Allonby

9/4/15

Shorts and T-shirts again as we climbed out of St Bees.

It was refreshing to get back on to a Sustrans route (NCN 72) this travels across England to Tynemouth along Hadrian's Wall but we will leave it when we cross the border into Scotland.

It felt like we spent much of the day freewheeling with a few steep climbs followed by a long railway-gradient decent.

The harbour in Whitehaven gave a pleasant pause and we were relieved to see our route go around the headland with the trains rather than climb over the hill with the cars.

Some of this section needs re-surfacing but the tarmac around Maryport golf course was immaculate. It would be great if this stretch of Cumbrian Coast can be replicated further south.

The Ship Inn at Allonby is a grade 2 listed building that has hosted Charles Dickens and Willkie Collins. It gave us a room with a sea view but it is, like Allonby, a little faded. Allonby receives a severe battering from the weather each year such that building renovation is on a three year cycle. We had a very good home cooked dinner in the Inn which looks out a great sunset and the local chippy (which doubles up as the Post Office) named the Codfather!