www.longwalks.org.uk
The End to End Trail: Updates and Corrections
This page is where I'll be putting any updates and corrections to the End to End Trail. Please email me if you think you have anything that ought to be included here.
Day 11
I've been told the Royal Oak
at Luxborough is under new management, and I've had one report of a
disappointing lunch (Easter 2007). Maybe they were just unlucky - let
me know if you have a similar experience. On the positive side,
there is now also a teashop in Luxborough, open 2-6 from Easter.
Day 20
The Bird on the Rock Tea
Rooms at Abcott are now under new management, and have been renamed the
Rocke Cottage Tea Rooms. The phone number and opening days are
unchanged, and there is now a website as well: www.rockecottagetearoom.co.uk.
The best place for tourist information in Craven Arms is now the
Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre (GR435825) rather than the Paper
Shop. The centre is close to where you cross the footbridge over
the river as you enter Craven Arms.
Day 20 Map 4, Page 185
The route described from the
two gates by the road to Clapping Wicket isn't a right of way: the
official footpath is actually on the other side of the hedge (left),
partly along an old overgrown lane, rather than along the modern access
track (right). When I researched and walked the route the official path
was impossible to follow as there was no way out of the end of the
first field (GR419811). Thanks to Dave Potter for the information that
it is now possible to follow the official footpath. I haven't yet
been back to check for myself, so the following corrected description
is from memory and checking against the OS map:
1. Continue along the road past a right turn & then a
crossroads. Shortly after this, opposite a farm access road, turn right
to a stile (from memory) between two adjacent gates. Follow the
overgrown lane until you emerge into the field on the left, then keep
along the field edge to the corner at the top. There should now
be a way out of the field to enable you to continue in the same
direction (NE) to emerge near Clapping Wicket cottage and rejoin the
route described in the book.
Day 34
The shop / post office in
Dufton has closed down, so you will have to carry food from Middleton
unless you are going to rely on what the youth hostel and/or pub can
provide.
Day 57L Map 1, page 384
My sincere apologies for the
incorrect map on page 384. Instead of Day 57L Map 1 (Lairg to
Loch Beannach), the book repeats Day 57 Map 1 (Overscaig Bridge to Fiag
Bridge). Here is the correct map: Day 57L Map 1. Many thanks to Frank Ellam for pointing out this mistake. If you'd rather have this page in a pdf file with the coloured background like the book, you can download it from the Cicerone website.
Youth hostel closures
As the book went to press at
the end of 2006 the future of a number of youth hostels in England was
in doubt. The YHA had listed a number it was intending to close,
but in some cases they have been reprieved, or may still be reprieved,
by other people and organisations who appear to have more interest in
keeping rural hostels open than the YHA seems to do. Here's the
latest information I've been able to find:
Elmscott (End to End Trail Day 8). This hostel was sold by the YHA and closed, but it has now re-opened
as a franchised YHA hostel. It's in a beautiful location: please
stay there to help keep it open. Warning: getting there from Boscastle
YH in a day via the coastal path is an extremely hard day for any but
the superfit.
Quantock Hills, (Day 12). Closed down during 2007 (and left out of the book).
Hay-on-Wye (Day 18). A new hostel has opened in the middle of the town.
Langsett (Day 27). Closed down during 2007 (and left out of the book).
Earby (Day 29). This has
been sold by the YHA to Pendle Council, and it will remain open as a
franchised YHA hostel. A good place to stay.
Stainforth (Day 30). Closed down during 2007 (and left out of the book).
Keld (Day 32).
Unbelievably this has been closed and sold by the YHA. It has been bought by one of the LDP baggage carrying
companies, and has reopened as Keld Lodge - effectively a pub with accommodation: not the cheapest around, but at least there are some more beds back in Keld.
Baldersdale (Day 33) has
effectively closed as a walkers' hostel. You can only book it if
you book the whole hostel, and then only at weekends and during school
holidays.
Alston (Day 35) has been sold by the YHA but is remaining open as a franchised YHA hostel.
Greenhead (Day 36). This old chapel was
sold by the YHA to the local pub landlord. It is remaining open as a franchised YHA hostel.
Bellingham (Day 37) has closed.
There's a bunkhouse at the Demesne Farm campsite in the village though,
and places here can be booked through the YHA.
Byrness (Day 38). This
hostel has been
sold by the YHA and renovated (which it certainly needed). It is remaining open as a franchised YHA hostel.
Page last updated 15 August 2008