PCS team Lakes Walk

PCS “Does” The Cumbria Way: 6th to 10th Sept 2008

2007 was the London Marathon ... 2008 is the Cumbria Way!! Peter Dutfield and Sean Heneghan are deep in training ready to tackle the 70 odd miles through the heart of the Lake District. The goal is to raise money for the fantastic work at Francis House, a children’s hospice near Manchester.

“For children whose lives will be short and whose families bear the grief, Francis House directs all the skills of its professional care team to devoted, quality care. Medical and all other support is focused on comfort and compassionate caring”

And so we need your help….please come along for a day, the weekend or even join us for the whole walk – we would love your company. It is easy to get to all the days start points – you’ll be more than welcome! What a great opportunity to finally meet other members of the PCS family, bring friends and relatives (providing they commit to raise money!!), If you can’t take part and raise money, please jump on the “just giving” web site (link below) or if you prefer to send a cheque let Michelle know. Every single penny counts to help this wonderful place to continue its work – the fact that Francis House exists at all is all due to the generosity of people like us.

The walk details … Saturday 6th September for five days Walking is easy, using well established routes, mainly along valley bottoms. There are five relatively short distance days but with an extraordinary variety of scenery with sensational views e.g. blissful Coniston Water, pretty Tarn Hows, rugged Langdale Pikes, lush Borrowdale, regal Derwentwater, and lonely Back of Skiddaw. As we pass through well know places, overnight accommodation is plentiful (B & Bs, youth hostels, and camp sites), but you will need to book them purely due to everyone having different requirements. There are plenty of out doory type shops / websites where you can get advice on the kit you’ll need or just ask our advice (although this may shock you – we’re not experts!)

Route; Day 1 (9:00am start): Ulverston to Coniston at least 10 B & Bs, camp site and YHA, good rail link from Lancaster. (16 miles)This is a gentle farmland and lakeside walk.

Day 2 (9:00am start) Coniston at least 10 B & Bs, camp site and YHA to Dungeon Ghyll. (13 miles)Brilliant all the way; low-level Lakeland at its best, via Tarn Hows, great views.

Day 3 (9:00am start) Dungeon Ghyll at least 7 B & Bs, camp sites and YHA to Keswick. (16 miles) Perhaps best section; dramatic, wild and then lush!

Day 4 (9:00am start) Keswick, many hotels & B & Bs, camp sites and YHA to Caldbeck (16 miles) High Pike route, easy climb and magnificent scenery

Day 5 (9:00am start) Caldbeck, 5 B & Bs, no camp site and YHA to Carlisle (15 miles) Steady walking, good paths, wind down into finish!

Quote from “the man” AW Wainwright. “One should always have a definite objective, in a walk as in life – it is so much more satisfying to reach a target by personal effort than to wander aimlessly. An objective is an ambition, and life without ambition is …. Well, aimless wandering”

So let’s make this an objective of raising money and enjoying glorious countryside. Please see www.justgiving.com/peterandsean If you are taking part in our walk and you prefer you can easily set up your own web site to raise money for Francis House – there is a link from the above page, or Michelle has sponsor forms – please contact her and she can get one to you.

Get in touch!