By the way, after re reading my first post in this subject, I may have left the impression that LWM's route contained a lot of road rather than paths. To avoid confusion, this is not what I was meaning, the reference to roads was directed at my own route.
In fact both our routes contain roughly the same road mileage, but in different areas.
I was considering asking Mick if it was ok to use his route through the Lakes in reverse, but then thought I'd really like to reverse my last line instead.
Anyway before any of this we are having a week in the Cotswolds. When we return I may change my mind completely and go for 5 day (non self sufficient) high level route instead.
Dave.

It did indeed appear that way Dave... though this set me on a course of working out just how much road my route choice involved compared to Wainwright's.
Well, just to clarify the matter, with a little free time on my hands of late, I've had some time to check over my figures from last year:

Day1 - I make W/W's total mileage between RHB and Lovesome Hill (depending on how much road is used at the head of Rosedale) to be just over 12 or 13 miles.
My own route has a mere 4.86 miles.

WW's longer stretches are from the caravan park to Graystone turn off at 2.22 - (the longer being 3.03 if all rd is used at the hd of Rosedale) - Grosmont tarmac accounts for 1.5m.

My longest stretch comes early on at Bridgeholme Lane - 1.62m, followed by Ingleby to A19 at 1.02m (which is WW anyway)

Day 2(L/Hill to Keld) via W/Wright longest section looks like the long Streetlam to Whitwell section @ 3.48m*- which compares favourably to my own of 3.89 (Hard Stiles)
My own daily total of rd miles coming out provisionally at 12.85m compared to WW's 11.11m - slightly over on Day2 then, but not so much to get excited about...

* both calcs using the Footpath section between DW and Streetlam - ie. rd from DW, then Fpath and back to rd to Whitwell (all rd would make this 1.27m more tarmac)

Day3 (Keld to Kentmere) works out less favourably:
Relying on the road section in Birkdale (mine - not your suggested alt to boundary Dave - though this may prove better yet) becomes the longest stretch at 3.66m (though there is a footpath stretch that would reduce this by 1.45m) and a section to Tebay of 2.39m. Daily total road currently then works out at 11.67, whereas WW's is a mere 7.22 (7.37 if using Brownber, R/Stonedale Moor to Orton route) enroute to Shap.

Day4 (Kentmere to SBees) entails 7.26m (longest stretch being at Skelwith Bridge @ 1.94m followed by Cleator Moor @ 1.81m.
WW's road total section from Shap to finish works out at 6.67m (though this does include Sandwith up to quarry - not shown as metalled on O/S but is in fact all the way to Quarry Bungalows)

So, for what it's worth, total road sections:
Mine: 36.64
W/W's: 37.02

To be fair Alf chose quiet roads where possible, but something has to go to reduce the overall distance and my choice of Kiplin to Bolton Cross, Hard Stiles alt and Birkdale to Lune Valley can clearly be justified with the outcome of a swifter crossing. If anyone can come up with a better plan, I'd like to hear it,
cheers
lwm

Just had a quick road mileage check on my proposed direct line for the C2C and as I previously said, it is roughly the same as LWM's proposed route. I get mine at around 35 miles, so in fact AW's, Mine and Micks are so close, it's not worth arguing about.
Just shows that even working out a more direct line than AW's original route, you have to use 'some' road sections.
Dave.

Correction to my previous. I can't add up. My road mileage comes in at 40 miles not 35 as stated.
Dave.

I think some have the notion that staying to roads will make the whole thing shorter and somehow easier - but keeping to a direct line makes using entirely road even would be totally impracticle. It has to be a mixture of whatever gets in the way. I have to admit that my preferred choice does involve 2 'busier' sections - then again it depends on what time of day you'll be using a particular section anyway... (sorr, keep getting distracted here...)

...impractical as well

I do agree Mick. In fact the AW route probably makes use of the least amount of road that you could get away with, and as you say as straight a line as possible, means that extra road miles is inevitable. It's those long straight road miles that I particularly don't like, so personaly would try to avoid. That road from Orton to near Sunbiggin Tarn, I remember being particularly bored with on my last crossing, but for as near a direct line as possible on my route, I guess it will have to be done.
Dave.

Re the Orton road section - look at it this way Dave, Raisbeck/Grimesmoor at least is more E/W than the Mazon Wath choice which is much more N/S.
As for road -
via Mazon Wath: 1.84m (acc. for the shortcut at Lousy Brow); S/bigginFm/Acres adds .66m makes 2.5m (then a further .75 if missing Orton by Scarside)
Raisbeck alt: 2.25m (using FP from Bland Hse) then there's the additional half-mile Brownber to the moor Xing but this is wide and grassy easy walking beside the road making the Ravonstonedale Moor Xing a far better choice for F&L.
On my 1st Xing I found it most dispiriting to be heading NE after Smardale Bridge following that mad loop to get to the N of Bents Farm and the Mazon Wath Rd...
Sadly though there is no better alternative on my choice further south in the Lune Valley than the 2.36m into Tebay - though it won't be boring as every step would take me that bit nearer to a little respite in the form of The Old School Tea Rooms - mind you I should make a note that they be closed on Tuesdays...

What about those stepping stones, have they been replaced/rebuilt?
Dave.

dunno dave - one obstacle less - check out 2nd post on that thread. Might be a tad shorter by Old Tebay though...