England’s Coast to Coast: Worthwhile Detours and Extras

There are 214 fells throughout the Lake District and Wainwright’s own series of seven beautifully illustrated guides make the perfect starting point for planning a climb or two. Of the fells close to the Coast Coast though, you might consider bagging the following:

Cat Bells

This fell might be small (451m) in comparison to some of its more mountainous neighbours but what it lacks in stature it more than makes up for in terms of location, views and accessibility.

Rising above the town of Keswick and pretty Derwent Water, it’s a shapely mountain in miniature. The route to the top is straightforward and the rewards are immense. Enjoy panoramic views of the Lake District’s fells and valleys stretching out around you, making it the perfect introduction to the national park.

Great Gable

Great Gable (899m), so named for the unmistakable silhouette it makes when seen from Wasdale, towers over the lake.

With access from a number of surrounding valleys, it’s a popular fell walk and a firm favourite with Lakeland walkers. The climb is fairly lengthy but uncomplicated and the views from the top certainly reward the effort. To the northwest, there are brilliant views of Ennerdale and surrounding mountains, including Haystacks, High Stile and Red Crag. Turn south and gaze at the Scafells.

Helvellyn

The third highest mountain in England (950m) has a distinctive shape, its corries and sharp ridges carved by glaciers during the last ice age. Sat just to the north of the official Coast to Coast route, it can be bagged during the walk on an alternative high-level path between Grasmere and Patterdale. Alternatively, climb it from Glenridding on the shores of Ullswater. All the routes to the top require a good degree of fitness and some scrambling. The legendary ridge scrambles on Striding Edge and Swirral Edge will also require some experience, a head for heights and good weather to complete them safely.

Scafell Pike

Claiming the summit of the highest mountain in England (978m) would be a feather in anyone’s cap. Its association with the Three Peaks Challenge has further boosted its popularity and during summer you’ll find lots of walkers tackling the climb. Wainwright identified six routes for ascending Scafell, none of which should be underestimated. The remote and scenic valley of Wasdale lies just to the west and makes a good starting point for a direct assault. Among the alternatives is a popular route from Borrowdale that is longer but less steep. All take you over the rough and exposed ground until you reach the top where you’ll navigate a boulder field where the paths are barely visible.

Among the storied landscapes you’ll walk through on the Coast to Coast are countless pretty villages and charming hamlets. In the surrounding area though there are a couple of established Lakeland towns that make worthwhile detours. And away from the Lakes, at the end of your trek you might take time to discover a nearby seaside resort full of history and myth.

Ambleside

Close to the northern tip of Windermere, the largest lake in England, stands this bustling town full of outdoor equipment shops, bookshops, craft shops, cafes and pubs. The long thin lake is the main attraction; steamers and launches operate on it and there’s a large raft of boating activities available.

Away from the lake take a short walk to discover Stock Ghyll Force, a spectacular 70-foot waterfall that used to power local watermills, or look out for the huge range of outdoor activities on offer from abseiling and climbing to bushcraft.

Keswick

The pretty market town of Keswick stands at the northern end of Derwent Water in the shadow of the huge bulk of Skiddaw. The lake is beautifully sited among mountains, which can be reflected in its mirror-still calm. Stroll its shoreline to soak up different panoramas or board one of the Keswick launches to cruise around the four islands that dot the lake, hopping on and off at various landing points. Look out too for opportunities to try sailing and windsurfing. Other outdoor activities available from this adventure mecca include ghyll scrambling, climbing and mountain biking. For something a little gentler, seek out the Keswick Museum & Art Gallery with a local history collection and original manuscripts from the Lake poets, stroll the twice-weekly market or enjoy the bustling atmosphere from the comfort of a tearoom.

Whitby

When you reach the end of the Coast to Coast walk at Robin Hood’s Bay, consider heading just a few miles up the coast to Whitby. On one side of the River Esk stands a cluster of 18th-century fishermen’s cottages, while on the other is a Victorian coastal town. Once home to Captain James Cook who learnt his trade here in the 18th century, it’s part bustling quayside and fishing port, part pretty seaside resort. And overlooking it all on a headland stands the atmospheric ruined abbey that acted as the inspiration and setting for part of Bram Stoker’s Gothic horror story Dracula. Stroll the blustery cliff tops along the Cleveland Way, stretch your legs in the Esk Valley or let the train take the strain and ride on one of the historic steam locomotives of the North York Moors Railway to the pretty villages of Grosmont or Goathland.

Learn more about Bram Stoker and his inspiration found in Ireland here.