The Alternative Coast to Coast

The ACC begins on one island and finishes on another. It starts on the west coast at the Beachcomber Cafe on Walney Island near Barrow-in-Furness. This work features a walk that seeks out places of interest where an extra day can be spent on local exploration instead of forging ahead. It is for those who enjoy circular routes.

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The ACC begins on one island and finishes on another. It starts on the west coast at the Beachcomber Cafe on Walney Island near Barrow-in-Furness. After crossing the Irish Sea (tides permitting), the walk skirts the edge of Barrow, and on into the Lake District. Several Lakeland peaks are climbed, several delightful Lakeland villages are visited and the full length of Ullswater is walked. Between Penrith and Hexham, the route crosses the Northern Pennines. Hadrian's Wall is then negotiated before crossing Northumberland with its Cheviot Hills and wilderness areas. The ACC finishes in a grand style by crossing the North Sea (again tides permitting) and finally arrives at ancient Holy Island, or Lindisfarne as it was once known, on the east coast. From Barrow, it is about 309km to the majestic ruins of Lindisfarne Priory, founded in the seventh century. The walk seeks out places of interest where an extra day can be spent on local exploration instead of forging ahead. It does not always seek the high hills, but crosses moors, follows rivers and dales and goes through forests. It visits places of literary and historical interest.
The route is arranged in stages so that, as far as is possible (but not always), the length of each stage is a good day's walk and it finishes at a place where accommodation can be found or is not far away. For those who enjoy circular routes, there are suggested Return Routes on ten of the stages.