Let us take you on the UK’s iconic ‘Coast to Coast’ - without a doubt one of the world’s greatest walks! As Wainwright himself says:

“There cannot be a finer itinerary for a long-distance walk”.

The Coast to Coast way route is around 182-miles (290km) long. Beginning at the Irish Sea at St Bees and finishing at the North Sea at Robin Hood’s Bay, you will pass through the windswept crags and fells of the Lake District, the wild and empty moorland of the Yorkshire Dales, and the rugged heather expanse of the North York Moors. Expect anything from rivers, quarries, meadows, farms, and peaty bogs along the way.

TWP has planned this trek with hard walking but comfort in mind. We won’t be carrying heavy back packs and we will stay in quiet, untainted villages and hamlets, enjoy the hospitality of a great variety of Bed and Breakfast establishments, and of course sample good ales in the local Inns where you can enjoy a drink in the warmth among your fellow trekkers – not to mention the warm and humorous Yorkshire locals!

An experience of a lifetime!

Our 15 day-trip includes all accommodation and breakfasts. Packed Lunches and evening meals are available from the pubs we will be staying in.

The trek will be led by a guide and arranged by Andrew Wigington. All baggage will be transported between accommodation.

15-DAY ITINERARY

Average 15 miles per day (24km)

What’s Included:

15 nights accommodation - in pubs and B & Bs. Accommodation all booked.

15 breakfasts

Fully guided and supported - no heavy back packs to carry, luggage moved each day to next location. You will only carry your day pack with water and personal items.

A Copy of Wainwrights - A Coast to Coast - book

Map of the walk

Trekking with Purpose T Shirt

What’s Not included:

Evening Meals - which are available at our accommodation. Average price 25 pounds

Packed lunch - prepared by our accommodation. Average price 7 pounds

Transport to starting point of our walk. Transport at end of the walk.

Overnight Itinerary

14/09/2023 – Overnight in St. Bees - pre start of the walk. Meet all other walkers.

15/09/2023 – Overnight in Ennerdale

16/09/2023 – Overnight in Rosthwaite

17/09/2023 – Overnight in Grasmere

18/09/2023 – Overnight in Patterdale

19/09/2023 – Overnight in Shap

20/09/2023 – Overnight in Kirkby Stephen

21/09/2023 – Overnight in Keld

22/09/2023 – Overnight in Reeth

23/09/2023 – Overnight in Richmond

24/09/2023 – Overnight in Northallerton

25/09/2023 – Overnight in Osmotherley

26/09/2023 – Overnight in Blakey

27/09/2023 – Overnight in Grosmont

28/09/2023 – Overnight in Robin Hoods Bay. End of walk.

Walk Itinerary (subject to change)

Day 1 Arrival St. Bees

Over night at St Bees before the walk starts - meet the walkers.

Day 2 St. Bees – Ennerdale Bridge 23 km 705m

Following the tradition of the C2C and collect a stone from the beach in St. Bees, which you will carry over to Robin Hood Bay on the North Sea. The trip starts with a walk along the sea, then turns towards the village of Sandwith. Goodbye Irish Sea!! Then pass the villages of Moor Row and Cleator. A little up and down the coast, looked relatively flat and finally the first hill – Dent Fell - before arriving at the small village of Ennerdale Bridge.

Day 3 Ennerdale Bridge – Rosthwaite 23 km 530m

You're now inside the Lake District National Park and the day starts with walking along Ennerdale Water with cracking views of the approaching fells.

This is one of the two sections that you have a couple of options – go high up to Red Pike and over High Stile onto the iconic Haystacks and past Inominate Tarn (where Wainwright’s ashes were scattered) OR the gentler walk up to Black Sail Youth Hostel and then up Loft Beck. Both options come together before Honister Slate mine and descent into the village of Rosthwaite.

Day 4 Rosthwaite – Grasmere 15km 600m

A little shorter stage today, but the ascent to the day's only peak, Greenup Edge, is steep and demanding. The view from here is another iconic picture, of beautiful landscape and unique of the Lake District. Grasmere is one of the larger towns you visit on the Coast to Coast. A honeypot for visitors – for good reason – including the Wordsworth Museum and his Dove Cottage.

Day 5 Grasmere – Patterdale 14 km 500m (Grisedale Hause route option)

The other section that gives you a choice of route. All climb up to Grisedale Hause with nice views backwards towards Grasmere. From there, you can go even higher and up the famous Helvellyn peak, onto St Sunday Crag or into the landscape that opens in front of you – as far as Ullswater - and descend down Grisedale into Patterdale.

