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    The Best Walks on England’s Coast to Coast If You Only Had 1-2 Days

    Author: Alex Stewart
    More by Alex

    Dip Your Toes Into England’s Coast to Coast

    England’s Coast to Coast walk is a classic long distance trail, an epic crossing of the country from St Bees in the west to Robin Hood’s Bay in the east. The route pioneered by famous fellwalker and guidebook author Alfred Wainwright runs 192 miles and typically takes around two weeks to tackle in a single go. This is a significant commitment and a serious undertaking. But what if you only had a day or two? Or wanted to get a taste of the Coast to Coast trail before signing up for a walking holiday across England?

    Below, we’ve picked out some of the best day walks for every ability level on the Coast to Coast route. Our selection includes coastal rambles on both sides of the country, easy valley walks and longer loops.

    Take Me Straight To:

    St Bees to Sandwith

    The Best Walks on England's Coast to Coast If You Only Had 1-2 Days - St Bees

    Taste the thrill of starting an epic long distance trail by completing just a tiny fraction of it. From ‘Mile Zero’ on the foreshore at St Bees, you’ll ascend the dramatic red sea cliffs and follow a blustery cliff top path with expansive views, pausing at RSPB birdwatching observation points to watch the huge number of seabirds that swoop alongside and nest on the cliff faces. Sandwith, pronounced ‘Sannith’, is the first village of note along the route. Grab a pint in the pub here, and then gently retrace your steps to St Bees.

    Route Details

    • Distance: 8 km/5 miles one way
    • Duration: 2 hours
    • Difficulty: Easy

    Ennerdale Water Circuit & Black Sail Hut

    The Best Walks on England's Coast to Coast If You Only Had 1-2 Days - Black Sail Hut

    Day two of the Coast to Coast walk provides an excellent opportunity to explore an unspoilt lake and climb into the heart of the hills on a reasonably straightforward loop. Kick-off by following the Coast to Coast path as it treads along the southern shore of Ennerdale Water, one of the less well-known and more remote bodies of water in the Lake District.

    The track is uneven and a bit of a scramble in places, but there are lovely views up the long Ennerdale Valley. At the end of the lake, pass through a dappled wood and climb up the valley in the shadow of mountains, including Great Gable and Pillar. At the head of the valley is the wonderfully remote YHA Black Sai. Today, the bothy operates as a hostel, but they are happy to let visitors use the toilets and kitchen facilities. The views from this site are superb. Once you’ve basked in their views, descend the valley on the same path to return to Ennerdale Water, then take the northern route to complete the circuit of the lake.

    Route Details

    • Distance: 8 km/11 miles
    • Duration: 7 hours
    • Difficulty: Moderate

    Grasmere to Patterdale

    The Best Walks on England's Coast to Coast If You Only Had 1-2 Days - grisdale tarn

    The section of the Coast to Coast walk from Grasmere to Patterdale is another classic outing in the Lake District, with the option to tailor the trek to your ability. At its simplest, the most direct route climbs from Grasmere to the heights of the pretty mountain lake of Grisedale Tarn. There is then a steady, straightforward descent of Grisedale Valley with views over Patterdale and Ullswater.

    Alternatively, from the tarn, you can choose two high-level routes that summit either the top of Helvellyn – England’s third-highest peak – or scramble over St Sunday Crag, a rugged path offering some spectacular mountain and lake scenes.

    If you’re feeling up to it and want to test your mettle, the route over Helvellyn is thrilling, with a vertiginous descent past Red Tarn and along the precipitous Striding Edge ridge to reach Patterdale. On the other side of the valley, the onward path via St Sunday Crag is less treacherous but delivers equally breathtaking vistas. The views back towards Ullswater are reputed to be among the best you’ll see on the Coast to Coast walk.

    Once in the quiet village of Patterdale, you can stop here among some of the Lake District’s most magnificent scenery in search of the resident red squirrels. Alternatively, for a longer walk, return to Grasmere. If you choose to do this, perhaps combine the direct descent with the St Sunday Crag climb on the way back.

    Route Details (Direct)

    • Distance: 13.5 km/8.5 miles
    • Duration: 3.5 hours (4.5-5.5 hours for high routes)
    • Difficulty: Moderately (Challenging for high routes)

    Keld to Reeth

    The Best Walks on England's Coast to Coast If You Only Had 1-2 Days - muker

    The charming village of Keld sits at the head of Swaledale and once stood at the heart of the local lead-mining industry. From here, the Coast to Coast walk continues via two routes. Wainwright’s original high-level route explores the moors, uncovering their industrial past by visiting smelting mills and ruins, with the opportunity to spot pheasants, grouse and deer on the open heath. In contrast, the low-level route follows the Swaledale Valley and is a scenic walk by the river through farmland with the chance to pause in pleasant villages like Muker, just off the trail, and Gunnerside. Your endpoint is Reeth, the self-styled ‘capital’ of Swaledale and an archetypal Yorkshire Dales village.

