Coast to Coast Walk (eastern end)

[Kevin Caulfield]

In August I'll be doing just the last four days of the Wainwright Coast to Coast walk, from Richmond to Robin Hood's Bay. I'm planning on bringing my Hasselblad with 80mm lens in my daypack. Any great views that I shouldn't miss? Any other tips? Thanks.

 

[Craig75]

If you have a day before setting off id recommend going into arkengarthdale which is 30mins outside richmond. There are abandoned lead mills, a river, moorland, a valley and its very sparsely populated so has a scenic desolate vibe.

Hope you have a great time!

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Thanks for the tip, Craig. I have a whole day in Richmond so will look into that.

 

[Craig75]

Thanks for the tip, Craig. I have a whole day in Richmond so will look into that.

Richmonds pretty and there is a castle there but you couldnt spend more than couple of hours there so if you dont have a car get the bus to reeth and you will be in swaledale and you can walk up fremington edge or along river if you are feeling lazy. A longer walk is from reeth up arkengarthdale over glen calva and to surrender bridge where there is some very good ruined smelts and chimneys which you might enjoy photographing. Make sure you check bus times tho as its very infrequent service - maybe 3 a day? Dales and district bus service i think. If you have a car you could drive to jerveaux which is a scenic ruined abbey in a very pretty village then walk along river into parkland.

 

[Tony Egan]

Hi Kevin. I second the comments about needing a lot of time in and around Richmond. I did the full walk non-stop in July 2010 and found the sections after Richmond a bit less photogenic following the ruggedness of the Lakes district and eeriness of parts of the moors. The final few miles leading to Robin Hood's Bay are worth taking in slowly. I missed out on the supposedly great views from Kirby Bank (Ingleby Cross to Blakey Ridge section) as there was thick fog and mist that day. I encountered some pretty wet weather during my walk so I recommend a 100% waterproof jacket with hood and backpack for your gear and a sealable plastic folder on a lanyard around your neck containing the photocopied map sheets for the day. My full guide book swelled to about twice its size from the good soakings it got! I took far fewer photos than I anticipated due to the weather and the physical exertion of the long walking days so I hope you get some fine weather.
I was carrying a Mamiya 7 with 80mm and 65mm and a Nikon D90 with 28-200 zoom. It got heavy after a few hours each day and I dropped the tripod in favour of trekking poles after a few days. A Hasselblad with 80mm should be manageble but a small waterproof digital might also be useful for aide memoire as opposed to fine art! A decent smartphone could serve the same purpose. I would like to do the walk again. Next time I would shorten the walks to allow a bit more time for photography and have a few rest days in between.
If you get some good shots from here can you send me a few! Cheers, Tony

 

[Craig75]

I think tony's advice is very good kevin. If you do from lakes to dales you are going through two national parks. You could do that and when you get to richmond just get on a bus to darlington and from there a bus or train to skip the more prosaic section out then do last day or just a coastal walk. Beaches and cliffs and little towns by sea are all very photogenic.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Hi Craig and Tony. Thanks for your thoughts. I'll be meeting up with my wife and the rest of the group in Richmond. They have been practising for months. She just recently asked me to join them for some of the walk, so I'll do the last four days. We'll have a full rest day in Richmond and then the four days of walking. I'll do a few practices with the 'blad in my pack. I'll probably be bringing just a mini tripod, plus a light meter unless I can find a reliable smartphone light meter app. I've got the waterproof jacket and other gear is on the way. I know that even though it will be late summer I could be in for four days of rain. Tony, is that photo from Kirby Bank? If so, I'll hope for better weather when I'm there and will send you a few shots. I'll have my smartphone too and will maybe also carry a d camera.

 

[Tony Egan]

Yes, I think that is the famous Kirby Bank lookout commemorating one of the walkers who forged the paths along with Wainwright. It was also an area I got lost in for about 40 minutes in the fog having overlooked a critical instruction on the map. Eventually I heard faint conversations from two other walkers and headed in that general direction. I stuck with them and my B&B host gave them a lift to their accommodation. I was on my own so another good thing about the walk is making fast friends from many parts of the world over a pint at the end of the day - but be wary of thirsty Welshmen if you want to be fit for the next day!

Seriously, not expecting any photos from you, but I hope you get to see something like this instead!
https://thedorsetrambler.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/p5100886-886.jpg

 

[Martin Aislabie]

The area west of Richmond is the North Yorkshire Dales National Park and it is stunningly beautiful.

When you have finished the walk at Robin Hoods Bay, Whitby it a great place to shoot.

While in Whitby, check out the Frank Sutcliffes gallery - he was a photographic pioneer who based himself in Whitby - there is a gallery in his old shop.

Also, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for steam trains and quaint stations.

Hope you enjoy the walk.

Martin

 

[BMbikerider]

If you have a day before setting off id recommend going into arkengarthdale which is 30mins outside richmond. There are abandoned lead mills, a river, moorland, a valley and its very sparsely populated so has a scenic desolate vibe.!

About 10 miles up the same dale it the England's highest public house the - 'Tan Hill' . This pub really is in the epitome of MAMBA country - miles and miled of Bu&*er all!

Good beer VERY good food and in bad weather occasionally sharing the space with tame (greedy) sheep)

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

I just arrived home. I have nine rolls of film in 120 to develop over the next few days. Five rolls alone were shot in beautiful early morning light in Robin Hood's Bay on Friday. Two rolls were shot in Richmond. I'll get some photos posted as soon as I can.