England’s Coast to Coast:
The Essential Guide

Welcome to everything you need to know about England’s renowned Coast to Coast hiking trail. Traversing the country’s width and passing through three of England’s most stunning National Parks, this brilliantly engaging and historic walking route weaves through some of the most captivating English countryside.

Total Distance/Length of the C2C		310 km/192 miles (depending on route)
National Parks		The route passes through 3 of England’s National Parks: the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors
Highest Point		780 m/2,559 feet, the summit of Kidsty Pike
How Many Days Does the Coast to Coast Take?		12-14 days
How Many Steps is England’s Coast to Coast?		440,000 (Based on the average stride)
History of the Coast to Coast Walk		Alfred Wainwright devised the Coast to Coast walk in 1973 by combining various other trails. The route is to become an official National Trail in 2025.

The Coast to Coast is a walker’s dream, connecting St Bees in the west to Robin Hood’s Bay in the east. Devised by Alfred Wainwright in the 1970s, the 192 miles of pathways, tracks and roads across Northern England are some of the most spectacular in the country. Linked together, they provide an amazing opportunity to just put on your boots and get away from it all. Sinking into the simple routine of walking, eating, and sleeping is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Read on for an insider peek from one of our expert guides, Joanna Roberts, at what it is really like walking coast to coast across England.

What is Walking Coast to Coast Across England Like?

For most people, the epic, two-week walk across England on Wainwright’s Coast to Coast trail is enough of a challenge in itself. Due to the distances involved each day and the number of walking stages on a complete 190-plus-mile itinerary, there isn’t usually much appetite or time for taking a detour or trying to add more in. That said, the Lake District was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, and it would be a shame not to explore it more fully! We’ve picked the best add-ons to England’s Coast to Coast, presenting additional fells to climb, lakes to visit and towns to explore so that you can get even more out of your walking holiday and time away.

England’s Coast to Coast: Worthwhile Detours and Extras

Looking to go it alone on England’s iconic route, the Coast to Coast? We have plenty of solo travellers joining our group departures.

You might be choosing to travel on your own for various reasons; solo travellers aren’t just single people. If you want to travel solo but not alone, join a guided walking group.

When you travel with Wilderness England on our Coast to Coast walking holidays, you’ll join a small group made up of other solo travellers, couples and friends. That way, you’ll get the authenticity of going away on your own and the benefit of being with like-minded people.

Here we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about travelling solo on our walking tour as well as some top tips if you’re travelling solo independently.

Hiking as a Solo Traveller on the England Coast to Coast

About St Bees

The village of St Bees, situated close to Cumbria’s westernmost point on the Irish Sea, has a history dating back to 850 AD. The name, ‘St Bees’, is said to have come from the Norse name for the village ‘Kyrkeby becok’, which can be translated as ‘Church town of Bega.’ Bega is the village’s local saint, an Irish princess who fled across the sea to escape a forced marriage with a Viking prince. A Benedictine priory was built on the site in the 12th century, and subsequently, an agricultural community established itself here.

These days it remains a relatively quiet, rural village comprising of old farm buildings dating back to the 17th century. Its magnificent, mile-long sandy beach is one of the best on the western Lake District coast and the site of an important ritual when preparing to embark on the Coast to Coast trail: a dip in the sea. Well, maybe a full head-to-toe plunge isn’t strictly necessary, but many do consider at least a shallow paddle to be the only proper way to begin your adventure.

About Robin Hood’s Bay

After you have happily traversed the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the captivating Yorkshire Moors, you will arrive in the beautiful village of Robin Hood’s Bay. A narrow, cobbled street snakes its way down to the seashore, where beautiful houses are stacked in a lovely jumble of old stone, white windows and wildflower window boxes. The winding alleys and ginnels, which sailors, fishermen and smugglers would have once walked, are now home to a fabulous mix of cafes, candlelit pubs and small independent shops.

