When to Hike England’s Coast to Coast Path

The peak hiking season on the Coast to Coast starts at Easter. Numbers on the trail reach their highest during July and August before falling away again in September. The volume of walkers on the trail tails off quite quickly and by October the Coast to Coast is pretty quiet. Many places along the route start to shut down for the winter from this point and just a few people trek the route.

Taking everything into consideration, often the best times of year to hike the Coast to Coast are during the shoulder seasons, in late spring, such as May and June, and early autumn, such as August and September, when the weather is mild, conditions more stable and the crowds are smaller. But of course, each season has its magical moments. Below, read our seasonal guide to walking the Coast to Coast route to discover the best time of year to hike the iconic route.

As the spring turns into summer, the landscape comes into full bloom and you’ll pass through fields of wildflowers. Yorkshire’s hay meadows are in flower during June while the brightly coloured bell heather emerges on the moors in July and by mid-August the common heather starts to bloom, filling the air with a fragrant perfume.

The viewpoints at St Bee’s reveal thousands of guillemots crammed onto their breeding ledges, and kittiwakes, razorbills, herring gulls and fulmars are all easy to spot as you start the trail. Linnets, stonechats, whitethroats and rock pipits sing from the heath and gorse.

The longer days and prolonged periods of sunshine are ideal for exploring the national parks. Lakes and mountains take on a new hue, while shady forests provide shelter. In the towns and villages, local calendars brim with events and activities to look out for. It is generally sunny throughout the summer months but you’ll still be exposed to the odd summer shower or two, so don’t forget to bring a waterproof.

All of this means that there are increased numbers of hikers on the Coast to Coast are high and it can be busy, especially in the Lakes where walkers and day-trippers converge on the honeypot locations. Consequently, you’ll get the chance to meet plenty of other Coast-to-Coasters and chat with them along the route but you will have to compete with them for accommodation and places to eat in the popular village tearooms and pubs.

Walking the Coast to Coast in winter is feasible but best left to experienced hardy trekkers. The weather typically turns cold and wet, with the chance of snow. The days are short, and you’ll have less time to complete the stages of the trail. Sections of the route, especially the high-level paths through the Lake District, and traversing the vast moorlands, could be more dangerous and on occasions impassable.

Much of the accommodation and services along the route will also be closed meaning you’ll have to plan your route, day-by-day stages and places to stop carefully.

The benefit is that you’ll have tracts of the Lake District to yourself, and how often can you say that about a popular World Heritage Site? What’s more, the lakes, dales and moors make a dramatic backdrop for winter walking and, among the drier days, you might get brilliant, brisk winter conditions, with clear, crisp air, far-reaching views and some spectacular sights.