very  steep. Good for the quads and certainly scenic,

when you were game to look up.  

 WE MADE IT DOWN!!

                                                            

 

 Heading for Nannycatch Beck, which sits hidden at the foot of Dent Hill, in  the valley of Uldale.  We thought we were nearly at  the end of our walk for the day but there was still more territory to cover..

                 Raven Crag 

Nannycatch Gate is the boundary line for the Lake District National Park 

 We  walked  towards Ennerdale Bridge, our first Lakeland village,  where we stayed for the night.  After 8 hours of walking, the sight of horses grazing on flat land was encouraging.

To say we were weary  would be an understatement...  That track seemed to go on for ever.

I'd have to say this part of England is one of the hidden gems, not spoken of in tourists books, but well worth the effort that, perhaps, only a long walk will reveal.  The pleasure is all mine!