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.
Sadly we are now at the end of our journey along John Dalton Way as far as geocaching is concerned. It would have been nice to set the final cache on the sea front but, as with the start in Cockermouth, the area is already saturated with existing caches so this is not possible. No doubt that after signing the log, you will make your way to the very end of the John Dalton Way at the coast and have a seat and/or perhaps dip your toe in the water. For those of you purists who have walked the Way from start to finish, a very well done to you! You deserve it.