Day 008 – Whitehaven to Seascale

Distance: 23.5 km

Steps: 34,210

We opted for a packed lunch in lieu of breakfast and so we were out the door at 8:05am. I really thought that we’d been so clever, scoping out the coast path yesterday in an attempt to avoid these steps

But the more gentle route we had found ended up going round in a circle and we were back where we started but half an hour later in the day. The coast path went up and up, mostly on the edge of the cliff top. We met dozens of dog walkers, plus one lunatic aviator who was preparing his parachute and waiting for just the right windy gust to whisk him off the cliff top and up into the air rather than dashing him on the beach 120 metres below. Braver man than me

Jezebel befriended a birdwatching lady and through her binoculars we spied a colony of baby penguins, high in the cliff. The birdwatching lady, being new to the sport, suggested that they might be guillemots but Jezebel put her straight

The best view we had all day of the Sellafield nuclear power station was as we crested the hill above St Bees and began our descent. But we didn’t realise at the time and kind of assumed that the view would improve as we got closer. So we didn’t take a photo from there. It didn’t improve. In fact, all you can see close up is the fence. So here’s a good library picture

We’ve stayed in St Bees before, when we walked Wainwrights ’Coast to Coast’

Sellafield. ”They really don’t want you in there.” said Jezebel

Jezebel spotted this extremely poisonous adder on the path to Seascale

The Bailey Ground Hotel is nowhere near Bailey Ground on the map but is actually located above the ice cream parlour in Seascale (full size cow outside on the pavement). This is to be our accommodation for tonight.

We’ve just caught up with the news that there is to be a train strike commencing 21st June. We have ’advance’ tickets for our return to London on this date. We need ton take advice.

Jmk