Long distance walk

kyoto49

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Has anyone done one? I'm keen to try doing one, the South West Coast path appeals, not all of it but a 46 mile section in Cornwall but I'm not sure if it's too ambitious. It's a 5 day walk section, can find B&B's en route at the stopping points, it's only £7.50 for your bag to be collected form one B&B and taken to your next one, so nothing to carry, but I'm worried I might be a woos and find it too hard. I'm quite fit, I walk and cycle everywhere, but 12 miles along exposed coasts sounds a bloody long way?

I'd appreciate any sensible advice and tips if anyone has any? And would be interested to hear others experiences of doing something like this.
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
kyoto49 said:
Has anyone done one? I'm keen to try doing one, the South West Coast path appeals, not all of it but a 46 mile section in Cornwall but I'm not sure if it's too ambitious. It's a 5 day walk section, can find B&B's en route at the stopping points, it's only £7.50 for your bag to be collected form one B&B and taken to your next one, so nothing to carry, but I'm worried I might be a woos and find it too hard. I'm quite fit, I walk and cycle everywhere, but 12 miles along exposed coasts sounds a bloody long way?

I'd appreciate any sensible advice and tips if anyone has any? And would be interested to hear others experiences of doing something like this.
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Ten/twelve miles a day should be no trouble, if you're not carrying much.
 
kyoto49

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Gramaisc said:
Ten/twelve miles a day should be no trouble, if you're not carrying much.
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It shouldn't, but whenever I've done day walks during our camping trips i've found 6 or 7 miles enough, that's the point where it starts to become a chore - it's possibly my laziness or just a mental thing, but after 7 miles I'm done enjoying it!
 
Tinkerbell

Tinkerbell

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Without going into too much I'm doing a long distance walk in July for Katharine House. 25 miles a day, for 4 days total 100 miles. I couldn't walk round the Parkside ring road two years ago - I had a full practice this week . I can give you a map that is 12.5 miles exactly - as I did it to and from work lol

It's well worth it - please go and see Stafford outdoor leisure mill street (I have no connection to them) but they were excellent and kitted me out to my budget. My walking socks were £15 a pair and worth every penny. I did buy some cheaper ones which resulted in blisters . I have worn a pair of shoes out during training - but if you go cheap on your feet it's what will keep you going.

My god send - is my MP3 player and I've downloaded every cheesy 80s hit (Tiffany, Huey Lewis, Rick) you will be surprised when Journey comes on that you walk quicker

If you need any advice please feel free to inbox me good luck and enjoy it. It will be a fantastic experience
 
Tinkerbell

Tinkerbell

Well-Known Forumite
PS 12 miles is the MOD camp - along beaconside - walk to roundabout turn right up A34 - in direction of trentham. All the way to trentham gardens - it's exactly 12 miles
BUT it would be far nicer to do it in Cornwall :)
 
kyoto49

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Tinkerbell said:
Without going into too much I'm doing a long distance walk in July for Katharine House. 25 miles a day, for 4 days total 100 miles. I couldn't walk round the Parkside ring road two years ago - I had a full practice this week . I can give you a map that is 12.5 miles exactly - as I did it to and from work lol

It's well worth it - please go and see Stafford outdoor leisure mill street (I have no connection to them) but they were excellent and kitted me out to my budget. My walking socks were £15 a pair and worth every penny. I did buy some cheaper ones which resulted in blisters . I have worn a pair of shoes out during training - but if you go cheap on your feet it's what will keep you going.

My god send - is my MP3 player and I've downloaded every cheesy 80s hit (Tiffany, Huey Lewis, Rick) you will be surprised when Journey comes on that you walk quicker

If you need any advice please feel free to inbox me good luck and enjoy it. It will be a fantastic experience
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Thanks Tinkerbell appreciate you thoughts. Agree about good kit! We camp regularly so i have proper walking boots and expensive socks, mostly Brasher, never understood why they are so expensive though :S Good tip about the music, I'll keep that one stored in my memory. Cheers
 
YorkshirePud

YorkshirePud

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Just be aware that the Southwest Coast path is not just a nice walk along the cliff tops - there will be several steep climbs down to sea level to allow for streams/rivers/inlets, and then matching climbs back up at the other side. You'll probably have 4 or 5 of those each day, if the bit further along in Devon is anything to go by.
 