Unlike St. Bees, the origin of the village’s name remains a mystery. What is known is that in the 18th century, Robin Hood’s Bay was the busiest smuggling community on the Yorkshire coast. Its isolated geographical location offered this well-organised and lucrative business the perfect aid. With so many hiding places and secret passageways known only to the locals, it is said that contraband could travel from the bottom of the village to the top without ever leaving the houses. This meant that vast quantities of gin, brandy, tea, tobacco and French lace were spirited away from the ships and sold on the black market. Nowadays, trade leans more towards tourism than treasure, with the village lying on the Cleveland Way footpath and our Coast to Coast trail, where it makes a fitting finale.

With an epic route traversing England’s wild north, it may seem impossible to identify the most beautiful bits. But even in the most extraordinary landscapes, certain regions stand out as remarkable. And, of course, each of the national parks has a very distinct unique character. What are the best sections of the Coast to Coast by region?

Best Sections of England’s Coast to Coast Trail

The Coast to Coast Path kicks off with a day full of variety and your first challenge. ‘Mile Zero’ on the path is at the Coast to Coast monument on the Irish Sea shore at St Bees. Get your boots wet, grab a pebble to carry across the country, and, with traditions ticked off, climb the steep red sandstone cliffs to stand 90 m/295 ft above the beach.

A clifftop stroll past RSPB observation points that let you safely peer over the craggy drops and spot the nesting seabird colonies below finishes when you turn inland. A series of quiet roads and tracks lead you through several villages before you tackle the first real climb of the Coast to Coast with a long ascent of Dent Hill (352 m/1155 ft). Pace yourself during the steady haul and picture the views from the top of the western Lakeland fells ahead and the coast behind. If the weather is poor when you summit, you may only have these mental images to enjoy from the small hilltop cairn, but if you’re lucky, and on a clear day, you can see to the Isle of Man and into Scotland from here.

Afterwards, a quicker, steeper descent drops you into the Nannycatch Valley, a lovely meadow with a small stream. Your first stage ends with a short walk alongside the road that enters Ennerdale Bridge, finishing in the unspoilt village.

Your second day on the Coast to Coast walk is the first real Lakeland stage of the trail. It’s also one of the most spectacular. Leave Ennerdale Bridge and pick up the southside path that skirts Ennerdale Water. Follow the rocky track as it climbs over Robin Hood’s Chair and passes through a mossy forest. The gradual trek into the hills begins at the eastern end of the lake.

Initially, you’ll follow a forest track and then, above the treeline, hike through a craggy, rock-strewn stretch to reach the isolated bothy that is now YHA Black Sail. The building is hunkered down into the hillside in a wonderfully remote location with impressive views. You have a little more climbing to do beyond the bothy, initially alongside Loft Beck and then following a series of cairns, remembering to pause to enjoy the views. The eventual appearance of large piles of stones and slates means that you’re close to Honister. A disused quarry tramway then drops you out of the quiet hills and into the bustle of Honister Slate Mine Visitor Centre with all its attractions and facilities.

From here, we transfer you to Grasmere on our guided trips, omitting the immediate onward section of the path. Wainwright’s official Coast to Coast path, though, continues from Honister to explore the Borrowdale Valley. His onward riverside route connects Seatoller and the traditional slate-roofed, white-washed stone farmhouses of Longthwaite, Rosthwaite and Stonethwaite. Beyond Borrowdale, there’s a climb through classic Lake District scenery with some scrambling to Lining Crag and the broad col of Greenup Edge. You then descend to Grasmere via either a straightforward main path or a more dramatic trail over Helm Crag.

This is a superb day among the Lake District fells with some classic views of big peaks to enjoy. You’ll start in Grasmere, synonymous with the poet William Wordsworth who described this valley as ‘the fairest place on earth’. Follow in his footsteps and head through farmland into the heart of the rugged hills. A straightforward climb brings you to the pass at Grisedale Hause. From the corrie here, Grisedale Tarn, there are great views back to Grasmere and onward across Grisedale to Patterdale, with the lake of Ullswater glinting in the north. Helvellyn, at 950 m/3117 ft, the third highest peak in England, lies to the north too. There is a high-level alternative route that tests your mettle as you claim the summit and descend via the vertiginous Striding Edge ridge. On the other side of the valley, another alternative crosses St Sunday Crag, which is not quite as challenging. The main descent from the pass through Grisedale valley is uncomplicated and provides fabulous views over Ullswater as you work your way down to the small community of Patterdale.

