Day 61: Pennine Way - Bellingham to Cottonshopeburnfoot

Day 15 on the Pennine Way, the penultimate one. A very easy day all things considered, over low lying moors and along forestry tracks. 

• Date: 20 May 2024
• Start: Bellingham
• End: Cottonshopeburnfoot
• Miles: 14.0
• Total miles: 801.7
• Accommodation: Border Forest Holiday Park

I popped back to the Co Op this morning to stock up on supplies for the next two days. Lots of food is going to be needed!

I then set off up a fairly big hill onto a moor. There’s really nothing around, just some bogs. 

I caught up to Ruth and Alan again while they were taking a break, then ventured into a forest. 

Sadly, the forest path is just along a track used by logging vehicles. Very dull and hard on the feet. I did catch up with Neil from yesterday though and chatted to him as I approached camp, which distracted us both from the cumbersome path. 

I arrived in the hamlet of Cottonshopeburnfoot, where I was due to camp at the back of a holiday park, right next to the Pennine Way. 

There’s not much in Cottonshopeburnfoot, well nothing at all, hence why I needed to bring all my food with me. 

The others I’ve been walking with the last few days are all staying in a bed and breakfast down the road from Cottonshopeburnfoot, about a mile further along the path. Considering I’m in a hostel for two nights tomorrow, I decided to take the cheap option, and camp at the holiday park in Cottonshopeburnfoot. 

Once the tent was set up at the bottom of the holiday park in Cottonshopeburnfoot, I went and used the shower at the holiday park in Cottonshopeburnfoot. 

The tent was in a terrific spot, right next to a river, at the bottom of the holiday park in Cottonshopeburnfoot. 

Tonight’s dinner is a lovely combination of instant mash, minced beef and onion, and peas. I’ll enjoy this meal on the picnic bench next to my tent at the bottom of the holiday park in Cottonshopeburnfoot. 

Tonight is my last night in England, and it’s a very, very early start tomorrow. 

Tomorrow is probably the second biggest milestone day of the entire walk, apart from the last day of course. It’s the longest day, at 26.2 miles it’s exactly a marathon. I’ll cross the border into Scotland, and I’ll finish the Pennine Way. 

The alarm is set for 4am, ready for what will probably be a 12 to 13 hour walk from the holiday park in Cottonshopeburnfoot, to Kirk Yetholm. See you in Scotland!