Ah....the 15 seat Ford Transit to the rescue...

MM used the miracle of communication to establish that we can, after all, rent and drive a minivan that will accommodate everyone. That changes everything! Here's the re-think:

Day 0: "Fancy meeting you here!"

All meet up in Carlisle, pick up minivan. Drive (together!) to St Bees.

Day 1: "Warm up"

Loop walk, 5-8 miles
Acquire provisions (snacks etc) for days ahead

Day 2: "Drawing straws to (not) be driver"

Drive 11 people and bags St Bees to Ennerdale 20 mins
(Walkers set off east, 11 mile walk)

Drive bags Ennerdale to Grasmere 50 mins
Drive Grasmere to Honister Hause 34 min
Walk west to meet rest of party
Walk back to Honister Hause with everyone

Drive 11 people Honister Hause to Grasmere 34 mins
Drink

Map of bus system (not that we need it any more, with the wonders of a 15 seat van!)

Day 3: "We can't all drive..."

As muscles scream from the previous day's hill climb, there may be great enthusiasm for being the driver today.

Drive 11 people west Grasmere to Rosthwaite 29 min
Walkers set off east, 9 miles 2000 ft el
Drive back to Grasmere 29 min
Driver walks west from Grasmere to meet eastbound walkers

Day 4: "8 miles till a rest day"

Simpler days beckon

Walkers set off east, 8 miles 1800ft el gain
Drive bags to Glenridding 38 mins
Driver walks west to meet eastbound crew

Day 5: "Sit down protest"

I picture us spending the day on the lawn of one of the hotels in the sunshine drinking gin and tonic. Except that it probably will be raining and none of us will have the energy to walk to the bar to get the drinks and, since we're not in Kansas any more, no-one will bring the drinks to us. So we'll just slump somewhere blob-like.

Day 6 and beyond: "Too far away to care"

The biggest walking and driving challenges will be behind us. We'll be a well-oiled machine (or a creaking, groaning, grumpy machine) so I'm not going to think this far ahead.