27/07/2013 – Here-There-Everywhere

27 Jul 2013 – Stonehouse Farm

References – various online sites

Unforgettable Walks to take before you die: Steve Watkins and Clare Jones

Coast to Coast Path: Henry Stedman with updates by Chris Scott

A Northern Coast to Coast Walk: Terry Marsh

Passing thru’3 National Parks (Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors), thru’ hills, moors and valleys in en entire country, this 301km/191mi starts from St Bees by the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay by the North sea. UKc2c is a testament to the dedication of UK’s most famous walker Alfred Wainwright who in 1973 made this walk possible.

St Bees: between the 6th-9th century, Bega, an Irish princess fled here to avoid an arranged marriage with a Norwegian prince. And so the legend goes, she landed here and lived as a hermit and became famous for her good deeds.. She approached the local land owner Lord Egremont for land to build a convent.

Egremont was not generous and promised Bega all the land covered by snow the next day, considering as it was to be mid summer’s day. Miraculously snow did fell that day and Bega was able to get the land and built the convent.

St Bees Priory, app from 1150, a blissful and serene place to visit. Was there when I arrived and again the next morning to get inside to make peace with whatever there is to make peace with before a serious hike 🙂

St Bees School founded in 1593 by Edmund Grindal, Archbishop of York and Canterbury during the reign of Queen Elizabeth !, and such a charming school in an ideal surrounding. Glad to have taken the extra day here to catch up with family and to see this delightful village, highly recommended.

http://stbees.org.uk

And so the story goes, what a lovely story and a beautiful village to start a hike from…

Nights: Thu 25-Fri 26Jul in St Bees/Stonehouse Farm: 2 nights+2breakfasts+1packed lunch GBP76 S$148

The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays – Søren Kirkegaard

26 Jul 2013 – To St Bees

Thu: Train from Milton Keynes – Manchester 1.5hrs – St Bees (change in Carlisle, with 10mins delay and made the St Bees just in time!) 3hrs, GBP36 S$68.

Thank you KV & Christine for putting me up and for all their kind hospitality. Drive from Godmanchester – MiltonK Station 1hr. MiltonK is a new station and the only station I have seen where one has their bicycle undercover. According to the police, it looks tidy and we were thinking more on the security side 🙂

ManchesterP Station is a brand new station and like many modern designs, they lack something! Had some time to spare and took a short walk around the area which has more character. The fire station and the church across the road are more impressive for these ageing eyes 🙂 🙂

St Bees is a total contrast from the other 2 mentioned stations, charming and welcoming village. A walk to the starting point for the hike was quite delightful after a whole day on trains and stations.

Fri: how lovely to meet up with cousin YEO YatSoon (9th auntie’s only child and son) & family who are starting their summer holiday in this area. The last time we meet was in 2000 and now he&Helen are proud parents of 2 lovely girls. Spent the afternoon catching up and getting to know Merle&Mei-mei who was having an ear infection. Poor baby and she was in such good spirits. Appreciate them for taking time to meet and tkx to YatSoon for bringing a box of old B/W pix from his mother’s times from SIN for us to look thru’.

If you would be known, and not know, vegetate in a village; if you would know, and not be known, live in a city – Charles Caleb Colton