Itinerary
- Day 1
St. Bees
You'll arrive in St. Bees by train from a major airport and make your way to this historic coastal town. The place has over 1,000 years of history and sits right at St. Bees Head, which is Cumbria's most westerly point, positioned between the Lakeland Fells and the Irish Sea. After you check into your accommodation, you'll have the rest of the day to settle in and prepare for starting your coast-to-coast walk tomorrow.
Landmarks St. Bees Head - Day 2
St. Bees to Ennerdale Bridge
Your coast-to-coast walk begins with a tradition shared by other walkers: collect a stone from St. Bees beach to carry all the way to Robin Hood's Bay. The route takes you along the coast through Sandwith, then heads inland via Moor Row and Cleator. You'll face your first real climb on Dent Fell before reaching Ennerdale Bridge for the evening. Expect roughly 23km of walking over about 6 hours, with 645m of ascent and 547m of descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Collect stone from St. Bees beach
Landmarks St. Bees Beach Dent Fell - Day 3
Ennerdale Bridge to Stonethwaite
You'll start the day in Lake District National Park and walk along Ennerdale Water. From here you have two route options that converge later. The higher route goes over Red Pike, High Stile, and Haystacks (where Wainwright's ashes were scattered), while a gentler option passes Black Sail Youth Hostel and Loft Beck. Both routes meet at Honister Slate Mine, England's last working slate mine, and then descend through Borrowdale Valley to finish in Rosthwaite and Stonethwaite. This is a longer day at around 24km and 8 hours of walking, with 1028m of ascent and 1044m of descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Higher route over Red Pike and High Stile to Haystacks
- Gentler route via Black Sail Youth Hostel and Loft Beck
Landmarks Ennerdale Water Red Pike High Stile Haystacks Inominate Tarn Honister Slate Mine Borrowdale Valley - Day 4
Stonethwaite to Grasmere
Today is shorter but steeper, so you'll feel it despite covering less ground. You'll climb steeply to Greenup Edge and get those classic Lake District views along the way. The day finishes in Grasmere, a village worth exploring when you arrive. You can visit the Wordsworth Museum and Dove Cottage if you have time and energy. Roughly 15km of walking across 6 hours, with 547m of ascent and 563m of descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Wordsworth Museum
- Visit Dove Cottage
Landmarks Greenup Edge Wordsworth Museum Dove Cottage - Day 5
Grasmere to Patterdale
After leaving Grasmere, you'll ascend to Grisedale House where you can look back at where you started this morning. Now you choose your route: climb either Helvellyn Peak or St. Sunday Crag for views stretching to Ullswater, or take the more direct route down Grisedale to Patterdale village. Either way, expect about 17km of walking over 6.5 hours, with 541m of ascent and 458m of descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Climb Helvellyn Peak
- Climb St. Sunday Crag
Landmarks Grisedale House Helvellyn Peak St. Sunday Crag Ullswater - Day 6
Patterdale to Shap
Another climbing day with great panoramic views across Fairfield, Helvellyn, Hartsop, and toward Kirkstone Pass. You'll pass Angle Tarn and follow the old Roman path called the High St up to Kidsty Pike at 780m, which marks the highest point of the entire Coast to Coast Walk and offers fantastic views toward Haweswater. From there you descend through Bampton and pass Shap Abbey, a 13th-century monastery ruin, before arriving in Shap village. This is one of the longer stages at 27km and 7.5 hours, with 900m of ascent and 798m of descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Fairfield Helvellyn Kirkstone Pass Angle Tarn High St Kidsty Pike Haweswater Shap Abbey - Day 7
Shap to Kirkby Stephen
You'll leave the Lake District behind and enter the Westmorland Fells in Yorkshire Dales National Park. The landscape changes noticeably from granite cliffs to open limestone terrain with sweeping views across the Howgills and the distant Pennines. Along the way you'll pass through the tiny village of Orton and cross Smardale Bridge, an impressive Victorian railroad structure. You finish the long day in Kirkby Stephen, a lively town full of pubs, cafes, and restaurants in the heart of the Eden Valley. About 33km and 8 hours of walking, with 452m of ascent and 532m of descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Westmorland Fells Yorkshire Dales National Park Howgills Pennines Smardale Bridge - Day 8
Kirkby Stephen to Keld
Starting from Kirkby Stephen via the village of Hartley, you'll climb into hillier terrain and reach the Nine Standards, a distinctive feature that marks where Cumbria meets Yorkshire and where the watershed between the Irish Sea and North Sea converges. You'll end the day in Keld, a former lead mining village that's quite peaceful. This shorter stage covers about 19km over 5.5 hours, with 534m of ascent and 385m of descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Hartley Nine Standards - Day 9
