Day 84 – Silloth to Kirkbride

No transport problems this morning. Our train arrives a few minutes late at Carlisle, but Flimby Colin’s son is there to drive us to Siloth, to which many apologies because it isn’t the one horse/crossroads town previously described. Residentially at least it’s quite extensive, but the few commercial outlets are all based around said crossroads where we arrive just before noon. The first 90 minutes or so of today’s walk is north east to Grune Point and then back round the headland to Skinburness. This follows the coastline along a concrete seafront promenade and a couple of tracks, and we know that the vast majority of these two days will be spent on roads and pavements. However, on leaving Skinburness, we’re able to leave the road and cover the next 6 miles or so towards Abbey Town by crossing Calvo Marsh. We quickly realise why the guide book says that this should not be attempted in misty conditions or at high tide. Apart from the occasional farm building, the marsh is pretty featureless, the waymarking is sporadic at best, and there are frequent ditches which it’s possible to get over when the tide is out, but which presumably become creeks when it comes in. And when we’re not crossing ditches, or scanning the horizon for waymarking and stopping to check on the logger that we’re going the right way, the underfoot conditions are essentially an expanse of tussocks, so it’s not the most comfortable or enjoyable couple of hours. Still, it’s taken us off the road and closer to the sea, and the weather’s clear and warm; so mustn’t grumble. We’re back on the road for the stretch from Abbey Town to Newton Arlosh, but the next and final section is through a series of fields and past a couple of large World War II aircraft hangars to reach a lane into Kirkbride and the welcoming sight of the Bush Inn. We’re staying a few miles away at Wheyrigg and, while Ben and Gary have a refreshing cider, John (who is on antibiotics and therefore off alcohol) tries to order a cab. This takes some time – due just as much to difficulty in getting a phone signal as the scarcity of Colins in the area – and involves much discussion with a man at the bar who runs a B&B in Bowness, and speaking to someone in Wigton who is only prepared to do the job for the princely sum of £40. However, eventually, somebody more accommodating called Sean is found who can pick us up in 20 minutes. Shame…that means a second cider for Ben and Gary. We arrive at Wheyrigg around 7 o’clock for a cost of only £15 and, although Sean can’t do the return journey tomorrow morning due to a Manchester Airport booking, he says that he will be able to pick us up tomorrow afternoon and take us to Carlisle station. Pre-supper showers at Wheyrigg prove to be variable, but food and drink is more than acceptable and, having been unable to find us a cab for tomorrow morning, our host kindly offers to drive us to Kirkbride himself. Result.