Alternative Coast to Coast Walk

Alternative Coast to Coast Walk

An alternative to Wainwright's famous walk, travelling through the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors.

5 to 13 nights
59-133 miles
Moderate to Demanding / Strenuous

From £635 per person

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About the trail

This alternative to Wainwright's classic route offers a gentler walk across the north of England from coast to coast. On this self-guided walking holiday, you'll cross the country from Arnside on the shores of Morecambe Bay to Saltburn-by-the-Sea by the North Sea. The Alternative Coast to Coast passes through remarkable scenery, including limestone hills and ancient woodland in the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the valleys and villages of the Yorkshire Dales and the heathery hills and green dales of the North York Moors.

The famous Ribblehead Viaduct can be seen along this trail, along with many other architectural and historical wonders to enjoy, including Bolton Castle and England’s oldest theatre.

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

  • Alternative Coast to Coast Walk
  • Alternative Coast to Coast - West section
  • This route includes dog friendly tour options Alternative Coast to Coast - East Section

Dog friendly tours available

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

About this route

9 to 13 nights
133 miles
Moderate to Demanding / Strenuous
2nd January to 24th December

From £1130 per person

Alternative Coast to Coast Walk

This holiday option explores all 132 miles of the Alternative Coast to Coast Walk, which bypasses the most challenging areas of terrain encountered during Wainwright’s iconic trail.

With plenty of gorgeous scenery, outstanding wildlife and insightful history to discover, this is an excellent walking trail with which to cross the breadth of Northern England from coast to coast.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
ACCW1 From Arnside(L) to Saltburn-by-the-Sea 9 nights, 8 days walking Demanding / Strenuous £1130
ACCW2 From Arnside(L) to Saltburn-by-the-Sea 11 nights, 10 days walking Demanding £1370
ACCW3 From Arnside(L) to Saltburn-by-the-Sea 12 nights, 11 days walking Moderate / Demanding £1490
ACCW4 From Arnside(L) to Saltburn-by-the-Sea 13 nights, 12 days walking Moderate £1615

Alternative Coast to Coast Walk 9 nights, 8 days walking

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

Travel to Arnside(L) where your first night's accommodation will be booked

Day 1

Arnside(L) to Kirkby Lonsdale. 12.5 miles (20km)

Day 2

Kirkby Lonsdale to Chapel-le-Dale(L). 14 miles (22.5km)

Day 3

Chapel-le-Dale(L) to Aysgarth. 23 miles (37km)

Day 4

Aysgarth to Richmond. 24 miles (38.5km)

Day 5

Richmond to Ingleby Cross. 22.5 miles (36km)

Day 6

Ingleby Cross to Clay Bank Top(T). 12.5 miles (20km)

Day 7

Clay Bank Top(T) to Captain Cook's Monument(T). 12 miles (19km)

Day 8

Captain Cook's Monument(T) to Saltburn-by-the-Sea. 12 miles (19.5km)

Finish

Depart from Saltburn-by-the-Sea 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
Extra night (Saltburn-by-the-Sea)
Price on request
Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays Alternative Coast to Coast Walk map
Arnside to Saltburn-by-the-Sea
133 miles (213 km)
2nd January to 24th December

Holiday highlights

Crossing from the west coast to the east coast of Britain using a gentler alternative to Wainwright’s Coast to Coast walk.

Visiting the lovely old towns and villages of Arnside, Ingleton and Richmond, among many others.

Admiring the impressive sights along the route, from the striking Ribblehead viaduct to the remote expanse of the North York Moors.

What's included?

  • 9 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

To ensure that you don't miss some of the fascinating locations along the trail, an extra night is a great way to extend your holiday.

A good choice for a rest day is the historic market town of Kirkby Lonsdale. With its Norman church, the scheduled ancient monument of Devil's Bridge, range of quaint shops and picturesque views over the River Lune, it is a lovely place to rest your weary legs.

Richmond is also a good choice, offering charming cobbled streets and market place, a Norman castle, unusual church, Georgian theatre and museums to explore.

