Cleveland Way - 65Miles of it anyway!

[J.Redders]

Hi Everyone,

New to the forum but just would like some information really.

Myself and two friends are planning to walk 65miles of the Cleveland Way (Kildale - Filey) in July.

I have for the last week or two been planning it out.

The question is whether you  all think that 65 miles in 3 days is possible.

We all work and two of us don't have the time off to make it more than a weekend trip.

My plan was to set off from Kildale at 7:30am on Friday 17th July with the hope of reaching Staithes by the end of the day, stopping over at Trig Point camp site.

The next day the plan was to walk from Staithes through to Ravanscar camping over at Bent Rigg Farm hopefully.

On the final day, Sunday 19th July, I was looking at going from Ravanscar to Filey, with the hope of arriving at Filey before 7pm, so we can all make our way back home that evening for work on the Monday.

I calculated the time taken with an average of 2mph walking...and a bit more added on for breaks but was hoping the latest we would be walking would be 10pm!

The thing is, none of us are "fit" (all 20 years old!) and only I have some slight experience of Hiking (was in the scouts until 16 and did plenty of Hikes (long distance) then, and also did 20miles to Whitby from my home about 2 years ago in around 10hours - with two slackers on the team.

Is the plan reasonable and achieveable? I am planning on doing the Hike in aid of Diabetes UK - which one of the team suffer from (diagnosed in March) and I don't want to not leave enough time to complete the walk!

Thanks
James

[Yomper]

65 miles in 3 days for 'unfit' walkers is a tall order 

Can be done, but I would suggest some decent long walks prior to your trek to get up your fitness & stamina levels 

Travel as light as poss, and choose the right food for meals

Good luck matey

Cheers

Yomper

[J.Redders]

Thanks for your reply 'Yomper'

I wouldn't say we are entirely unfit, just haven't done too much exercise over the last few years what with work etc.

I have started swimming 2 weeks ago and go every week day in the hope of getting a bit fitter and I walk places when the sun is out. The other two are going backpacking in New Zealand at the end of May/Early June for 3 weeks so hoping that will help them two!

We also have planned a few one day practise walks between 5-10miles (such as round trip captain cooks monument - roseberry topping - 7miles) which should be good...infact we are hoping to do one either this or next weekend.

With us we will be taking a 4 man tent, "bedding", clothes (waterproofs etc), and some light food for the first day (lunch). We haven't quite worked out what we will do for evening meals - we have discussed taking a stove or disposable BBQs?  - unsure though is this reasonable?

I do have all the equipement (well, hiking boots, those things that stop water getting into boots, waterproofs, large rucksack etc).

It started as a laugh at first, but with the charity thing added on it makes it a bit more of a challenge, and I am really looking forward to it!

[J.Redders]

Sorry for the double post! Should of edited the above but didn't look to see if it was possible!

Just wanted to add that we have budgeted the cost of the trip (minus food) at between £30-40ea

This includes train travel to Kildale from Saltburn and back to Saltburn from Filey, camping at Kildale (possibly), Staithes, Ravanscar and Filey (if we are too late to get the train back!) and includes the cost of a 4 man tent!

Map wise! where can we get a good ordanance survey map? would ebay have decent ones? I guess we will need a map & compass (just incase) though I hear the Cleveland WAy is well signposted - apart from Skelton, luckily we know the area well.

[Yomper]

Just something for you to bear in mind James

It is not just the walking you need to cover in a day, you have to erect the tent, cook meals, wash etc

So, all in all its a very long day 

Then repeat the process in the morning AND the evening for 3 days

My guess is a  lack of decent sleep and fatigue will be vital factors in the success or not of your venture

Ensure you take these factors in account fella 

[Yomper]

This link may be of use to you    :

http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/

[J.Redders]

Thanks for the link.

Tent wise we have a very small dome tent (says 4 man but would eb very uncomfortable with 4) which is easy to set up and we will practise it (in the dark also) many times before we go.

Food wise, I will plan to make the meals easy to cook, but we could always try having 1 person cooking and two whacking up the tent!

We will make sure we get decent sleep each night. On the Sat and the Sun we don't plan on setting off before 8am so should get at least 8 hours I would say.

Thanks for the help and info! very much a beginner when it comes to hiking, to be honest I wanted to do the whole walk (in 6-9 days) but the time constraints can't be adjusted at all unfortunately.

I wanted to get Kildale and Roseberry topping in there. Whitby also so thought we would try the full distance.

[ukmase]

I tried to do the whole thing in 5 days, and my feet gave up at the end of the 3rd day.....I stopped at roughly the same mileage as you but i did it in the opposite direction which is slightly more taxing....

I reckon you will do it.....a good way of testing yourself is the Yorkshire 3 peaks.....that will give you a rough idea of were you are at.

Travel light and it will make a difference.

[J.Redders]

I have read about the Yorkshire three peaks. May well try that one as it seems a decent challenge...whether or not we will get it done before this I don't know, as I say them two go away in a few weeks.

[ukmase]

BTW enjoy it.....it is very underated the Cleveland Way......North York Moors stand up against most national parks/

[J.Redders]

Agree.

Have done bits of the Cleveland way many times before.

- The walk to Whitby I did joined the Cleveland way some time after "loftus".

Very enjoyable walk, although I was under prepared and wearing trainers and thee quarter length shorts! the blisters were horrendous.

[radder]

Hi James

If time allows you should try the whole 120 mile.
Did the Cleveland way ten year ago and is a excellent long distance path, What I like about it is the contrast, the first 60 miles is lovely moorland walking ,The second 60 mile walking along the cliffs and beaches. Apart from Whitby and Robin hood's Bay hardly seen a soul. Probably diffrent now days.
I backpacked averaging 25 miles a day and walked it in four half days 

Mark

BTW

I really must get round to doing this walk again sometime.

[J.Redders]

Thanks Mark, would love to attempt the lot but time doesn't allow unfortunately....but did try get some of the moorland'ish walking with the coast walk also.

[J.Redders]

I have just set up (last night) the fundraising page for my walk.

www.justgiving.com/CW-65Miles [nofollow]

If any would like to sponsor me and my friends for such a good cause we would be very thankful.

[mrtmember]

Just been reading all the previous comments. The first things that strike me, lack of experience, seemingly lack of map and compass skills, lack of backpacking skills or experience, fitness. My best suggestion would be to pack your rucksacks with whatever you will carry when you do it, get out and try walking with your pack, gradually increasing distance then you will get an idea of how long you are taking to cover a set distance. Try to find someone who can help you brush up and navigation skills. If you are anywhere near me then i drop me a message if you need help with anything.