C2C Day 1- July 14 - St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge: 14 miles

We're sitting in the pub at the Shepherd's Arms Hotel in Ennerdale Bridge and are using a laptop the owner Malcom has kindly lent us while trying the local beers - have had Jennings, Tetley and Twaithes -all good - as we celebrate our first successful day. We were told that the first 3 days were the toughest - and they weren't lying! Woke up to overcast skies and it stayed that way all day, however we didn't experience any rain today. It was tough saying goodbye to our wonderful hosts at the Abbey Farm B & B in St Bees (Steve and Janet -kindred spirits -No we didn't take Poo and Piglet - Peter wouldn't let me!)

We dipped our boots in the Irish Sea and selected our rocks to carry with us to Robin Hood's Bay. (C2C traditions) and set off up and around St Bees Head. Luckily we were able to take pictures yesterday when the weather was excellent and we could see over to the Isle of Man and Scotland. We walked through Sandwith (did you know it's pronounced Sanith?), and stopped for lunch at the Three Tuns Pub in Cleator, being made to feel welcomed by the wonderful locals.

Next it was on to Dent Fell, our first big challenge. Our guide book said "reached either with a sudden access of energy and determination or on hands and knees". We didn't have to do the hands and knees but it was a "relentess climb". Unfortunately, the summit was shrouded in mist and cloud so we missed out on the beautiful views. We then had a "brutal knee-wrecking descent to the valley below (thank God for walking sticks!) and then followed Kirk Beck (stream ) for a ways and eventually arriving in Ennedale Bridge at 4:30pm our feet telling us it was time to stop for the day. We expect to be in bed early tonight!

Marker at the official start of the Coast to Coast Walk

St Bees Head - looking a bit different than yesterday. Still beautiful!

Our new friends at the Three Tuns Pub in Cleator. Great people!

At the summit of Dent Fell (344 m)

Much steeper than it looks!