Introduction


When we started walking the coast of England we had no intention that this would become a major lifetime project. Having to make a last-minute arrangement for our summer holiday in 1987, we said "Let's go to the nearest piece of coast and see how far we can walk along it." It turned out well and we started adding further stretches of coast, initially once every two years, but soon annually, or even twice a year.

We had always enjoyed the coast - there is something refreshingly "edgy" about having the sea always at our side, and one of us was into marine molluscs. We also enjoyed long-distance walking and had long been involved in general natural history recording. This project enabled us to combine all three interests.

You soon discover when embarking on a project like this that you need a few rules, which evolve from the first experiences. Our main rule was that we should walk as close to the coast as possible, which meant beach-walking whenever we could (unlike the official coast paths that largely remain above shore, recognising that at high tides the beach may be inaccessible). The route should also be capable of being a continuous walk, so that when we came to an unfordable river we walked inland along its banks to the first place at which we could cross, whether a bridge or a ferry.

We only carried light packs, so that at the end of each day's walk we had the problem of getting back to our car where we started. Initially we walked back, but soon realised we would be walking the coast twice this way! We used public transport whenever this was available - buses or trains, sometimes adjusting our start and finish points to make this easier. Failing this - and it was often not possible - we would phone for a taxi (an increasingly costly option over the years). Having our car with us gave us more freedom as to where we could stay at night - and after a day walking and only light food we were usually ready for being spoiled by a good meal and a comfortable bed! Even so, we stayed on the coast itself whenever there was a decent option.

Each walk was made for enjoyment, it was not a route-march to see how quickly we could get it finished. We therefore took it gently at times when passing through pleasant scenery or where there were many plants or creatures to record.

In terms of biological recording, we systematically noted every bird, butterfly, creature or sea-shell that we came across, sometimes spending time searching for the shells. We could not record every plant in the same way - there are too many common ones - so we were more selective, noting all coastal plants and any others that were not run-of-the-mill.

In our daily posts, edited from our original diaries, we include a star-rating from no star to **** according to our subjective estimate as to how special that day was from the point of view of natural history. This score (and our daily records) will, however, have been affected by the weather - it is difficult to appreciate the environment fully, for instance, in torrential rain, and there are many more butterflies and other insects to be seen in warm sunshine!

A summary of all our natural history records on the walk can be found using this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1LLGD55lKRHYXd1SGU1QndrcUU/edit?usp=sharing





Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Cumbria: Workington to Allonby 21/6/2005**


 

 
 
Hawkweed on railway wall, Workington
 
 
Small heath
We parked on wasteland by Workington station and walked by an industrial railway over a narrow bridge spanning the Derwent and then by the main-line railway. A short distance on we arrived at a bridge leading to a track towards a wind farm and the sea.  The railway walls had several species of hawkweed, including Hieracium acuminatum and H. vagum.  In the cliff grassland were many bee and other orchids; we presumed that mining in this region had brought minerals to the surface that suits these plants, as the soil is otherwise quite acid.  After leaving the industrial area, walking towards Maryport, we came across very few orchids, with the exception of a good population of pyramidal orchids on long-grass banks on the south side of the marina.  Before that we kept to a well-marked track seaward of the windmills and railway.  The wind farm was obviously concerned about public relations, as they provided good access, including a car-park and picnic tables.  With today’s stronger wind, however, their droning became monotonous and the persistent movement annoying, difficult to ignore.  At Siddick we passed a paper mill and a chemical works before the wind farm ended approaching Flimby, with more factories on the hill.  The track kept close to the beach, but without forcing us to walk on the loose pebbles.  It was enjoyable and flowery with bloody and meadow cranesbills and kidney vetch, small heath flying and kestrel hovering above.  We saw meadow cranesbill again by the road through Flimby village.  We arrived in Maryport in time for lunch by the harbour, recently renovated and with new up-market housing, although hardly any basic facilities, not even seats!  We checked in at the information centre, just a short distance up the main street.  We had planned to stop here, as this was the end of the railway-line to take us back, but with the whole afternoon left we decided to walk on another four miles and come back here by bus, whose timetables we got from Information.  The first part out of Maryport was a wide concrete walkway above a decent beach with children’s playground, grass areas and parking across the beach road.  The walkway continued to Bank End and became a grassy track, still very easy.  Here the B5300 comes close to the coast and we walked between it and the sea all the way to Allonby.  We still had 40 minutes spare for a rest and to eat local ice-creams from one of Allonby’s three commercial outlets – an eatery, a pub and a general store – all in a line close to the small caravan park in “Vicarage Field”.  In the evening we returned to Maryport to eat at Maryport Tandoori.
 
 
Meadow cranesbill
 
Maryport Harbour
 
Fisherman statues, Maryport Harbour
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