Day 6 Patterdale – Bampton 19 km 990m

The day starts with another climb with very impressive views all round including across to Fairfield, Helvellyn, Hartsop and Kirkstone Pass. Beside Angle Tarn and eventually across High St (old Roman path) and onto Kidsty Pike - the highest point on the Coast to Coast. Amazing views down to Haweswater and Riggindale. Descend down to Haweswater – formed in the 1930’s to provide water to the cities of the North West – and an undulating walk into the cute village of Bampton.

Day 7 Bampton – Orton 21 km 150m

Less climbing than the previous two days and initially through fields to the first stop at Shap Abbey, ruins of a monastery founded in the 13th century. The monks abandoned it to Henry 8th in 1540 and since then it has been here as a memory of a bygone era. After passing through the small town of Shap the route crosses into the Westmorland Fells part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It's the end of dramatic granite rocks and into open limestone landscape through to the village of Orton.

Kirkby Stephen 20 km 385m

This stage runs through an open landscape with few villages, remote houses and farms. Wide open views towards to distant Pennines (tomorrow’s challenge) and the distinctive Howgills. One highlight is Smardale Bridge, a stunning piece of Victorian architecture and bridge building on a long-gone railway. Then it’s on and into Kirkby Stephen in the heart of the lovely Eden Valley. A lively small town with welcoming pubs, cafes and restaurant.

Day 8 Kirkby Stephen – Keld 19 km 515m

Today, the landscape is becoming more hilly again as climbs up pass over the Nine Standards - a very distinctive feature on the fell, the crossing from Cumbria into Yorkshire and also the watershed between the Irish Sea and the North Sea. You leave Kirkby Stephen via the picture postcard village of Hartley. There are 3 route options over the fell to Keld depending on the season. Green (December – April), red (May – July) and blue (August – November). They all pass Ravenseat Farm, where the famous author and Dales personality – Amanda Owens aka the Shepherdess – lives and runs a unique cafe. Keld is today's target, the former lead-mining village. Very peaceful.

Day 9 Keld – Reeth 19 km 545m

Today you have the choice between a route over the mountain or a route along the valley. The former goes across almost moonscape like grouse moors and ruins from the lead-mining era whereas the latter is through the iconic Swaledale of stone barns and walls. Whatever you choose, you'll arrive at Reeth, another picture postcard village in the Dales and welcoming pubs.

Day 10 Reeth - Richmond 19 km 335m

Today's stage is more pleasant and not-too-demanding walking across meadows and villages. Sights along with way include Marrick Priory, formed as a nun's monastery in the 12th-century Benedictine order, abandoned during the 16th-century religious wars. Finishes in the largest town on the Coast to Coast. Richmond has plenty of historical interest – including Norman Castle – things to see and do, and plenty of choices of places to eat and drink.

Day 11 Richmond – Danby Wiske 22 km 70m

Today's stage is flat and easy-going getting you across the Vale of Mowbray. In Bolton-on-Swale you can visit St. Mary's Church dating back to 14th century. Mainly through farmland and along quiet country lanes.

Danby Wiske – Ingleby Cross/Osmotherley 15km 100m

A continuation of the previous across more mainly flat farmland that brings you to the edge of the N York Moors. Some nice features along the way.

Day 12 Ingleby Cross/ Osmotherley – Clay Bank Top 19 km 775m

Now into the 3rd and the last national park on the trek - The North York Moors. Initially passing through woodland climbing up to give superb views both back to Richmond and ahead towards the North Sea. The very distinctive Moors landscape of wide expanses of heather and crags like the Wain Stones.

Day 13 Clay Bank Top – Blakey Ridge 16km 75m

It feels like being on the high mountain, but the North York Moors is only 4-500 meters above sea level. Today's stretch brings you across the plateau, along the route of abandoned mine railway to The Lion Inn pub – so distinct as the only building for miles around and the third highest pub in England. Originally a 16th-century hunting lodge.

Day 14 Blakey Ridge – Grosmont 22km 100m

From Blakey Ridge the route is mainly flat and downhill besides Great Fryup Dale and into Glaisdale before a sting in the tail to get up and down into Egton Bridge then nearby Grosmont (with the famous N York Moors steam railway).

Day 15 Grosmont – Robin Hood Bay 25km 480 / 500m

From Grosmont you initially have one of the steepest road climbs up onto the moor before descending into beautiful Littlebeck – but not before catching glimpse of the sea and Whitby Abbey. Through Falling Foss woods which are almost medieval in nature and with a number of follies. Then it’s over the last sections of the Moors with the call of the ocean beckoning. The final section through from High Hawsker is along the top of the Jurassic cliffs – stunning coastal scenery and you may even catch sight of a dolphin. Round the final bend to see Robin Hood’s Bay and your final descent through the beautiful old fishing village to through your stone into the North Sea. The goal has been reached. You've crossed England.