Keld to Reeth
You have route choices again today. The higher option goes through remote grouse moors and past lead mining ruins, while the lower valley route crosses heather-covered Swaledale with its traditional stone barns and dry stone walls. Both paths come together at Reeth, a typical Dales village with several cozy pubs to relax in. Roughly 19km and 5.5 hours of walking, with 459m of ascent and 573m of descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Mountain route over grouse moors through lead mining ruins
- Lower valley route through Swaledale
Landmarks Swaledale - Day 10
Reeth to Richmond
This stage is noticeably more leisurely compared to recent days, crossing green meadows through pretty villages at a comfortable pace. Take time to visit Marrick Priory, a 12th-century Benedictine nunnery that was abandoned during the 16th-century religious conflicts. You'll finish in Richmond, a market town with cobbled streets and an imposing Norman castle sitting above the town. About 19km and 5 hours of walking, with 290m of ascent and 344m of descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Marrick Priory
Landmarks Marrick Priory Richmond Castle - Day 11
Richmond to Danby Wiske
An easier, flatter walk today across the Vale of Mowbray through fertile farmland and quiet country lanes. You'll pass Bolton-on-Swale and its 14th-century St. Mary's Church along the way. The destination is Danby Wiske, a small cluster of pretty houses arranged around the village green. Around 22km and 6 hours of walking, with only 77m of ascent and 172m of descent, so it's a nice recovery day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Vale of Mowbray Bolton-on-Swale St. Mary's Church, Bolton-on-Swale - Day 12
Danby Wiske to Ingleby Cross or Osmotherley
Continue moving toward North York Moors National Park along flat footpaths and country lanes, passing colorful rapeseed fields and sleepy cattle. Depending on accommodation availability, you'll stay in either Ingleby Cross or Osmotherley. About 18km and 5 hours of walking, with 232m of ascent and 102m of descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks North York Moors National Park - Day 13
Ingleby Cross or Osmotherley to Lion Inn
Walk through wooded areas and hike uphill for views looking back toward Richmond and toward the North Sea. You'll enter North York Moors National Park with vast heather-covered moorlands contrasting against striking Wain Stones cliffs. Though these moors only reach 400-500m above sea level, they feel much higher. You'll cross the plateau along a disused mine railroad route before arriving at The Lion Inn pub, a 16th-century hunting lodge that's now the third-highest pub in England, surrounded by nothing but moor. This is a challenging day at 33km and 8 hours, with 907m of ascent and 682m of descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks North York Moors National Park Wain Stones The Lion Inn - Day 14
Lion Inn to Grosmont
A mostly flat and downhill walk through Great Fryup Dale into Glaisdale, though you'll face a small sting of climbing and descent near Egton Bridge. The day finishes in peaceful Grosmont, one of the stops on the famous North York Moors steam railway. About 22km and 6 hours of walking, with 127m of ascent and 488m of descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Great Fryup Dale Glaisdale Egton Bridge North York Moors Railway - Day 15
Grosmont to Robin Hood's Bay
Start with a steep road climb onto the moor, then descend into beautiful Littlebeck where you'll catch glimpses of the sea and views of Whitby Abbey. You'll walk through Falling Foss forest with hidden follies before crossing the final moor section. From High Hawsker, the last stretch follows the top of Jurassic cliffs with coastal scenery and possible dolphin sightings. After descending into Robin Hood's Bay, the beautiful old fishing village, you'll complete your journey by throwing your St. Bees stone into the North Sea. Congratulations, you've crossed England! About 25km and 7 hours of walking, with 521m of ascent and 548m of descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Littlebeck Whitby Abbey Falling Foss High Hawsker Robin Hood's Bay - Day 16
Departure
After breakfast, you'll head out on your own schedule to depart. This marks the end of your tour, so take time to pack and arrange your transportation. If you have a few extra hours before your flight or drive, you could grab one last coffee at a local spot or do some final shopping. The morning is yours to wrap things up at your own pace before heading to the airport or station.
- Meals
- Breakfast