Today, you’ll leave the Lake District and put some of the steeper gradients and bigger hills behind you as you enter a new landscape of rolling hills and pastures.

Following the official trail, you can climb Kidsty Pike(780 m/2559 ft). Before starting the descent, get one more glorious look back over the crags, knotts, pikes and fells that have been your companions so far before descending to Haweswater. Follow the trail above the enormous reservoir as it rises and falls to reach the old granite mining town of Shap.

On our guided trip, we opt for a gentler route. From Glenridding, ease into the day with a cruise across Ullswater aboard a refurbished, historic steamship, taking the time to admire the fells spread out around you. From there, it’s a steep but rewarding climb up to the tops, where the route crosses the old Roman road and rejoins the official trail near Brampton.

Traditionally the middle section of the Coast to Coast is split into three days, the first of which is a long haul across the Westmorland Plateau from Shap to Kirkby Stephen. We cut it a little shorter on our guided walks and stop at Ravenstonedale, making the day more manageable. With the Lake District behind you, you’ll head further into the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Grassy strolls across limestone pavements replace steeper gradients and rocky trails, past the ‘erratic’ boulders dropped by glaciers. The hills become rounder and rolling, and barren landscapes creep in as you traverse a steady, undulating plateau of fields and moorland filled with wildflowers and lined by miles and miles of traditional dry stone walls. As the Howgill Fells mound up ahead, pause in the traditional village of Orton, just off the official trail. The afternoon takes you across tidy, walled fields and Tarn Moor to reach Sunbiggin Tarn, an important bird sanctuary. Later, at Smardale, look out for the attractive Smardale Bridge and views of the impressive Smardale viaduct. Ravenstonedale lies a couple of miles south of the route here.

On this section, you’ll cross the Pennines, with the spine of England initially rising before you. Typically on Wainwright’s Coast to Coast, this stretch is broken into a two day walk, from Kirby Stephen to Keld via a vast boggy plateau and then Keld to Reeth via either a low- or high-level route. To cut out the peat bogs and carry you out of Cumbria and into Yorkshire, we arrange a transfer on our guided walk, from Kirkby Stephen to Keld, where you’ll continue walking.

Initially striding out from Ravenstonedale, you’ll cross fields, stiles and dry stone dykes as you make your way to the prosperous market town of Kirkby Stephen. Beyond, the Coast to Coast walk climbs to the enigmatic cairns at Nine Standards Rigg before there is a choice of paths across the peat; all of them can be wet and boggy. Traverse the vast plateau and descend to Keld. From Keld, there’s a challenging high-level route that crosses moorland to reach Reeth, or a gentler, low-level route that we pick up post-transfer, where you’ll enter the Swaledale Valley and walk alongside the winding river, past waterfalls and through fields of wildflowers. Arriving in the pleasant village of Muker, there’s time for a traditional afternoon tea before a final hike to the village of Gunnerside.

After a transfer from Gunnerside to Reeth, known locally as the ‘capital’ of Swaledale, you’ll pick up the Coast to Coast for a simple rural walk through tracts of lovely woodland. As you leave the Pennines behind, the gentle trail passes a couple of charming villages en route, including Marrick, a former lead mining community, where you’ll discover a priory that was once home to a small number of Benedictine nuns. A straightforward tramp east through the little village of Marske and through fields and woods around Applegarth leads you to the busy market town of Richmond, dominated by a dramatic Norman castle dating from the 11th century.

From Richmond, the official Coast to Coast trail enters a relatively flat stage as it traverses the Vale of Mowbray and bridges the gap between the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. You start by strolling along the Swale’s southern bank, past the sprawling ruins of Easby Abbey. In short order, you’ll come to Catterick Bridge, after which there’s a fair bit of walking along quiet country roads as you head to the hamlet of Danby Wiske, centred on a Norman church.

