I totally agree with your sentiments. However, I was a few thousand miles away from home and am not as robust as I used to be; therefore alternatives were not open to me. Plus, as the Sherpa driver told me, the accommodations along the C2C route are near saturation owing the influx of foreign walkers and the fact that many UK residents are now taking their holidays in UK. The above situation being the case, it is no wonder that prices have risen and the owners can pick and choose who they want staying. A very pleasant landlady told me that she is now turning away single walkers as she can make more money on couples. The only reason I got a room was because of a motorised travellers cancellations owing to bad weather.

I am not complaining, just commenting, as I thoroughly enjoyed the hike and the contact with the people I meet. I will however review the financial situation more closely before next travelling to UK.

i think if i do walk the walk again, the bb will have to be under a hedge.

I understand, after a hard days walking convience is all you want, but twenty five pounds for a pub meal is a crime.

Although I understand these companies are out to make a quick buck, walkers still need to make a stand and provide feedback about pricing like you have done and also let the companies know what you think about there prices. By being greedy they will end up with out any buisness, just like europe has become expencive to travel too, hence people have decided to stay at home, the lake district will end up being known as an expencive option and people will turn away in droves and then they will have no buisness, so its in there interest to remain affordable. If people are happpy to pay it then so be it, but I for one will make a stand and will not be ripped off.

if any one knows of cheaper places to eat at, it will be good to know about them.

The whole C2C crossing can work out to be very expensive, i worked out on an average of £650 for B+B'S for 15 nights plus bagadge transfers. Thats with out allowing for evening and lunchtime meals.
I think the best value i found was the Royle Oak in Rothswaite £50 for the night that sound expensive but it includes evening meal. The food is fantastic and rooms are great. I have stayed there 3 times always a warm welcome. They even come and wake you for beakfast if you over sleep.

Having started this subject and read the replies, I thought that I had better look out the bills for the trip, as follows:

Stone house Farm St. Bees
B&B £35.0
Pub meal £17.00
Packed lunch £2.30

Shepherds Arms Ennerdale Bridge
B&B £50.00
Meal £17
Packed lunch £3.95

Royal Oak Rosthwaite
B&B £57 (includes evening meal)
Packed lunch £2.50

Glenthorne Guesthouse Grasmere
B&B £52
Pub meal £12.00
Packed lunch £4.50

White Lion Patterdale
B&B £36.00
Meal £12.68
Packed lunch £6.15

Crown & Mitre Bampton
B&B £40.00
Meal £18.20
Packed lunch £5.00
Pint Black Sheep £2.20
Best food on trip although expensive

Brookfield Guesthouse Shap
B&B £35.00
Pub meal £20.50
Packed lunch £4.00

Barnhouse Orton
B&B £40.00
Pub meal £14.25
Packed lunch £3.00

Jolly Farmers Kirkby Stephen
B&B £40.00
Pub meal £13.00
Packed lunch £2.00

Butthouse Keld
B&B £55.00 (includes meal)
Packed lunch £2.50

Black Bull Reeth
B&B £40.00
Meal £18.25 (Questionable quality)
No packed lunch
A pint of Theakstones £3.20
This was the worst B&B on the route

Old Brewery Richmond
B&B £55.00
Pub meal £9.00
Best B&B for trip
Evening meals were difficult to find in Richmond.

I have not included the amounts spent on ales for the trip, but the prices across the pubs varied between £2.20 and £3.20. The majority were in the region of £2.40 to £2.80.

I did not go mad with the evening meals; just a healthy starter and main dish. I rarely eat desserts. On average I drank about two pints ale per night. I filled my water bottles from the taps in the B&B rooms. The packed lunches were normally one ham & cheese sandwich, a bar of Mars and a banana.

I believe that my total out goings for the trip for B&B, food and drink was in the region of £800.00

I hope that this note clarifies some of the questions that have come up.

Thanks for the guide. I can see it wont be cheap, so I have decided to self cook and aybe have the odd meal.

Thanks Mark

Of course you have to remember that Old Un's accomadation prices are for a single which I know from experience is not much less (sometimes the same) as a double. For us solitary walkers that is the "price" we have to bear.

Geof