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01946 820693
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Through popular request we decided last year to introduce a third possible start to the route: St Bees, the seaside neighbour of the newly vibrant Egremont.
St Bees is the tried and trusted start to the Coast to Coast walk, famously founded by Alfred Wainwright in 1973. It is also a lovely coastal setting and a splendid but smaller alternative to the bustling charms of Whitehaven and Workington.
The Egremont area has been mining iron ore and quarrying for more than 800 years and it is home to Florence Mine, the last deep Iron Ore mine in Western Europe.
There is plenty of eager and competitive accommodation in Egremont, plus numerous hostelries and eateries in the area. Indeed, huge efforts are being put into the regeneration of this former weaving and dyeing town. Egremont's hidden gems include the Norman Castle with its literary connection to Wordsworth's Ballad of the Horn of Egremont; Hartley's ice cream factory and shop; Lowes Court Gallery and Tourist Information Centre (01946 820693) with exhibitions of Cumbrian artists and local crafts.
As a 'Fairtrade Town' Egremont has a number of shops selling locally produced and sourced foods and holds a Farmers Market on the third Friday of every month in the Market Hall.
The main street has a variety of facilities, shops, pubs and takeaways catering for visitor needs.
During the annual Crab Fair, which in September 2007 celebrates its 840th anniversary, the greasy pole climbing and gurning (face pulling) events draw large crowds of locals and visitors. Indeed, the town is synonymous with that time honoured English tradition of gurning.
This year will see further improvements to the town and its facilities, such as circular cycling routes, riverside walks and new planting to the town’s entrances as part of the Egremont Market Town Initiative work. Visit the Tourist Information Centre at Lowes Court Gallery for details of things to do in and around the town.
The local regeneration partnership is keen to improve the visitor offer further and welcomes your comments, suggestions and information by email to simon.walker@visitegremont.co.uk, through the web site (www.Visitegremont.co.uk) or by post to Egremont and Area Regeneration Partnership, Charles Edmonds Library, Wyndam Street, Egremont, CA22 2DH.
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Please try to book
accommodation in advance and give as much
notice as possible if you have to cancel
the booking so the room can be re-let
otherwise your deposit may be forfeited.
Also if you are going to be late arriving
at your accommodation it is always a good
idea to ring and let the proprietor know so
they can keep your room open for you.
Remember to double check all details with
the establishment as this guide cannot be
held responsible for any inaccuracies or
omissions nor for any loss arising as a
result.
When booking
accommodation please mention the C2C Guide
website.
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Albert Hotel, St Bees, Cumbria, CA 27 0BN
Telephone
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01946 822345
Rooms
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2D, 3T, 2S
B&B
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£25 (there is no extra charge for single occupancy)
Evening meals
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Yes for groups or for those coinciding with groups. Around £4.50.
Packed Lunch
....
£3
Clean and well run hotel at the bottom of Main St. A popular pub as well, with a pleasant beer garden. Carole obviously loves her job and the atmosphere is as warm as a steak pie. Secure storage and whopping breakfasts for those who like a challenging start. Astonishing value and very tidy rooms, all with huge Georgian sash windows.
Bookwell Garth Guest House, 16 Bookwell, Egremont, CA22 2LS
Tel
:
01946 820271
Email
:
jeannette.powell@tesco.net
Rooms
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5S, 6T, 1F.
B&B
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£21-£26
Pub nearby
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On new leg of route
Friendly Guest House
with good accommodation, TV in all rooms. Drying
facilities, good location. Large upstairs lounge with fridge, microwave and tea and coffee. Early breakfast. Large car park.
Margaret Fee, 11/12 Main St, CA27 0DE
Tel
:
01946 822425
Web
:
www.themanorhousestbees.com
Email
:
manorhousemaz@aol.com
Rooms
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1S, 4T, 3D, 1Q.
