We choose a spot on the map ten or eleven miles north of Maryport and our very generous AirBnb host offers us a lift – wonderful! He drops us off in a carpark just before Beckfoot and close to a boardwalk leading to the sea.
An information sign tells us where we are and what to expect – not cows I hope, although these are very pretty – Belted Galloways maybe.
A little later we are faced with a choice of high or low road and because the sea actually does look miles away we continue on the low tide route down to Oldkin Farm.
We are now approaching the village of Allonby and it’s time for refreshments. Locals we ask are all a bit vague about cafes that are open, but just as we are about to give up we find one. And just in case you’re wondering what Damian is drinking………..
Further south we notice signs for Milefortlet 21 and the Salt Pans of Crosscanonby, an area which formed part of Hadrian’s coastal defences of the north west frontier (and thus the Roman Empire). It is the only site of this kind to have been wholly excavated. Close by are the remains of a seventeenth century salt works – making salt from seawater was practised all along the Cumbrian coast for hundreds of years.
Unfortunately, and as is so often the case, we are on a mission and cannot afford the time to go see.
We are now approaching the outskirts of Maryport – and Damian is wearing ………….
The path takes us high above the town – the backs of the small terraced houses look like rows of broken teeth, but there is a clear view over to the harbour.
And now a pint and the tennis………
Distance: 11 miles
I think I saw the more attractive seafront side of Maryport!
Yes – the harbour and seafront are lovely – lots of independent shops in the town too ….
Yes very kind Air Bnb host. Why don’t they extract salt in the area anymore I wonder. Very fetching outfit Damian! I will try and get to Maryport one day to see the seafront sidexx
Our Airbnb host was amazing – really friendly – he gave us another lift the following day! xx
great photos
A generous lift can make all the difference sometimes, can’t it?
Regarding Milefortlet 21 – Granted it was an alarming 11 years ago that I walked that bit of coast (surely not possible; the calendar lies, I tell you!), so it may have changed, but I found it to be quite overgrown and hard to make out in reality; quite different from its neatly-mown appearance in the information sign photo.
The salt pans were still discernable though.
Yes – I always get a shock when I look back through my posts all the way back to 2011 when I started this walk, innocently thinking I would be finished in 5 at the most 10 years. But in the words of the great John Lennon “Life happens while you’re making other plans” I actually think someone else said that before him but…..
I love it when the place i’m staying goes the extra mile