Two Nations 10th August 2024
Led by Andy
Eight members gathered at Carlisle bus station for the 09-25 bus to Gretna Outlet situated north of the border in Scotland hence our first Nation.
Alighting on time at 10-01 we headed South towards the River Sark from where we would cross it and into England our second Nation.
This is the start of the King Charles III Englands Coastal footpath, when complete it will be the longest coastal footpath in the world at 2.700 miles long.
For the time being some sections are not yet fully open and we encountered two of these in the first three miles!
Once across the River Esk and past the Metal Bridge pub no more closed sections were encountered.
After an overgrown section and a minor road near the Esk Boathouse we headed for the floodbank where a break was taken, below the bank as it was quite windy on the top of it.
Once on top of the floodbank it was a headwind which eventually became a tail wind as we turned towards Rockcliffe and alongside the River Eden.
From Rockcliffe heading upstream we found the signage poor despite it being a "new path" and the best guide was the installation of bridges or new gates!
After approx 10-5 miles and near Cargo we had our main break at a fishermans hut and table.
Leaving there it was just a case of following the river upstream to the bypass road bridge which we crossed onto the other side of the river and left the coast path and picked up the Hadrians Wall path into Carlisle and finish.
Stats- Start 10-03 Finish 16-38 Time 6-35 Miles 16-3 Av Speed 2-5mh Ascent 886ft.
