Coast to Coast Walk - West Section

A walk from St. Bees to Kirkby Stephen via the beautiful Lake District National Park.

6 to 9 nights
82 miles
Moderate to Demanding / Strenuous

From £470 per person

Discover the available tours

About this route

The west section of the Coast to Coast Walk traverses the Lake District National Park from the cliffs of St Bees Head to the old market town of Kirkby Stephen. The Lake District features rugged fells and quiet valleys filled with wildlife, offering variety and intrigue at every turn.

Each town and village along the route boasts its own unique charm and history. Some locations of note include the impressive priory church of St Mary and St Bega in St Bees, and the ‘bound devil’ found in St Stephen’s Church in Kirkby Stephen.

Dog friendly tours available

Dog friendly itineraries are available for this route. Look for the pawprint icon when choosing your itinerary. Please note that dog friendly walks may require more transfers than standard tours.

Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays Coast to Coast Walk - West Section map
St Bees to Kirkby Stephen
82 miles (131 km)
25th March to 31st October

Holiday highlights

Marvelling at the amazing views of Pillar and Great Gable during the walk through Ennerdale

Exploring the many pretty villages in Borrowdale, each with their own wonderful characters.

Walking along the banks of Haweswater and enjoying the tranquil atmosphere.

Available tours

CodeTourDurationDifficultyPrice per person
CCWW0 From St Bees to Kirkby Stephen 6 nights, 5 days walking Demanding / Strenuous£470
CCWW1 From St Bees to Kirkby Stephen 7 nights, 6 days walking Demanding / Strenuous£550
CCWW2 From St Bees to Kirkby Stephen 8 nights, 7 days walking Moderate / Demanding£630
CCWW3 From St Bees to Kirkby Stephen 9 nights, 8 days walking Moderate£710

Coast to Coast Walk - West Section 6 nights, 5 days walking

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

Important information

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.

Start

Travel to St Bees where your first night's accommodation has been booked

Day 1

St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge. 14 miles (22.5km)

Day 2

Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite. 14.5 miles (23km)

Day 3

Rosthwaite to Patterdale. 17.5 miles (28km)

Day 4

Patterdale to Shap. 16 miles (25.5km)

Day 5

Shap to Kirkby Stephen. 20 miles (32km)

Finish

Depart from Kirkby Stephen 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.

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 walk more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard.

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 walking on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Walker or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers
Solo Walker Supplement
£35.00 per person / per night
Single Supplement
£30.00 per person / per night

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

Extra night (Standard)
£55.00 per person / per night

What's included?

  • 6 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. Alternatively, Orton is a charming and peaceful village.

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.

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

Extra night (Standard)
£55.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 82 miles (131 km)
Duration: 6 nights, 5 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 14 miles (22.5 km)
Maximum daily distance: 20 miles (32 km)
Code: CCWW0 Grade: Demanding / Strenuous
Season: 25th March - 31st October
Start of holiday: St Bees
End of holiday: Kirkby Stephen

Route Profile

Coast to Coast Walk - West Section 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 city and international airports are Manchester, Glasgow and Newcastle.

By Rail - There is a rail station at the start of the trail (St Bees) and at the end of the trail (Kirkby Stephen).

By Bus - Various bus services run to St Bees and from Kirkby Stephen.

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

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail is to catch a bus/taxi from Kirby Stephen to Kirkby Stephen rail station. From there trains run to St Bees with changes at Carlisle.

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.

Routes on this trail

Coast to Coast Walk

13 to 19 nights
190 miles
Moderate+
Dog friendly
From £950 per person
A world-famous walk from St. Bees to Robin Hood's Bay across the breadth of northern England.Find Out More

Coast to Coast Short Break - West Section

3 nights
18 miles
Moderate
From £255 per person
A short self-guided walk along the western stretch of the Coast to Coast Walk from Rosthwaite to Patterdale.Find Out More

Coast to Coast Walk - East Section

8 to 11 nights
108 miles
Moderate+
Dog friendly
From £630 per person
A walking holiday from Kirkby Stephen to Robin Hood's Bay along the iconic Coast to Coast Walk.Find Out More

Coast to Coast Short Break - Central Section

3 nights
22 miles
Moderate
From £255 per person
A short walking holiday from Keld to Richmond along a central stretch of the Coast to Coast Walk.Find Out More
Explore more holidays on the Coast to Coast Walk trail

You might also like

Pennine Way - South Section

6 to 8 nights
95 miles
Moderate / Demanding+
From £510 per person
A walk from Edale to Horton-in-Ribblesdale via the Peak District, South Pennines and the Yorkshire Dales.Find Out More

Pennine Way

14 to 22 nights
265 miles
Moderate / Demanding+
From £1,120 per person
A self-guided walking holiday from Edale to Kirk Yetholm along England's best-known National Trail.Find Out More

Walking Wainwright's Coast to Coast with Contours Walking Holidays

Outdoor Journalist Damian Hall takes a walk from St. Bees in the east to Robin Hood's Bay in the west, traversing the width of the North of England through the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.
Watch Now

Customer reviews from the Coast to Coast Walk - West Section

“Very well organised and smooth.”
Dr Bristow, UK
“The first half of the Coast2Coast holiday was very well organised and planned and we had a fabulous time. Over seven days there was not one hitch and it was very memorable.”
Ms Mikkelsen, UK
“Of the Contours holidays we take, we thought the accommodation standard was the best we have had, loved having so many baths!”
Mrs Taylor, UK
“I really appreciated all the support I received. Every question I asked was promptly responded to in an email.”
Ms Feist, Canada
“Great walk, good weather. Very good B&Bs!!”
Mr van Bilsem, Netherlands
“Good walk; well organised.”
Mr Young, UK
“We really enjoyed walking the western part of the coast to coast and are now planning to complete the eastern side with Contours Walking Holidays. Everything was very well organised.”
Mr Townsend, UK
“Many thanks for organising an excellent trip.”
Mr Booth, UK
“Everything was organized perfectly”
Mr Buchwalder, Switzerland

Select a tour