BOOTboys

THE CUMBRIA COASTAL PATH

CCP11: Newbiggin to Roa Island

Saturday 27th February 2010

Given the nature of the night before, it came as a bit of a surprise to us that, on the morning after, minds, bodies and spirits were willing to get back out along the Cumbria Coast. No doubt the bright sunshine had no small part to play!

We drove to Rampside, which is actually in the middle of our target stretch, where we caught the bus. However, we were still able to survey the whole of the route from the comfort of our seat as it first took us out to Roa Island before turning round, returning to Rampside and then carrying on to Newbiggin.

As seen at the ball!

Visibility was good - yes, we could see our old friend(?), the Heysham Nuclear Power Station! We could even see a snow capped Ingleborough in the distance.

Ingleborough

Although it was a beautiful day where we were, there was a threateningly dark sky over to the south and a cold wind blowing from the east. There had been a high tide but it goes out fast leaving us a narrow stretch of quite firm sand on which to walk. The tides had brought up many shells and the odd other items such as the disturbingly shaped parsnip and a Dulux dog.

Back on the beach

The disturbingly shaped parsnip

Shells

The Dulux dog

I was hungry before we had even started and was desperately hoping to round a bend where we might find some shelter. Sadly, Point of Comfort Scar didn't live up to its name and it wasn't until we reached the outflow of a stream beyond Roosebeck that there was protection from the breeze. In fact out of the wind, it felt quite summery.

From here on, there is less beach and much of the walk was on the sea defence walls.

Sea defence wall with outflow

Old style sea defence

Slate boulder defences

Roa Island comes into view

Back at Rampside, we passed our car and a nice cottage with a good display of washing.

There is also an unusual tower on the beach, we later learned had been a coastguard's lookout tower. Rampside Hall was looking splendid but the surrounding modern housing did it no favours. It must be a prosperous area, however, as there is a rather fine new village hall, complete with totem pole. And some kind person had thourghtfully planted crocii on the beach edging.

Rampside cottage and washing

Rampside Hall

The Coastguards' look out tower

Crocii by the beach

Near the intriguingly named Concle Inn (what is a Concle??), we turned south onto the causeway to Roa Island. This was exposed and cold. There were boats lying there that had known better days!

Roa Island (Piel Island to the left)

Out of service?

Stranded

Nearing the far end of the causeway, we saw the bus arriving and were momentarily tempted to flag it down and call it a day but fortunately didn't give in to temptation- after all, we would just have had to come back another day. Instead we continued to the far end and onward to the Barrow Life Boat Station, impressively situated with a fine view to Piel Island. When planning the day, I had wondered if we might actually get to Piel Island but the ferry only runs in the summer. Having seen it, I am quite glad it wasn't running!

Piel Island ferry

Lifeboat station and Piel Island

Piel Island

Roa Island and Morecambe Bay from the Lifeboat Station

After a tour of the Lifeboat Station and a chat with the ladies in the shop, we returned through Roa Island and onto the causeway where a white topped Black Combe dominated the skyline. We took the team picture with Barrow in the background.

The Grace Dixon Lifeboat

White topped Black Combe

Roa Island

Team picture with Barrow in the background

Here, we made a decision. The Cumbria Coastal Way carries on round through Barrow and Millom, up the West Coast as far as Silloth and then follows the Solway into Carlisle. However, it seemed to us that we had reached a logical place to bring this series to an end. One day, we might attempt Part 2 but it is going to become increasingly difficult logistically and there was the danger of it looming over us like a burden rather than being a pleasure to which we look forward.

No sooner had we reached that decision than we also reached the Concle Inn once again so a second decision was made- to pay it a visit and celebrate our achievement. I should have asked the landlord what a Concle is but seeing the etching of a sailing ship along with the name I concluded that a Concle is a type of sailing vessel. However, later looking at the map, I noticed that the area over which the causeway is built is known as Concle Bank. So we are still not much the wiser but maybe the sign above the door was a clue!

The Concle Inn.....

..... and its washing

The Sir John Barrow Monument being unwrapped

It seemed rather fitting that the pub's washing could be seen from the bar, hanging in the back yard!

It was about half a mile back to the car and then a lovely drive home in the evening sunshine with splendid views over territory with which we had become well familiar in the last few months.

The golden roof of the buddhist temple glinted spectacularly.

And the wraps are at last coming off the Sir John Barrow Monument at Ulverston.

Piel Island, Roa Island and Rampside Tower

What to do next?

Well, we yet have a bit of the Cumbria Way to complete (still stuck at Latrigg Car Park!!) but we are thinking of tackling the Westmorland Way, a route that goes from the old county town of Appleby to Westmorland's only seaside resort Arnside, snaking around the Lake District and other glorious countryside on its way. Logistically, however, it poses some challenges. Buses, for example, from Kendal to Appleby run only on a Wednesday. In the afternoon!

Don, 27th February 2010

The 5.7 miles covered brings our CCP total to 73.8 miles.
There was also 139 feet of climbing.

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