Coast to Coast Walk

Coast to Coast Walk

An iconic walk across England via the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors.

3 to 19 nights
18-190 miles
Moderate to Demanding / Strenuous

From £360 per person

Find your holiday

About the trail

Created by Alfred Wainwright, the Coast to Coast path crosses the breadth of the North of England from St Bees on the west coast to Robin Hoods Bay on the east coast. Some of the most varied and beautiful scenery in the country lies ahead, spread over three National Parks.

Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walking tour clambers the rugged mountains of the Lake District to earn views over glittering tarns. It winds through the pretty valleys of the Yorkshire Dales, and sets out across the expansive heather moorland of the North York Moors. Dramatic coastal scenery waits at the end, with a twisting descent to Robin Hood’s Bay. Choose this country-crossing walking holiday and explore the best landscapes of Northern England.

We offer multiple holiday options along this trail. If you wish to experience the entire trail, simply select the first option from the list below.

Choose your route

  • This route includes dog friendly tour options Coast to Coast Walk
  • This route includes dog friendly tour options Coast to Coast Walk - East Section
  • This route includes dog friendly tour options Coast to Coast Walk - West Section
  • This route includes dog friendly tour options Coast to Coast Short Break - Central Section
  • This route includes dog friendly tour options Coast to Coast Short Break - West Section

Dog friendly tours available

Dogs are welcome on select routes along this trail. Look for the pawprint icon when choosing your holiday.

Trail running tours available

We also organise trail running holidays along this route. Find out more.

About this route

13 to 19 nights
190 miles
Moderate to Demanding / Strenuous
1st April to 20th October
Includes Dog-Friendly Tours

From £1480 per person

Coast to Coast Walk

Take a self-guided walking holiday covering all 190 miles of Wainwright’s Coast to Coast walking route, wandering from St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay. The Coast to Coast Walk crosses the breadth of the North of England, passing through the mountainous Lake District, the rolling Yorkshire Dales and the heather-clad North York Moors along the way.

Though this trail is challenging in places, the sense of achievement you feel upon completing it will stay with you forever.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
CCW1 From St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay 13 nights, 12 days walking Demanding / Strenuous £1480
CCW2 From St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay 14 nights, 13 days walking Demanding / Strenuous £1585
CCW3 From St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay 15 nights, 14 days walking Demanding £1685
CCW4 From St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay 16 nights, 15 days walking Demanding £1800
CCW5 From St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay 17 nights, 16 days walking Moderate / Demanding £1890
CCW6 From St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay 18 nights, 17 days walking Moderate / Demanding £1995
CCW7 From St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay 19 nights, 18 days walking Moderate £2100

Short breaks

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
CCWSBC From Keld to Richmond 3 nights, 2 days walking Moderate £360

Coast to Coast Walk 13 nights, 12 days walking

£NNN per person
  • Itinerary
  • What's included?
  • Extra nights?
  • Tour facts
  • Route profile
  • Travel info
  • Weather
  • Holiday Highlights

Important information

Car parking is available at Kirkby Stephen for the duration of your Coast to Coast Walk with a mini bus service to St Bees to start your walk and back from Robins Hoods Bay.  This parking and minibus service must be arranged independently with Coast to Coast Packhorse and payable direct to them - this service is not included with your Contours holiday. If you wish to drive and park at Kirkby Stephen and make use of this service please contact us.  

Please note this trail is very popular, if you have flexibility with your start date, please advise this when booking.  Please do not make any travel plans until we have double checked and confirmed availability for your booking.

Dog friendly accommodation in Grasmere is expensive; therefore, an additional upgrade supplement may be required for your accommodation in Grasmere if you choose to bring your canine companion.

Please also note that dog friendly options in Robin Hood's Bay are very limited. We will do our best to arrange accommodation there for any dog-friendly bookings, but please be aware that you may need to be transferred to Whitby for your accommodation at the end of your tour if traveling with your dog.