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

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night
Extra night (Saltburn-by-the-Sea)
Price on request

Tour Facts

Total distance: 133 miles (212.5 km)
Duration: 9 nights, 8 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 12 miles (19 km)
Maximum daily distance: 24 miles (38.5 km)
Code: ACCW1 Grade: Demanding / Strenuous
Season: 2nd January - 24th December
Start of holiday: Arnside(L)
End of holiday: Saltburn-by-the-Sea

Route Profile

Alternative 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 city and international airports are Leeds Bradford, Newcastle and Manchester.

By Rail - There is a rail station at the start of the trail (Arnside) and also at the end of the trail (Saltburn).

By Bus - Various bus services run to Arnside and from Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

From London - Trains run from London Euston station to Arnside.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail, is to take the train from Saltburn to Arnside.

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.
"Through the Old Lead Mine in Swaledale" by Robert Johnson (2023) "Through the Old Lead Mine in Swaledale" by Robert Johnson (2023)
"Great Shunner Fell in Swaledale" by Robert Johnson (2023) "Great Shunner Fell in Swaledale" by Robert Johnson (2023)
"Wensleydale on Good Friday" by Robert Johnson (2023) "Wensleydale on Good Friday" by Robert Johnson (2023)
"First Steps on the North Yorkshire Moors" by Robert Johnson (2023) "First Steps on the North Yorkshire Moors" by Robert Johnson (2023)
"Trekking to the Viaduct" by Melany Cueva (2019) "Trekking to the Viaduct" by Melany Cueva (2019)
"Ribblehead Viaduct" by Melany Cueva (2019) "Ribblehead Viaduct" by Melany Cueva (2019)
"Elders in Training" by Peter Cueva (2019) "Elders in Training" by Peter Cueva (2019)
"View over the Estuary to the Arnside Viaduct" by John Wilkins (2019) "View over the Estuary to the Arnside Viaduct" by John Wilkins (2019)
"Storybook Scenery" by Donald Ward (2018) "Storybook Scenery" by Donald Ward (2018)
"Moors with Stone Wall" by Donald Ward (2018) "Moors with Stone Wall" by Donald Ward (2018)
"Devils Bridge" by Donald Ward (2018) "Devils Bridge" by Donald Ward (2018)
"A Light at the End of the Trail" by Donald Ward (2018) "A Light at the End of the Trail" by Donald Ward (2018)
"Local House" by Hilary Holder (2016) "Local House" by Hilary Holder (2016)
"View from the Path" by Hilary Holder (2016) "View from the Path" by Hilary Holder (2016)

Customer reviews from the Alternative Coast to Coast Walk

“Very enjoyable and well organised.”
Mrs Perrins, Australia
“This route takes you through some of the best parts of the Yorkshire Dales, and we enjoyed the section of the route across the Cleveland Hills.”
Dr Wilkins, UK
“Everything ran really smoothly. We loved all our accommodation and bags got transferred each day without any issues. We could concentrate on just enjoying the day. Lovely accommodation. Perfect scenery and weather wasn't too bad either. Have already passed on information to a friend. Organisation was very good.”
Mr Wells, New Zealand
“All arrangements were great, B&Bs were lovely. You do a great job.”
Ms Currie, USA
“Loved that this trail was not as crowded as reportedly the C2C. Beautiful waterfalls and nice diversity in hiking terrain - moors, forest, farmland. Would love to book with Contours again! I drool over the website and all the possibilities.”
Mrs Cueva, USA
“Overall this is a splendid alternative to the famous Wainwright Coast to Coast. It misses out the Lake District of course but the countryside and the towns you visit along the way are in no way second rate. It's Coast to Coast that you can do relatively easily in ne go within a two week holiday. I enjoyed it all really. I would recommend this holiday, and I already have! Several people I met along the way (doing other walks) were very interested.”
Mr Moon, UK
“We really enjoyed the walk. Great variety of stunning scenery. All accommodation was good with great hosts. Contours do a great job of organising everything, leaving you free to enjoy the day’s adventure.”
Mrs Baker, Australia
“The variety of landscapes and accommodation. Met some nice people. Have booked another holiday with you already.”
Mr Johnson, UK
“Excellent walk - comfortable distances apart from one which was almost double the average. Varied scenery and easy access. High standard of accommodation.”
Mr Mckeown, UK
Find your holiday