The New Lyke Wake Club

Self-Condolences: Andrew Kidd

Lyke Wake Walk 15 June 2026
Dirger: Andrew Kidd (supported by Jewell Kidd and Tilly Kidd, with Tilly joining for the last 15 miles)
Date: 15 June 2026, start 4.46am from LWW start/finish stone at Cod Beck Reservoir, finish 1.12am LWW start/finish stone near beacon at Ravenscar.

Walking time: 16hrs 37mins
Actual crossing time: 20hrs 26mins
Total distance: 39.1 miles, 63 km

My teenage self offers my deepest condolences to my 65 year old self. As a lad growing up in Newcastle, a good number of my school mates were doing the LWW. It was his idea and it took me a while to get around to it. Glad I did.

I had decided to go for it mid 2025 but realised I needed to get fitter and yet wanted to do it mid summer, for the longer day length. The time was well spent training up and preparing, including getting new inserts from my podiatrist and finding a better pair of boots (leading to no blisters!). My research suggested merino wool underlayers may help avoid chaffing and indeed they did. I took trekking poles which were very useful for some parts in particular and I, surprisingly, used them almost throughout the walk.

We had a cottage in Osmotherley for a week and I was hoping for one day that had better weather. Monday 15 June was the day. Mainly cloudy, some sun, a little headwind in parts, and only a sprinkle of rain towards the end.

The route essentially followed that suggested by Brian Smailes, with only a couple of minor accidental detours. I had plotted the route on plotaroute and downloaded the gpx file to Guru Maps app which really helped at a couple of uncertain moments.

I went to bed 8pm the night before and slept surprisingly well, getting up at 4am. I was so grateful to have Jewell and Tilly at the checkpoints. Tilly’s partner Dan is an extreme challenge nutritionist, fortunately. His advice was useful to ensure the prep of loading up with white rice etc for 24-36 hours before and having a white bread jam sandwich, a bottle of lucozade, a banana at most checkpoints, plus 30 grams of sugar each hour in between checkpoints (basically 9 jelly babies or equivalent). I stayed pretty well hydrated along the way also, I think.

It was great to have Tilly join me for the last three legs. It was getting dark towards the end of the second to last leg when we entered the “surprise” ravine at Jugger Howe. Half way down we somehow (my fault) went right instead of left and had to climb through undergrowth and bog along the bank to find the stepping stones. That leg took us about twice what would have been expected timewise. But we saw a couple of glow-worms which brought delight and added a bit of energy. Indeed, the wildlife, the birdlife and the views were amazing.

Tilly worked up a playlist for the last 2 mile leg which she described as the “lap of honour” leg. So, in the pitch black though headtorched, we sang along to such delights as “and I would walk 500 miles” and “these boots were made for walking” etc.. That helped the grind at the end.

Pretty stiff in the ankles the next day but managed to recover in time for a weekend at Tynedale Rugby 7s and Beer Festival. A perfect end.

Detailed Stats:
Andrew Kidd, supported by Jewell Kidd and Tilly Kidd
Start 4.46am, Finish 1.12am. Total time 20h 26mins.
Distance: 62.96km, 39.1 miles. Total gain 1,345m, Min elev 173m, Max elev 506m
Steps: 101,386
Calories estimate: 4,500
Time walking: 16h 37mins (ave pace 16:07 mins per km, max 11:14 mins per km)
Splits: fastest 12:26mins, slowest 28:51mins
Time resting: 3h 49mins
Time resting at checkpoints: 2h 12mins
Time resting between checkpoints: 1h 37mins

To checkpoint 1: 6 miles in 2h 32mins (deviation from Brian Smailes Guidebook +32mins) – break 19 mins
To checkpoint 2: 4 miles in 1h 58mins (deviation +28mins) – break 17 mins
To checkpoint 3: 9.5 miles in 3h 57mins (deviation +52 mins) – break 30 mins
To checkpoint 4: 5 miles in 2h 6mins (deviation +6mins) – break 32 mins
To checkpoint 5: 8.5 miles in 3h 37mins (deviation +37mins) – break 16 mins
To checkpoint 6: 5 miles in 3h 12mins (deviation +1h 32mins) – break 18 mins
To finish: 2 miles in 52mins (deviation +22mins)

Regards, Andrew Kidd