Start

Travel to St Bees where your first night's accommodation will be booked

Day 1

St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge. 15 miles (24km) / 2575 ft (785 m) ascent

Day 2

Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite. 14.5 miles (23km) / 2388 ft (728 m) ascent

Day 3

Rosthwaite to Patterdale. 17.5 miles (28km) / 3665 ft (1117 m) ascent

Day 4

Patterdale to Shap. 16 miles (25.5km) / 3284 ft (1001 m) ascent

Day 5

Shap to Kirkby Stephen. 20.5 miles (32.5km) / 1929 ft (588 m) ascent

Day 6

Kirkby Stephen to Keld. 13 miles (21km) / 1860 ft (567 m) ascent

Day 7

Keld to Reeth. 11 miles (17.5km) / 1680 ft (512 m) ascent

Day 8

Reeth to Richmond. 10.5 miles (17km) / 1099 ft (335 m) ascent

Day 9

Richmond to Ingleby Cross. 22.5 miles (36km) / 902 ft (275 m) ascent

Day 10

Ingleby Cross to Clay Bank Top(T). 12.5 miles (20km) / 3064 ft (934 m) ascent

Day 11

Clay Bank Top(T) to Glaisdale(L). 18 miles (29km) / 1194 ft (364 m) ascent

Day 12

Glaisdale(L) to Robin Hood's Bay. 19 miles (30.5km) / 2192 ft (668 m) ascent

Finish

Depart from Robin Hood's Bay after breakfast

Your Itinerary

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation in most cases; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard if practical. A very limited number of stops will require you to travel on foot up to two miles off the trail, however these instances will be clearly communicated to you if applicable.

Further transfers may also be required due to some accommodations having a two-night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.

Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers
Solo Traveller Supplement
£60.00 per person / per night
Single Supplement
£50.00 per person / per night


You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night
Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays Coast to Coast Walk map
St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay
190 miles (304 km)
1st April to 20th October

Holiday highlights

Walking through the magnificent scenery of the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, and watching the landscapes change along the way.

Dipping your feet in the Irish Sea at St Bees at the start of the walk, and then in the North Sea at Robin Hood’s Bay at the end.

Visiting the array of charming villages and welcoming towns scattered along the route.

What's included?

  • 13 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail, or a short distance away via taxi provided at our expense.
  • Breakfast each day.
  • Door to door luggage transfer.
  • Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
  • An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
  • Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

An extra night gives you the chance to explore some of the villages and old market towns along the trail, catch up with writing postcards or to simply relax and give those weary legs a rest.

Rosthwaite is a good choice for a rest day. There are many lovely walks in the hills around Borrowdale or you could catch a bus into the bustling little town of Keswick.

If you prefer somewhere quieter, we suggest taking a rest day in Patterdale. A terrific walk here starts by taking one of the iconic Ullswater Steamers across the lake and returning along the lakeshore path.

The old market town of Kirkby Stephen is also a good place to take an extra night. Don't miss the unusual 'Bound Devil', a figure of Satan chained and horned in the ancient church of St. Stephen.

In the Yorkshire Dales, Reeth offers many short walks from the centre of the village and the Swaledale folk museum is fascinating. Richmond, with its cobbled streets and market place, Norman castle, unusual church, Georgian theatre, museums and shops is also a popular stop.

Finally, on completing your walk, a popular location to celebrate your achievement and rest your weary legs is Robin Hood's Bay, which is within easy reach of Whitby, its abbey, the Captain Cook Museum and St Mary's church. The interior of this intriguing church was altered in 1612 to resemble the lower deck of a wooden sailing ship.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 190 miles (304 km)
Duration: 13 nights, 12 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 10.5 miles (17 km)
Maximum daily distance: 22.5 miles (36 km)
Code: CCW1 Grade: Demanding / Strenuous
Season: 1st April - 20th October
Start of holiday: St Bees
End of holiday: Robin Hood's Bay

Route Profile

Coast to Coast Walk Route Profile

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - The most convenient major cities and international airports are Manchester, Newcastle and Leeds.

By Rail - There is a rail station at the start of the trail (St Bees). The nearest rail stations to Robin Hood's Bay are either Whitby (about 6 miles away but often less convenient) or Scarborough (about 17 miles away).

By Bus - Various buses run to St Bees. Buses run to Whitby and Scarborough from Robin Hood's Bay.

