Day 5: Carlisle to Bowness on Solway

Due to the bad weather yesterday, we skipped the passport stamp in Carlisle sports centre so had to go there this morning instead adding an extra 2 miles to our walk.

We started through Rickerby parkland in Carlisle. In comparison to yesterday it was absolutely stunning.




Crossing the memorial bridge (dedicated to soldiers from WW1 and opened in the 1920s) the path heads along the banks of the River Eden. This is a haven for wildflowers and butterflies. We spotted a heron too resting in a tree.


The Eden bridge in Carlisle is impressive and during the floods of 2015 the water level reached the top of the arches, hard to believe today.

Onwards from Carlisle the trail enters flat countryside with open grassland, mature ash trees and lots of friendly cows.
There were a few walkers to chat to but not as many as the last few days and no facilities to speak of.
We stopped at Burgh by Sands for lunch, which was the first place we found. This little village's claim to fame is that King Edward I (Longshanks) died here.
After Burgh by Sands the trail heads along a road adjacent to salt marshes towards Solway. It's hard going as it seems to go on forever, broken only by the road signs telling you how deep the flooding can be! It is tidal, so worth checking when and how high the tide will be.
A few gravel tracks and we emerged to meet Roger and his cat. A retired local gentleman who offers personalised photographs by the village sign.
He was rather lovely and gave us some local tips on how to find the Wallsend mosaic.
A further mile and we found the archway and Roman mosaic signifying Walls end.

A tired feeling of achievement, a few photos and then on to the accommodation (a pod).

The local pub (King's arms inn) is very sociable and we spent a lovely evening chatting with locals, their dogs and Belgian, French walkers who also were walking with stiff legs. 🙂

Distance: 17.3 miles in 6 hours (moving time)

Accommodation: Wallsend Wigwams, Bowness of Solway CA7 5AF

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