Coast to Coast Walk

A sea-to-sea traverse across Northern England, usually walked west to east.

Time to Hike: Most walkers take 12-14 days for the full route, with longer days or rest stops depending on weather and fitness.

Best Time to Go: Best from Apr-Oct, when daylight is longer and high ground in the fells is more reliably walkable.

Getting there: The traditional start is St Bees on the Cumbrian coast, reached by rail via Carlisle. The finish at Robin Hood’s Bay is easiest to connect from by bus to Whitby for onward rail.

Costs: No permit fees, but nightly accommodation in villages adds up. Many people use a baggage transfer service to keep pack weights down.

Difficulty: Hard - long consecutive walking days, frequent steep ascents and descents, and exposed high ground in the Lake District.

Wainwright’s Coast to Coast is not a single waymarked national trail so navigation is part of the appeal. The classic line begins at St Bees on the Irish Sea, crosses the fells of the Lake District National Park, threads the limestone country of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, then rolls over the heather ridges of the North York Moors National Park to the North Sea.

Highlights come early with big mountain days around Borrowdale and Patterdale, followed by greener valley walking and historic market towns such as Kirkby Stephen. The final third is calmer underfoot but can feel just as committing in poor visibility, with wide open moorland, old rail paths and cliffside approaches to the finish.

Because there is no fixed official itinerary, you can tailor daily distances to the accommodation you can book. Many walkers make a small ritual of touching the sea at both ends, traditionally finishing with a dip of boots or hands at Robin Hood’s Bay.

• Stage 1: St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge (c. 20-25 km) - Start with the shore path and inland tracks, then enter the first deep valley scenery of the western Lake District.
• Stage 2: Ennerdale Bridge to Borrowdale (c. 25-30 km) - Remote forest and lakeside walking gives way to higher passes and classic fell views.
• Stage 3: Borrowdale to Patterdale (c. 20-25 km) - One of the most mountainous sections, with steep climbs and descents and expansive ridgelines in good weather.
• Stage 4: Patterdale to Shap (c. 25-30 km) - A final high crossing in the fells, then a gradual shift to gentler terrain as you leave the national park.
• Stage 5: Shap to Kirkby Stephen (c. 25-30 km) - Pasture, quiet lanes and river valleys, with the long-distance rhythm settling in.
• Stage 6: Kirkby Stephen to Keld (c. 20-25 km) - A classic transition into the Yorkshire Dales, with limestone scenery and bigger skies.
• Stage 7: Keld to Reeth (c. 20-25 km) - Dales villages and old lead-mining country, with several route options depending on conditions.
• Stage 8: Reeth to Richmond (c. 15-20 km) - A shorter, lower day into a historic market town that many use as a resupply and rest point.
• Stage 9: Richmond to Ingleby Cross (c. 35-40 km, often split) - Flat to rolling farmland miles that can feel long; many break this with an intermediate overnight.
• Stage 10: Ingleby Cross to Robin Hood’s Bay (c. 50-60 km, usually over 2-3 days) - The North York Moors brings open moor tracks and old railway paths, ending with the steep descent into Robin Hood’s Bay and the sea.

Apr-Oct is the usual season. Spring and early summer bring longer days and generally better underfoot conditions, while late summer can be busy on popular Lake District paths and in small villages with limited rooms.

The main hazards are weather and visibility on high ground, especially in the Lake District, plus wind exposure and heavy rain at any time. After prolonged wet spells, some valley and moorland paths can be slow and boggy.

Most people walk west to east, starting at St Bees. St Bees has a rail station with connections typically via Carlisle and Whitehaven, making it one of the easier classic starts for a long UK walk.

At the eastern end, Robin Hood’s Bay is reached by bus links to Whitby, where you can connect to rail services. If you need to return to your car or start point, many walkers use a combination of rail and bus, or pre-arranged transfers, rather than trying to reverse the route by public transport in one hop.

No permits are required to walk the route, and there is no single official pass because the Coast to Coast is not an officially designated national trail.

You may need reservations for accommodation, and if you plan to stay in particularly popular villages or during school holidays, booking ahead is often the deciding factor in shaping your daily stages.

Most walkers use a chain of B&Bs, inns and small guesthouses in villages along the line, with occasional larger towns such as Richmond offering more choice. Because the route is not hut-based, your day length often depends on what you can book rather than fixed stage endpoints.

Camping is possible in places, but options depend on local rules and access, and not every section has convenient campsites near the line. Many walkers use a baggage transfer service so they can carry a lighter day pack while still staying in comfortable accommodation each night.