From London - Trains run from London Euston to St Bees.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail is to take a bus/taxi from Robin Hood's Bay to Scarborough rail station. From there trains run to St Bees.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

  • MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
  • Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
  • Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.
"Tongue Gill Waterfall" by Bruce Lyon (2023) "Tongue Gill Waterfall" by Bruce Lyon (2023)
"Grasmere within Sight" by Bruce Lyon (2023) "Grasmere within Sight" by Bruce Lyon (2023)
"Ennerdale Water" by Mike Brown (2023) "Ennerdale Water" by Mike Brown (2023)
"Ahead over the North York Moors" by Matt Hutt (2023) "Ahead over the North York Moors" by Matt Hutt (2023)
"Patterdale" by Steve Woodward (2022) "Patterdale" by Steve Woodward (2022)
"Approaching Kidsty Pike" by Steve Woodward (2022) "Approaching Kidsty Pike" by Steve Woodward (2022)
"Ennerdale Water" by Steve Woodward (2022) "Ennerdale Water" by Steve Woodward (2022)
"Patterdale" by Steve Woodward (2022) "Patterdale" by Steve Woodward (2022)
"On the Path to Keld" by Cathy Houlihan (2022) "On the Path to Keld" by Cathy Houlihan (2022)
"North York Moors" by Cathy Houlihan (2022) "North York Moors" by Cathy Houlihan (2022)
"Leaving Kirkby Stephen" by Cathy Houlihan (2022) "Leaving Kirkby Stephen" by Cathy Houlihan (2022)
"Nine Standards Rigg" by Cathy Houlihan (2022) "Nine Standards Rigg" by Cathy Houlihan (2022)
"Leaving Kirkby Stephen" by Cathy Houlihan (2022) "Leaving Kirkby Stephen" by Cathy Houlihan (2022)
"Struggling in the Yorkshire Dales" by Greg Abrams (2022) "Struggling in the Yorkshire Dales" by Greg Abrams (2022)
"Spring Blooms near Penrith" by Greg Abrams (2022) "Spring Blooms near Penrith" by Greg Abrams (2022)
"Just Hanging On in the North York Moors" by Greg Abrams (2022) "Just Hanging On in the North York Moors" by Greg Abrams (2022)
"Making Friends in the Yorkshire Dales" by Greg Abrams (2022) "Making Friends in the Yorkshire Dales" by Greg Abrams (2022)
"Sunset Glow near Penrith" by Greg Abrams (2022) "Sunset Glow near Penrith" by Greg Abrams (2022)
"In the Lake District near Cleator" by Greg Abrams (2022) "In the Lake District near Cleator" by Greg Abrams (2022)
"From Patterdale to Burnbanks" by Lauren Nadler (2022) "From Patterdale to Burnbanks" by Lauren Nadler (2022)
"Flyover over Haweswater Reservoir" by Lauren Nadler (2022) "Flyover over Haweswater Reservoir" by Lauren Nadler (2022)
"Setting off from St Bees" by Lauren Nadler (2022) "Setting off from St Bees" by Lauren Nadler (2022)
"From Patterdale to Burnbanks" by Lauren Nadler (2022) "From Patterdale to Burnbanks" by Lauren Nadler (2022)
"Goodbye to St Bees" by Duncan Thomas (2022) "Goodbye to St Bees" by Duncan Thomas (2022)
"Parasailing at North York Moors" by Duncan Thomas (2022) "Parasailing at North York Moors" by Duncan Thomas (2022)
"Seascale" by Duncan Thomas (2022) "Seascale" by Duncan Thomas (2022)
"St Mary Churchyard" by Duncan Thomas (2022) "St Mary Churchyard" by Duncan Thomas (2022)
"A Pint of Wainwright" by Duncan Thomas (2022) "A Pint of Wainwright" by Duncan Thomas (2022)
"Grasmere Path to Grisdale" by Dagmara Ginter (2022) "Grasmere Path to Grisdale" by Dagmara Ginter (2022)
"Angle Tarn" by Dagmara Ginter (2022) "Angle Tarn" by Dagmara Ginter (2022)
"Swaledale Path to Reeth" by Dagmara Ginter (2022) "Swaledale Path to Reeth" by Dagmara Ginter (2022)
"Littlebeck Walkway" by Dagmara Ginter (2022) "Littlebeck Walkway" by Dagmara Ginter (2022)
"Bolton-on-Swale Church" by Dagmara Ginter (2022) "Bolton-on-Swale Church" by Dagmara Ginter (2022)
"St Bees Head Golden Vista" by Dagmara Ginter (2022) "St Bees Head Golden Vista" by Dagmara Ginter (2022)
"Across Grisedale Beck" by Dagmara Ginter (2022) "Across Grisedale Beck" by Dagmara Ginter (2022)
"Kidsty Pike View" by Dagmara Ginter (2022) "Kidsty Pike View" by Dagmara Ginter (2022)
"Rob Hood's Bay Sunrise" by Dagmara Ginter (2022) "Rob Hood's Bay Sunrise" by Dagmara Ginter (2022)
"At St Bees" by Robert Johnson (2021) "At St Bees" by Robert Johnson (2021)
"Smardalegill Viaduct" by Raymond Riggs (2021) "Smardalegill Viaduct" by Raymond Riggs (2021)
"Standing Stones West of Littlebeck" by Raymond Riggs (2021) "Standing Stones West of Littlebeck" by Raymond Riggs (2021)
