This sounds like the way we went last September. Reluctantly we missed out Kidsty Pike because it was the really windy (and wet)day when we got the tail end of the hurricane. We walked from Patterdale along Ullswater and then cut across from Howtown. From Askham, paths and a bit of road walking, but not too mcuh - quiet road. We had intended to walk to the suspension bridge and along the river to Bampton but could see it was flooded so kept to the road. Luckily we were staying in Bampton!

The Coast to Coast walk is still on and booked up most bb, hostels and a bit of camping. Looking at the route, that I was thinking of using the Kidsty Pike section and omitting the Haweswater shore path and instead going around the head of the water to the main road, visiting the Haweswater hotel for a pint or two and maybe a light snack in there.

Anyone done this alternative.

Yes but not while 'Coasting'.
If you do decide on that you may as well go up the 'Old Corpse Road', out of the valley and then the route to Shap from there is easy to find on the OS map.
Dave.

Cheers, Dave, never thought of the Old Copse Road, trouble is, I won't get a pint. However, the OCR looks like a good alternative to do.

Hi all, I did the Coast to Coast walk after all and did the walk in 13 days, that was in mid-May. The accommodation was a mix of B&B, YHA, Bunk-House and Camping, which worked out pretty well. I carried all the gear, but maybe next time, it would be nice to have it carried by the luggage van. Weather, well what can I say, that apart from the 2 first days and the last day, it was very warm and sunny and on Live Moor, I recorded on my digi-temp gadget, 33c, that is hot. Best bed and breakfast was the Lion Inn, great meals and breakfast, not forgetting the beer. Wasn't too keen on the Jolly Farmers, next time it's camping or the hostel. Most expensive beer was the Patterdale Hotel, at £3.80, next time, keep it. Cheapest beer was White Lion in Kirkby Stephen. Patterdale stores do a wonderful Cumberland sausage baguette with loads of brown sauce, that was better than anything for lunch. Met loads of wonderful people on the walk, esq the yanks, there were really friendly. This is my 7th completed coast to coast walk to date and next month, I'm going complete the west half, that I did the east half last year and that will be my 8th crossing. Next year, I'm going to do the coast to coast again and maybe in 2014, I will do 2 halves and that will complete my 10th crossing.