The walk has been devised by a small group of friends to celebrate 20 years of walking together. They refer to themselves as the Nuclear Striders as most of them have worked in the nuclear industry. They wished to devise an attractive walk which explores lesser walked paths in West Cumbria. The idea of a walk linking the two major events in the history of atomic physics which occurred in the remote area of West Cumbria emerged at the end of one of their annual dinners.
The walk itself is described in 5 legs in the booklet “Walk the John Dalton Way”. Maps and detailed walking instructions are included in the booklet and extracts from the text (with permission) are in the cache description. The walk begins in the historic market town of Cockermouth and each leg ends in a Cumberland village, Eaglesfield, Mockerkin, Ennerdale Bridge, Calder Bridge and finally Seascale. It passes through beautiful countryside with the Lake District Fells in view for much of the time. For a while it follows the River Calder before passing Calder Hall and finishing on the coast. The whole walk can easily be completed in 2 days by the seasoned walker, but the opportunity is given to proceed at a more leisurely pace.
These co-ordinates should take you to the road outside John Dalton Cottage, the birth place of John Dalton. There is a plaque and sign above the door talling you more about it. You need to gather 6 numbers from this vantage point
A= Last digit on the engraving above the door
B= On the nearby telegraph pole DP B20
C= Number of planes of glass in small window above the door.
D= Top number on rectangular concrete post on corner.
E= Bottom number minus top number on same rectangular concrete post
F= Last digit on yellow sign just below yellow sign "Danger of death" on nearby telegraph pole (same pole as B above)
The final co-ordinates are
N54 38.A (B-C-E) (C+D)
W003 24.(D-C) (A+F) (B-F)
PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO PARKING AT JOHN DALTON COTTAGE. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PARK OR EVEN STOP HERE. YOU WILL BE IN A DANGEROUS SPOT AND ANNOY THE RESIDENTS. IF YOU ARE NOT WALKING THE JOHN DALTON WAY AND ATTEMPTING THIS AS A DRIVE BY, PARK AT THE VILLAGE HALL (RECOMMENDED PARKING CO-ORDINATES) AND IT IS ONLY A SHORT WALK FROM THERE.