"One of the Nine Standards" by Raymond Riggs (2021) "One of the Nine Standards" by Raymond Riggs (2021)
"Gisedale Tarn from St Sunday Crag" by Raymond Riggs (2021) "Gisedale Tarn from St Sunday Crag" by Raymond Riggs (2021)
"Sheep on Reeth High Moor" by Raymond Riggs (2021) "Sheep on Reeth High Moor" by Raymond Riggs (2021)
"Crackpot Hall" by Raymond Riggs (2021) "Crackpot Hall" by Raymond Riggs (2021)
"Helm Crag Looking Towards Grasmere" by Raymond Riggs (2021) "Helm Crag Looking Towards Grasmere" by Raymond Riggs (2021)
"Haweswater Reservoir" by Raymond Riggs (2021) "Haweswater Reservoir" by Raymond Riggs (2021)
"Looking West from Kidsty Pike" by Raymond Riggs (2021) "Looking West from Kidsty Pike" by Raymond Riggs (2021)
"We Were Here" by Stuart Brooks (2020) "We Were Here" by Stuart Brooks (2020)
"North York Moors" by Stuart Brooks (2020) "North York Moors" by Stuart Brooks (2020)
"Food Glorious Food" by Stuart Brooks (2020) "Food Glorious Food" by Stuart Brooks (2020)
"Nine Standards Rigg" by Adrian Pugh (2018 Photo Competition Winner) "Nine Standards Rigg" by Adrian Pugh (2018 Photo Competition Winner)
"Ivelet Bridge" by Adrian Pugh (2018) "Ivelet Bridge" by Adrian Pugh (2018)
"Healaugh" by Adrian Pugh (2018) "Healaugh" by Adrian Pugh (2018)
"Near Nine Standards Rigg" by Adrian Pugh (2018) "Near Nine Standards Rigg" by Adrian Pugh (2018)
"Waterfall near Cotterby Scar" by Adrian Pugh (2018) "Waterfall near Cotterby Scar" by Adrian Pugh (2018)
"Swaledale Barn" by Adrian Pugh (2018) "Swaledale Barn" by Adrian Pugh (2018)
"Trig Point at Carlton Moor" by Adrian Pugh (2018) "Trig Point at Carlton Moor" by Adrian Pugh (2018)
"Autumn Woodlands near Falling Foss" by Jane Thorley (2018) "Autumn Woodlands near Falling Foss" by Jane Thorley (2018)
"Seat overlooking Ennerdale Water" by Robert Evans (2018) "Seat overlooking Ennerdale Water" by Robert Evans (2018)
"Honister Pass" by Robert Evans (2018) "Honister Pass" by Robert Evans (2018)
"Approaching the Wain Stones" by Robert Evans (2018) "Approaching the Wain Stones" by Robert Evans (2018)
"Signpost Overlooking the North Sea" by Robert Evans (2018) "Signpost Overlooking the North Sea" by Robert Evans (2018)
"Barley Field near Danby Wiske" by Robert Evans (2018) "Barley Field near Danby Wiske" by Robert Evans (2018)
"Honister Slate Mine" by Robert Evans (2018) "Honister Slate Mine" by Robert Evans (2018)
"Grasmere" by Pat Taylor (2018) "Grasmere" by Pat Taylor (2018)
"Mount Grace Priory" by Pat Taylor (2018) "Mount Grace Priory" by Pat Taylor (2018)
"Near Danby Head" by Pat Taylor (2018) "Near Danby Head" by Pat Taylor (2018)
"Swaledale" by Patricia Taylor (2018) "Swaledale" by Patricia Taylor (2018)
"Heading out of St Bees" by Pat Taylor (2018) "Heading out of St Bees" by Pat Taylor (2018)
"Frosty Signpost" by Alastair Cairns (2018) "Frosty Signpost" by Alastair Cairns (2018)
"Good Company at Kirkby Stephen" by Alastair Cairns (2018) "Good Company at Kirkby Stephen" by Alastair Cairns (2018)
"The Great British Weather" by Alastair Cairns (2018) "The Great British Weather" by Alastair Cairns (2018)
"Nine Standards" by Alastair Cairns (2018) "Nine Standards" by Alastair Cairns (2018)
"Curious Sheep near Seatoller" by Michael Searle (2017 Photo Competition Winner) "Curious Sheep near Seatoller" by Michael Searle (2017 Photo Competition Winner)
"Mollie on Holiday" by Jodie Archer (2017 Photo Competition Winner) "Mollie on Holiday" by Jodie Archer (2017 Photo Competition Winner)
"Mansion on Ullswater Lake" by Jodie Archer (2017) "Mansion on Ullswater Lake" by Jodie Archer (2017)
"Robin Hoods Bay" by Jodie Archer (2017) "Robin Hoods Bay" by Jodie Archer (2017)
"Boots in Kirkby Stephen" by Helen Anderson (2017) "Boots in Kirkby Stephen" by Helen Anderson (2017)
"Borrowdale" by Helen Anderson (2017) "Borrowdale" by Helen Anderson (2017)
"Nine Standards" by Helen Anderson (2017) "Nine Standards" by Helen Anderson (2017)
"Angle Tarn" by Norma Moxham (2017) "Angle Tarn" by Norma Moxham (2017)
"Honiston Dismantled Railway Line" by Susan OSullivan (2017) "Honiston Dismantled Railway Line" by Susan OSullivan (2017)
"Grasmere" by Susan OSullivan (2017) "Grasmere" by Susan OSullivan (2017)
"Ennerdale Lake" by Susan OSullivan (2017) "Ennerdale Lake" by Susan OSullivan (2017)
"Rosthwaite" by Susan OSullivan (2017) "Rosthwaite" by Susan OSullivan (2017)

