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Wainwright's Coast to CoastSelf-Guided Trail

Sign at the end of the Coast to Coast Walk

Self-Guided Walking

From £675 - 9 to 17 nights

Coast to Coast Self-Guided Trail

Holiday reference: YFTRL

Print holiday itinerary information

Walk grade logo four 190 miles; 7 - 14½ miles per day with one day of 21 miles. Daily ascents of between 350 feet and 2,300 feet.

Day 1: Arrival day

Day 2: St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge: After a ceremonial toe dipping in the Irish Sea, we head towards the Lakes. Our first hill of the journey, Dent (1,131 feet), affords magnificent views over Windermere with the Lake District mountains in the distance. The Isle of Man can often be seen, quite clearly emerging from the Irish Sea. 14 miles with 2,300 feet of ascent.

Day 3: Ennerdale Bridge to Seatoller/Rosthwaite: Along Ennerdale’s shores to an amphitheatre of spectacular mountain scenery including the craggy north face of Pillar and the impressive summit of Great Gable. Following ‘Moses Trod’, to the top of Honister Pass, we’re greeted by beautiful views of Buttermere. From the old toll road, we descend to Seatoller. 13½ miles with 1,650 feet of ascent.

Day 4: Seatoller/ Rosthwaite to Grasmere: Leaving Borrowdale via the delightful hamlet of Stonethwaite, our ascent takes us to Greenup Edge, where two possible routes are available (weather dependent) – either via the shelter of Easdale Gill, or along Helm Crag to Wordsworth’s village of Grasmere. 10 miles with 1,700 feet of ascent.

Day 5: Grasmere to Patterdale: Again, two different routes (weather dependent) – either low level via Grisedale, or high level via St Sunday Crag. The low level route is a pleasant walk, with scenery becoming grander by the minute – St Sunday Crag, Fairfield, the Helvellyn massif, Nethermost and Dollywagon Pike, all towering above us. The high level route traverses St Sunday Crag, for excellent views down to Ullswater and Patterdale. 8 miles with 1,650 feet of ascent.

Day 6: Patterdale to Burbanks: Leaving Patterdale we climb to Angle Tarn, and the Roman road of High Street before ascending Kidsty Pike, the highest point on the entire walk (2,650 feet). Excellent views from the summit before our descent to Haweswater, following its shores to Burnbanks. 11½ miles with 2,300 feet of ascent.

Day 7: Burbanks to Orton: Today we leave the Lake District and walk east from Haweswater. After passing the picturesque ruins of Shap Abbey, a 12th and 13th century Cistercian monastery, we climb up into Shap. The change in landscape is noticeable as we continue east towards the gentler hills of the limestone plateaux and reach the quaint village of Orton. 13 miles with 1,200 feet of ascent.

Day 8: Orton to Kirkby Stephen: Starting from Orton, much of the terrain is only moderately undulating as our route passes across limestone plateaux with short grassy turf. We continue over Ravenstonedale Moor past Rayseat Pike before reaching Kirkby Stephen. 13 miles with 1,400 feet of ascent.

Day 9: Kirkby Stephen to Keld: Leaving the market town of Kirkby Stephen, we pass through the village of Hartley and ascend Hartley Fell. Reaching the summit of Nine Standard Riggs, at 2,170 feet, we arrive at the Pennine watershed. Westwards we can see the outline of Lakeland hills in the distance, whilst to the southwest and south lies the Mallerstang Valley backed by Wild Boar Fell, and the fading Yorkshire Dales. From here we descend the moors by way of Whitsundale to our final destination, the small village of Keld. 12 miles with 1,800 feet of ascent.

Day 10: Keld to Reeth: A day of lovely Swaledale scenery beckons as we depart from the village of Keld. The view up the valley from ruined Crackpot Hall is particularly picturesque. 11 miles with 1,800 feet of ascent.

Day 11: Reeth to Richmond: Following the River Swale to reach Marrick Priory. Walk below Whitcliffe Scar high above the River Swale to reach Richmond. 11 miles with 1,100 feet of ascent.

Day 12: Richmond to Danby Wiske: Crossing from Swaledale to the Cleveland Hills is leisurely walking, entirely over low ground. The fertile agricultural land of the Vale of Mowbray is only just above sea level. Our walk finishes today at Danby Wiske (110 feet), the lowest point on the entire Coast to Coast walk. 13 miles with 350 feet of ascent.

Day 13: Danby Wiske to Osmotherley: We follow an assortment of field paths, farm roads and quiet country lanes across the Vale of Mowbray. This is a flat and rather featureless area, which forms a northern extension of the Vale of York. 12 miles with 900 feet of ascent.

Day 14: Osmotherley to Carlton Bank: Today we begin our crossing of the North York Moors, a splendid high-level traverse along the escarpment of the Cleveland Hills. Our first climb in two days is onto Beacon Hill, a fine viewpoint despite being only 982 feet high. 7 miles with 1,000 feet of ascent.

Day 15: Carlton Bank to Blakey Ridge: We ascend Carr Ridge and continue eastwards to Round Hill, at 1,489 feet, the highest point on the Cleveland Hills. After Urra Moor we join the old railway line at Bloworth Crossing. 13 miles with 1,950 feet of ascent.

Day 16: Blakey Ridge to Grosmont: Cutting across the head of Rosedale, we can see considerable scars left behind from the working of ironstone, developed here in the mid 19th century. 13½ miles with 700 feet of ascent.

Day 17: Grosmont to Robin Hoods Bay: A steep surfaced road climbs out of Grosmont and leads us up onto Sleights Moor. From the high point of Flat Howe (953 feet) we can look ahead to the North Sea together with Whitby and its Abbey. Our last stretch of moorland is the Greystone Hills. From here we enjoy invigorating coastal scenery along part of the Cleveland Way, leading us to our final footsteps at Robin Hood’s Bay. Having reached our goal, and dipped our toes in the sea, we return to our accommodation for a final night’s celebration. 14½ miles with 1,800 feet of ascent.