Sands and summits: a detour to Scafell Pike
Prepare to be inspired by the extensive sands encountered along this route, combined with an incredible detour: a 34-mile round trip to climb England's highest peak, Scafell Pike. Incredibly, and entirely unplanned, I met the same group of climbers I had encountered just a month ago on Snowdon. Much like Snowdon, Scafell Pike was covered in snow and ice, adding an exhilarating challenge to the ascent. We hope this story encourages you to embrace the unexpected detours in your own journey.
Stage FOUR: Birkenhead to Gretna Green – 454 miles
Journey with us through the fifth leg of this incredible coastal expedition. From the familiar landscapes of England to the dramatic ascent of Scafell Pike, discover the stories and challenges that shaped this 454-mile stretch.
BASIC ROUTE -
91. Elton — Ince Marshes — Marsh Green — Frodsham — Runcorn — Runcorn Bridge — Ditton Junction Station — Hale — Speke —Garston — Aigburth — Dingle — Liverpool (Cental) ..................... 28 miles (2,478 miles).
92. Liverpool — Bootle — Crosby — Hightown — Altcar Ranges = Formby Point = Ainsdale Sands — Birkdale Sands — Southport ..................... 28 miles (2,506 miles).
93. Southport — Banks — Hesketh Bank — Beconsall — Tarleton — Much Hoole — Longton — Hutton — Preston — A583 — A584
Freckleton ......................29 miles. (2,535 miles).
94. Freckleton — Warton — Lytham St Anne's — South Shore — Blackpool — North Shore — Cleveleys — Fleetwood — A585 {Nautical College) ...................... 29 miles (2,564 miles).
95. Fleetwood (Nautical College) - A585 - ‘Thornton — Little Thornton — Shard Bridge — Hambleton — Staynall - Heads — Knott End-on-Sea — Fluke Hall — Pilling — A588 — Braides — Pattys Farm — Bank Houses — Crook Farm — Glasson ............................... 27 miles (2,591 miles).
96. Glasson — Ashton — Lancaster — Ovangle Farm — Oxclille — Heaton — Overton — Sunderland — Potts Gorner — Ocean Edge
Caravan Park — Heysham — Morecambe ...................25 miles (2,616 miles).
97. Morecambe — Bolton-le-Sands — Lancaster Canal — Carnforth — Warton — Silverdale — Arnside ~ Milnthorpe — Heversham — Levens Bridge — Sampool Caravan Site ................. 26 miles (2,642 miles.)
98. Sampool Caravan Site — Longhowe End — Meathop — Blawith — Grange-over-Sands — Kents Bank — Flookburgh — Cark —
Holker Hall—Stribers— Fish House —Greenodd = Arrad Foot - Newland — Ulverston ..................28 miles (2,670 miles).
99. Ulverston — Bardsea — Bayclitf — Aldingham — Newbigein — Rampside — Roa Island — Westheld — Barrow-in-Furness —Sowerby — Roanhead Farm — Askam in Furness — Dunnerholme — Duddon Sands — Foxfield — Broughton in Furness ..................32 miles (2,702 miles).
100. Broughton — Lady Hall — Millom Marsh — Millom — Haverigg — Haverigg Point — Sands — Gutterby Spa — Selker Coastguard Lookout — Marshside — Eskmeals — Ravenglass .................... 29 miles (2,731 miles).
101. Ravenglass — Chapel Hill — Ross’s Camp — Eskdale Green — Dalegarth — Woolpack Inn — Brotherilkeld —‘Throstle Garth —
Cam Spout — Mickledore = Scafell Pikes — Mickledore — Cam Spout — Throstle Garth — Brotherilkeld — Dalegarth — Eskdale Green — Ross’s Camp — Chapel Hill — Ravenglass .........................34 miles (2,765 miles).
102. Ravenglass — Drigg Holme Bridge — Seascale — Sellafield Station — Braystones — Nethertown Beach — Seamull — St Bees
Head — Saltom Bay — Whitehaven .............................24 miles (2,789 miles).
103. Whitehaven — Parton — Lowca — Harrington — Workington — Siddick — Flimby — Maryport — Brown Rigg — Allonby ..............23 miles (2,812 miles).
104. Allonby — Mawbray — Beckfoot — Silloth — Skinburness — Calvo—Abbeytown— Moss Side — Newton Arlosh ~ Angerton —
Whitgrgg — Anthorn — Cardurnock = Bowness-on-Solway — Port Carlisle —The Cottage Campsite...........37 miles (2,849 miles).
105 - The Cottage Campsite — Glasson — Drumburgh — Burgh by Sands — Monkhill — Carlisle — Stanwix — Rockeliffe —
Floristonrigg — Metal Bridge — A74— Gretna .....................25 miles (2,874 miles).
Back on English soil, embracing the coast
This stage brought me back to England, journeying through Blackpool and the scenic Lake District, completing a significant portion of the west coast of England. It was a memorable return to familiar territories, with each step adding to the extensive mileage of the British coastline.
From rugged peaks to Scottish pipes
This stage is truly captured by two contrasting yet equally evocative images: the rugged mountains that dominate the landscape, and the unforgettable moment of crossing the border into Scotland, marked by the stirring sound of a Scottish piper playing. These moments truly encapsulate the essence of this particular journey.