Customer reviews from the Coast to Coast Walk

“A fabulous and varied walk, with different beautiful scenery every day. Met lots of nice people doing the same, and great fun to share experiences. Almost without exception, the organisation by Contours was flawless, though rather a lot of taxi transfers and Contours are missing a trick by not providing a mobile phone app for the route. I can see why this is often regarded as Britain's best long-distance walk. Organisation was very good.”
Mr Gates, UK
“We did this walk the second time and it was again an exciting experience. The organisation was perfect. You couldn’t do better.”
Mr Sieber, Switzerland
“From January 2020 when we first contacted Contours about the Coast to Coast, you have been patient (in the face of the pandemic), understanding, and responsive to Bruce and me. Even though we have not met your team or you in person, we believe we have a team of friends helping us successfully complete a challenging (still thinking about the climbs DOWN Dent Fell and Kidsty Pike) and rewarding hike across England. Thanks for making it possible. On Sunday, June 12 (as planned), Bruce Michelson and I dipped our feet into the North Sea and tossed our pebble from St Bees Beach into the water. During our 18 days that the Contours team had us in your care, Bruce and I spoke often of the quality of the arrangements that Contours created for us. We will be reflecting our great joy and satisfaction in the evaluations that you provided for us to comment on each accommodation.”
Dr Hedeman, USA
“The transport of my bags was seamless- it was so reassuring to see them at the end of each day!”
Dr Moore, UK
“Very well organised with no problems. Lovely scenery, lovely weather, good company.”
Mr Longley, UK
“Thanks for organising this really stunning holiday!!”
Mr Darwen, UK
“Great experience and issues dealt with effectively.”
Mr Graham, New Zealand
“We had an excellent time and the whole holiday went very smoothly, thanks to Contours.”
Mrs Moxham, UK
“Brilliant weather. Excellent accomodation. I think the Coast to Coast in reverse is probably better than doing it the "right" way.”
Ms Bonetti, UK
Find your holiday