    Route Details

    • Distance: 18.5 km/11.5 miles
    • Duration: 4.5 hours
    • Difficulty: Easy

    Glaisdale to Grosmont

    Grosmont Train Station, Steam Train

    The short walk from Glaisdale to Grosmont is a gentle way to explore the pretty Esk Valley. From the village of Glaisdale sprawled across the slopes above the Esk, walk down the river to Egton Bridge, one of the most stunning spots on the Coast to Coast walk. Hop across the stepping stones here to an uninhabited island, admire the charming houses in the village and perhaps pause for a pint.

    The final section is a leisurely riverside amble along an old toll road to Grosmont. If you time your arrival right, you can catch one of the North York Moors Railway steam engines puffing its way into the station. These locomotives featured as the ‘Hogwarts Express’ in the original Harry Potter film. If you’re looking to fill the rest of your day, it’s worth taking a short ride on the rails to the next station, Goathland, from where you can walk back. Alternatively, put your feet up and tuck into a cream tea at one of the delightful tearooms in the village.

    Route Details

    • Distance: 6.5km/4 miles
    • Duration: 1.5 hours
    • Difficulty: Easy

    Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay

    The Best Walks on England's Coast to Coast If You Only Had 1-2 Days - robin hood's bay

    The Coast to Coast finishes as it begins, with a stirring clifftop stroll. To get a feel for the elation that comes with completing the route, walk from Whitby with its ruined abbey and Dracula connections to Robin Hood’s Bay. The trail out of Whitby is on the Cleveland Way rather than the Coast to Coast path, but the two come together to curl south along the cliff tops for the last few miles.

    There are plenty of places to watch seabirds and soak up the seascapes, while Wainwright’s masterful route planning means that the beautiful tumble of Robin Hood’s Bay is hidden from sight until the very last mile.

    When you reach the village, follow the steep street down to the slipway on the North Sea shore, where a small sandy beach is exposed at low tide too. Celebrate with the Coast-to-Coasters who have completed the walk across England and nip into the Bay Hotel just above the slipway for a pint in Wainwright’s Bar – it’s up to you how far you tell them you’ve come!

    Route Details

    • Distance: 11.5km/7 miles
    • Duration: 2.5 hours
    • Difficulty: Easy

    Inspired to Walk Across England?

    Inspired to put on your walking boots and hit the trails? Find out more about our Coast to Coast guided walking holiday.

    View Trip Details

    Hike the Full Coast to Coast Trail

    Wilderness England Departure DatesAvailabilityStatusPriceBook
    Wilderness Walking – England Coast to Coast

    20th Apr - 2nd May 2025

    10 place(s) leftAvailable 4,495Book Now
    Wilderness Walking – England Coast to Coast

    18th May - 30th May 2025

    10 place(s) leftAvailable 4,495Book Now
    Wilderness Walking – England Coast to Coast

    15th Jun - 27th Jun 2025

    10 place(s) leftAvailable 4,495Book Now
    Wilderness Walking – England Coast to Coast

    13th Jul - 25th Jul 2025

    10 place(s) leftAvailable 4,495Book Now
    Wilderness Walking – England Coast to Coast

    10th Aug - 22nd Aug 2025

    10 place(s) leftAvailable 4,495Book Now
    Wilderness Walking – England Coast to Coast

    7th Sep - 19th Sep 2025

    10 place(s) leftAvailable 4,495Book Now

    Meet the Author: Alex Stewart

    A childhood being marched up hills and highpoints on family holidays has translated to a lifetime love of the outdoors. This led to a career working with tour operators and walking companies that, twinned with a passion for writing, has taken me on adventures all around the world. Over 20 years, I’ve explored and written about walking, trekking, hiking and tramping in places as far apart as New Zealand, Peru and the Swiss Alps, for guidebooks, newspapers, magazines and websites. These days I’m on a mission to prove that the UK offers as much adventure as anything you’ll find overseas. I’ve found a lot of joy in experiencing wild places close to home, sharing stories of the wildlife, history and heritage we have on our doorstep while also introducing my young family in turn to the outdoors. Home-grown adventures include racing coast-to-coast across Scotland and walking and cycling across England. I have trekked the Pembrokeshire and Norfolk coasts, claimed Yorkshire’s three peaks, hiked a number of our national trails, and camped in wild places while bagging Wainwrights and Munros. Friends joke though that, in many ways, alongside the pursuit of the perfect sausage roll, all this activity is really just an excuse to seek out artisan scotch eggs and local craft ales to try…

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