More tracks and back roads lead to Ingleby Cross, the official boundary of the North York Moors and Arncliffe. We’ll lay on a transfer from Catterick that will help carry you to the foot of the Cleveland Hills and Mount Grace Priory at the southern foot of Arncliffe Wood. From here, the Coast to Coast joins the Cleveland Way for a while. Climb towards views of vast expanses of heather with the chance to spot pheasants and other birds and rise and fall as you cross moors and rounded hills to reach the Lord Stones.

A scenic day will see you climb from the road pass at Clay Bank Top along paving flagstones onto Carr Ridge and Urra Moor. From here, the Coast to Coast separates from the Cleveland Way to cross wide swathes of moorland. You’ll bag the highpoint Round Hill before connecting with the former Rosedale Ironstone Railway that ran north to south across the North York Moors and used to serve the nearby mines some 150 years ago. Follow the disused railway track as it eases across the moor, with occasional views down Farndale, famed for its vibrant displays of daffodils each spring, to arrive at High Blakey Moor. Here you’ll find the isolated, atmospheric Lion Inn standing alone on Blakey Ridge, where you can toast completing another section of the Coast to Coast trail.

The penultimate section of the Coast to Coast walk is a charming exploration of hidden villages among pretty scenery. The route sets out from Blakey Ridge to cross the moor once again. You’ll cross the southern end of the wonderfully-named Great Fryup Dale and stride across Glaisdale Moor past various standing stones. You then descend to reach the village of Glaisdale perched above the Esk Valley. An easy walk takes you past the pretty village of Egton Bridge and down the river to Grosmont. Here you can hop aboard a heritage steam locomotive, featured as the Hogwarts Express in the original Harry Potter films, and chuff the short distance to Goathland Station, which became Hogsmeade Station in the movies.

If following the official route, the last day of the Coast to Coast walk begins with a sharp pull out of Grosmont before you drop down to the tiny hamlet of Littlebeck. If walking with us, you start from Littlebeck and head straight into a gorgeous stretch of oak woodland filled with birds and wildlife. Look out for the Hermitage, a shelter hewn out of solid rock, and wind your way down to Falling Foss to watch the river cascade over the 20m-high waterfall. A further stretch of open moorland brings you to Hawsker.

The final section delivers you to the North Sea, where you’ll turn south to curl along breezy coastal cliffs. The tumble of Robin Hood’s Bay is hidden behind a headland until the last moment, emerging almost as a surprise. Step down through the town to arrive at the slipway. Complete your walk across England by dipping a toe in the sea as tradition dictates and flinging the pebble you’ve carried from St Bees into the waves.

The Coast to Coast route passes through Cumbria’s Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the Yorkshire Moors. English hospitality in each of these northern regions is renowned, and you’ll be assured of a warm welcome while hiking the trail. After an exciting day of walking, the twin institutions of the tea room and the pub provide plenty of opportunities to refuel and swap stories with other Coast-to-Coasters.

With average daily walking distances of 19 km/12 miles on Wainwright’s iconic Coast to Coast route, you’ll certainly work up an appetite as you tackle the 11 stages of the walk. The traditional hearty cuisine you’ll encounter along the trail is the ideal fuel. Much like the landscapes you’re walking through, these delicious dishes are rugged and bold. Local recipes have endured and been refined, taking inspiration from seasonal produce and the natural bounty available close at hand.

Food & Drink Guide: England’s Coast to Coast

Best Places to Eat Along the C2C

You’ll doubtless work up an appetite as you walk Coast to Coast along Alfred Wainwright’s epic 192 mile trail. We’ve rounded up a list of the best tearooms, cafes and restaurants along the route to try, whether you’re stopping for a cream tea and proper cuppa, a fish and chip supper or a hearty meal.

Best Cafes & Restaurants

Great Pubs for Weary C2C Travellers

Pubs are a prominent feature of this landscape – and some of these cheery English pubs are locations to visit in their own right. While they tend towards the traditional, not finding too much variety among the staple menus, they’re often attuned to the needs of walkers. Discover our favourites.

Great C2C Pubs