Bill's Coast to Coast Diary

Day 6: Bampton Grange to Orton

(N.B. Hover your mouse over the pictures for captions)

This being 'A' Coast to Coast walk rather than 'The' Coast to Coast Walk, we decided not to ask for a lift to Burnbanks, but to walk directly from the Crown and Mitre. This in some ways was more pioneering, as we had to find a route directly from the map!

We set off from the pub and took the footpath dead opposite, by the church.

Bapton Grange church

The path led through pleasant farmland near the river and we eventually rejoined Wainwright's route at Rosgill Bridge.

Rosgill Bridge

From here we walked to Shap Abbey, meeting Howard and Lynda and then Adryan and Tinny on the way.

Approaching Shap Abbey

We passed Shap Abbey, and climbed up into Shap. We bought some food for lunch, and then stopped for a coffee at the Walkers' Cafe.

Suitably refreshed, we walked down the rather dreary road and headed off to cross the railway line and then the M6. The noisy realities of twentieth century life epitomised by the Shap main street, railway and motorway only accentuated the peace and solitude of the miles that followed, as we passed Oddendale and across the moors.

Bridge over the M6

We lunched near Seal Howe and then, with Howard and Lynda for company once more, we carried on past limestone pavements...

Limestone pavement

Erratic boulder

Crosby Ravensworth Moor

... and eventually stopped to look at Robin Hood's Grave, a cairn in a dry valley.

Robin Hood's Grave

From here it was a pleasant walk to Orton Scar, and then a stroll through farmland alongside a furious stream to the village of Orton.

The path down to Orton

Here we paused at the chocolate factory to buy chocolate and ice creams. The lemon meringue ice cream was delicious. It was marred only by my feet, which were very sore, and I was glad when we found our night's accommodation at the edge of the village, the Barn House. The Barn House turned out to be the most beautifully converted house with a lovely guests' conservatory and a very friendly landlady. We went down to the George in the village for dinner, and ate with Nancy and Joe: a most entertaining night.

The Barn House, Orton