W16 Grosmont to Robin Hoods Bay - The End

Wainwright leaves everyone going from West to East with a convoluted, hard last stage. He must have been a bit of a sadist because we started walking up 200m and then climbing up a messy, muddy, woody valley before entering a boggy moor and finally walking along the coast for over 3 miles. We were pretty exhausted by the end of it, having walked 18.3 miles and climbed the equivalent of 110 floors. It took us around an hour to actually realise we had done it. Now we are beaming at each other with a great sense of satisfaction. If you are slightly interested in doing it yourselves, I have put some thoughts in at the bottom.

Longer version
The last day is a zig zag which can be cut by miles and miles if someone heads direct to Robin Hoods Bay. We decided not to, however. We set off from the Gallery B&B in Grosmont just after 9. The Gallery is opposite the car park for the 2 stations in Grosmont: National rail on the left and steam on the right:

Unfortunately (sadistically) every step for the next 40 minutes is up, primarily on the road with one bit 1 in 3, and 2 sections 1 in 4. It's not the best start for the final day but eventually you get on to yet another moor, with off to the left Whitby. We then wandered down into a valley called Little Beck, overtaking Chris, who was in right state, having decided to do it in 10 days. The valley is lovely but after heavy rain the previous night, it was muddy, slippery and hard work.

After climbing the valley we were on to yet another moor for 5 miles. This moor was very boggy and we found out later Eric sank up to his waist: luckily we had none of that.

It was a slog but we ended up near Whitby before walking down the coast for 3 miles to Robin Hoods Bay. The cliffs all seem to be eroding btw

At Robin Hoods Bay you have to take your pebble to the coast and you have to sign the book in the pub. We did it all as well as finally getting the last selfie

So another kick the bucket idea done. It is a wonderful feeling. I am pretty sure with getting lost and various deviations we did over 200 miles but 192 will do :-)

IF YOU ARE THINKING OF DOING IT
These are few thoughts:

• It is not a stroll. If you do it continuously, it wears you down. This is a tough walk.
• Go West to East. Its the most popular by far and you get the Lake District out the way
• The Lake District is a bit of killer but afterwards it does get easier
• Chris was doing it in 10 days, Speedie did it in 12 and most were doing it in 14. We took 16 and there were others doing it slower. It is not a race - enjoy it
• Yes you can carry your own stuff but everyone doing it looked shattered. Packhorse and Sherpa will carry your bags if you go west to east (and even you) - the east to west is limited
• We used North West Walks - who planned the whole thing for us
• Only do it from April to September - everything gets more limited after that
• Wear boots with ankle support - quite a few people dropped out with twisted ankles. One person fell and cracked open his head - ambulance whizzed him off. Most people fell at some point - included me: I need to buy an new mobile phone :-(
• Hope for the best but plan for the worst - we were extremely lucky with the weather. Others have had a torrid time. Waterproof for you and for the rucksack are essential
• Buy the O/S maps or get a GPS device - many, many people got lost
• One older couple were doing an alternative route from Morecambe Bay - shorter and less challenging - planned by Contour. Others warmed up on Hadrians Wall

Where we stayed:
- St Bees
- Ennerdale
- Rosthwaite
- Patterdale
- Brampton Grange
- Orton
- Kirby Stephen
- Muker
- Reeth
- Richmond
- Danby Wiske
- Ingleby Cross
- Great Brampton
- Rosedale
- Grosmont
- Robin Hoods Bay