kyoto49

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
YorkshirePud said:
Just be aware that the Southwest Coast path is not just a nice walk along the cliff tops - there will be several steep climbs down to sea level to allow for streams/rivers/inlets, and then matching climbs back up at the other side. You'll probably have 4 or 5 of those each day, if the bit further along in Devon is anything to go by.
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Cheers, I did suspect as much judging by the one segment of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path we did. A steep climb up out of the fishing village to the top of the cliffs, a lovely walk along the cliffs before down to the next village. Definitely confims that I shouldn't be over optimistic on distance. I want to be able to stop for a tea and cake or at a little cove we discover, not be marching from one B&B to the next!! Cheers
 
Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
I attempted the Pennine Way once but had to abort about a third of the way in due to the dodgy knee of my Attorney. It is hard going because the first two sections (from Edale) are quite punishing and a fair bit longer than 12 miles. We were camping along the way which added to the torment, though we did B&B for one night and stayed in a hostel another.

I'd definitely get some practice in beforehand, and factor in what YorkshirePud says re. there being some pretty steep ups 'n' downs. Do not underestimate how tiring it can be to descend on steep sections of rocky path - get some practice in and make sure that your boots are worn in if they are not that well used.

Work on the basis that at a reasonable pace you'll probably average somewhere in the region of 3mph, maybe a little less, so 12 miles is 4 hours of walking - factor in a 15 min break either side of lunch, for which, naturally, you'll need at least an hour (:)), and you're looking at 5 1/2 to 6 hours of A to B. This pace may slow a bit because it is one thing to walk 12 miles in a day, another to do it day after day for five.

Staying in B&Bs will definitely make it easier, and if you are happy to pay for baggage transfer it will make it even more so - probably money very well spent.
 
highguyuk

highguyuk

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We've very recently walked some sections of the coastal path either side of the Lizard point. It's a glorious walk in the sun, but there are some considerable climbs/steps etc. on the route. These are fine when you're walking in short bursts as we were (3-4 miles in one go) but would certainly add to the load of a potentially tiring walk.

I think the biggest factor is the one you can't control - the weather. A lovely bright day, with a cool breeze and some light clouds and for a fit person I'd image a 12 mile walk each day with music in your ears will pass quite nicely. If however it is cold, wet, windy etc. it might feel a little more mentally challenging.

Either way, make sure you plan for time to stop at the southern cafe on the Lizard point. Fantastic food and a lovely spot overlooking the sea.
 
Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Too hot and wet is worse - with all your rain gear on you are a walking boil-in-the-bag puddle of disappointment.
 
Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
YorkshirePud said:
You'll probably have 4 or 5 of those each day, if the bit further along in Devon is anything to go by.
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I'm not overly familiar with that part of the world, but i did cycle down to Dartmouth for the eclipse and found this to be the absolutely worst part of the journey - up down up down up down, fecking up, wheee! down when will this end!?!

We took a wrong turn and ended up on the road into Brixham rather than the one into Dartmouth and i point blank refused to go back up what we'd wheee'd down - we waited something like two hours for the next ferry.

The thing about the Pennine Way is that you have a brutal climb to start the day - keep your height for the rest of the day - then have a brutal descent to your lodgings at the end of the day. Lather, rinse, and repeat. And repeat etc. I remember meeting a jolly fellow along the way who said something along the lines of ' lots of people start this walk because it's the only one they've heard of, but it is a terrible one to start on' * words to that effect * and by Christ he was right.

If i had my time over i would've gone for Offa's Dyke - would still like to do that one but i doubt i have the time now.
 
kyoto49

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Thanks for all sharing your experiences. none have put me off, but I'm more sure than ever now that I only want to commit to 6 or so miles a day. I've ordered the walk guide so I'm hoping to find some accomodation 1/2 way through the 12 miles section within reasonable distance of the path so I can create my own shorter days. Definitely certain now I'm getting my bag ferried between B&B's too. We are regular campers, I love it, but the thought of carrying a tent and all the kit, and having to set up when knackered fills with me with dread. I sounds like a lightweight don't I? :D I am a bit, but I just want to have a great time, not find myself in hell!!! For that reason, the Penine Way will never be on my bucket list of places to walk. I love The Dales, and Yorkshire, but the Penine Way just has too many miles that are bleak moorland, aan the weather!!! I'm hoping that by chosing the very south west of Cornwall we'll get a fair few days of dry suny weather, although I can imagin it will be windy as it's so exposed. Thanks again for posting your thoughts, they've helped alot :)
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
There's no point turning it into an ordeal - it's meant to be enjoyable. Ferrying stuff you don't need in the day is sensible, if available.

I have found that five minutes rest an hour can be advantageous.
 
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