PW2010 – Planning Update #2

I know, I know.. another update so soon? I’ve been busy – I’ve got a route planned (mostly) and I’m starting to add the pieces of the B&B puzzle into place.

For a while I gave some thought to not using a baggage courier and saving some money – but I’ve found somewhere that will do it for about £200 now, so all-in-all that’s not too bad when you think there’s 18 stops – only about £10 per drop. I think I’m willing to pay that much for the knowledge that I can wear clean underwear nearly every day and I can carry a couple of books and a change of shirt, fleece, trousers etc.

The route I have planned is as follows:

1. Edale to Crowden
2. to Bleak Hey Nook
3. to Hebden Bridge
4. to Cowling
5. to Malham
6. to Horton in-R
7. to Hawes
8. to Keld
9. to Bowes
10. to Middleton in-T
11. to Dufton
12. to Garrigill
13. to Greenhead
14. to Once Brewed
15. to Bellingham
16. to Byrness
17. to Kirk Yetholm

I have a nice three days between Hawes and Middleton, thanks to the Bowes alternative – that’s 3 days of about 12 miles per day – almost the same as a rest day. And then I have a 7 or 8 mile day between Greenhead and Once Brewed, another stroll.

I’ve selected B&Bs based on lists from the Sherpa site and the National Trail website for the path and then chosen them based on proximity to the path, having an email address and having a single room. Not everyone has singles though, so the first criteria comes into play then – how far from the path do I need to walk?

Using establishments with an email address allows me to speculatively enquire about availability and nightly rates for multiple places in the same town, without immediately having to make a choice – it’s just a personal thing – I tend to make rash decisions on the phone and have ended up booking places without looking at alternatives first. So now I filter with email and then ring and confirm.

So far I’ve emailed places up to Bowes – 1 in each village to begin with. I’ve used google extensively to search for comments for each B&B and the Sherpa site records walkers’ comments for some places and they can be helpful if they’re not 5 years old.

I’ve also had 6 out of 9 responses – all with availability and all saying “of course it’s not too early to book for next May”, once place has already taken a booking for September! Keld Lodge is in the bag – quite expensive, but well worth it I think. Some places are even more expensive though – B&Bs in Hebden Bridge seem to be able to charge whatever they like for a room – especially as it’s a Friday night I’ll be there – I’ll be paying £45 that night – shocking!

More to follow….