B&B
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£29-£35
EM
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£4.95-£14.95
PL
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£5-£7
Traditional ales (it's in the Good Beer Guide), the Manor House is comfortable and clean and has a great atmosphere (the mixture of locals and tourists works well in the bar). The dining room turns into a cafe during the day, but serves lunches and dinners, too. This 18th century coaching inn welcomes cyclists and walkers and has a secure lock-up.
Platform 9 Restaurant & B&B, Main St, St Bees, Cumbria, CA27 0DG
Telephone
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01946 822600
Website
:
www.platform9.co.uk
Email
:
stuart@platform9.co.uk
Rooms
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2D, 1T
B&B
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£32.50-£45
DB&B
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£75 (for two, weekend only)
Evening Meal
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£7.95-£19.95
Packed Lunch
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£4.75
Charming location at the start of the route with a good restaurant and a beer garden. There are three rooms and lots of restaurant choice, from bar snacks to a la carte. Chef Martin Allison had two AA rosettes. Secure sotrage for bikes. Great place to start from.
Rob Merrett, Horse & Groom Court, Egremont CA22 2AE
Tel
:
01946 824052
Web
:
www.horseandgroomcourt.co.uk
Email
:
info@horseandgroomcourt.co.uk
Rooms
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1 six bed dorm, 1Q, 3T. All en-suite wet rooms
B&B
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£8
Evening Meal
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Self-catering or surrounding pubs/restaurants
Right in the town centre, the Cycle Barn aims to be open in early 2008 and is taking bookings now. It is self-catering and there are plenty of shops, pubs and restaurants nearby. There is a secure lock-up for bikes and cleaning facilities.
Shepherds Arms Hotel, Ennerdale Bridge,
Ennerdale, Cumbria, CA23 3AR
Tel
:
01946 861249
Web
:
www.shepherdsarmshotel.co.uk
Email
:
shepherdsarms@btconnect.com
Rooms
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3D, 3T, 2D/T
B&B
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£38.50-£48.50
Evening Meal
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Under £10 for a main course
Packed Lunch
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£3.95-£5.50
Rooms
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3D, 3T, 2D/T
A small gem of a country hotel with public bar serving real ales and pub meals. Situated on the famous Coast to Coast walk and on the new start to the C2C out of St Bees, the area fast becoming popular with cyclists using the new start. A busy local pub with comfortable rooms.
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Those arriving by train should leave the station to the Priory Church side and make their way along the 'Coach Road' past the petrol station and garage to the beach. St Bees Head is the most westerly point in England north of Devon and from the promenade on a clear day you can look out to the Isle of Man, twenty miles or so off the coast.
The first stage of the route takes you to Egremont, four miles away. Leave the beach car park and take the first right along the straight road to the Station. Cross the level crossing and continue up the Main Street past the Platform 9 restaurant and the Queens Hotel on your right, the Manor House Hotel on your left and the post office.
At the next junction you have the choice to take the challenging route left up Outrigg (20%) and over Baybarrow, with rewarding views over to Ennerdale, Wasdale and down the coast to Eskdale and further, or to continue up the Main Street to take the second right - signposted for the Hadrians Way C72 route - and follow the coast ('Nethertown Road') and charming single track lanes to Coulderton, where one heads inland for Egremont and the lakes.
At the T-junction in Coulderton head right to Middletown, taking first left just before the telephone box. Follow the lane for a short while, but instead of heading right, go straight on past Black Ling and Pickett How, up the narrow minor road. Make sure to enjoy views across to Dent Fell - the western edge of the Lake District as you head towards Egremont.
Arriving in Egremont, take time to visit the Castle, then follow the national cycle route 72 which is clearly signed through the town and out to the north.
About a mile north of Egremont is Clintz Quarry Nature Reserve, a limestone quarry of dramatic proportions, with manmade cliffs 100ft high, which is home to some rare orchids in May and June, as well as a sanctuary for birds.
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accommodation
