Coast to Coast Guided Trail

Check-in is at the Shepherds Arms from 3pm. Your leader will either be on the transfer from St Bees railway station (4:30pm) or will be in the residents lounge at 7pm to meet the group for a quick introduction to the holiday before dinner.

After a ceremonial dipping of the toes in the Irish Sea, our first four miles follow the cliff path past St Bees Lighthouse. The cliffs, about 300 feet high, are nature reserves and important sites for nesting seabirds. Leaving the coast we head inland through the village of Cleator, an old farming village before the advent of iron-ore mining. From the abandoned industrial landscape of West Cumbria we walk east to Dent (1,131 feet), our first ascent. We are rewarded with magnificent views to the Lake District fells, the west Cumbrian coast and on a clear day the Galloway hills. Descending steeply, we continue through the pretty Nannycatch valley to Ennerdale Bridge.

14½ miles (23.5km) with 2,350 feet (700m) of ascent

A rough path alongside Ennerdale Water, then a forestry track leads us to Black Sail hostel and an amphitheatre of spectacular mountain scenery. The craggy north face of Pillar to the south and the impressive summit of Great Gable dominate the head of the valley. After a rough, steep ascent from Ennerdale we follow Moses Trod. This old packhorse route leads us to Honister Pass with the slate quarry and visitor centre, before we follow a grassy track down to Seatoller.

14½ miles (23km) with 2,250 feet (700m) of ascent

We leave the Borrowdale Valley along another packhorse route following Stonethwaite, beneath the imposing Eagle Crags. Ascending a rough, steep path to Greenup Edge, we usually descend to the shelter of Easdale Gill and down into Wordsworth’s village of Grasmere. If time allows we can follow a broad ridge to Helm Crag before a final steep descent leads us into Grasmere.

10½ miles (16.5km) with 2,650 feet (800m) of ascent

Our low-level route today involves another packhorse track, becoming steeper and reaching its highest point (1,929 feet) at Grisedale Hause. The scenery gets grander by the minute as the fells tower above Grisedale Tarn, St Sunday Crag and Fairfield on the right, and the Helvellyn massif on our left. Our descent to Patterdale is a rocky path. The high level route traverses St Sunday Crag (2,756ft). This involves an additional ascent of about 1,000 feet, and rewards us with excellent views of Lakeland and Ullswater as we descend steeply to Patterdale.

9 miles (14.5km) with 2,700 feet (820m) of ascent

Leaving Patterdale we follow a narrow path up to Angle Tarn at the head of Ullswater. We walk along the Roman road of High Street, and then ascend to the summit of Kidsty Pike, the highest point on the entire walk at 2,560 feet. Descending steeply to the southern end of Haweswater we follow an undulating stony path along the shores of Haweswater to Burnbanks. We leave the Lake District National Park and continue through the wooded valley of the River Lowther to Shap, passing the picturesque ruins of Shap Abbey.

15½ miles (25km) with 3,180 feet (980m) of ascent

A long day but easier underfoot, we pass through the gentler hills of the limestone plateau in an area little-known to walkers before the Coast to Coast became popular. We visit Sunbiggin Tarn - part of a National Nature Reserve - continuing over Ravenstonedale Moor through Smardale to Kirkby Stephen.

20 miles (32km) with 1,800 feet (550m) of ascent

Leaving the market town of Kirkby Stephen, we pass through the village of Hartley and ascend the fell road to Hartley Fell. A track leads us to the summit of Nine Standards Rigg, at 2,170 feet the Pennine watershed. From this point we see to the north Cross Fell, the highest point of the Pennines, with the lovely Eden valley below. Westwards are 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 Howgills. From here we descend the wet and peaty moors by way of Whitsundale into Swaledale and down to the tiny village of Keld.

13 miles (20.5km) with 2,050 feet (650m) of ascent

We briefly follow the Pennine Way as we cross the Swale near Kisdon Force then continue on a good track to Crackpot Hall. A narrow traversing path takes us along Swinner Gill to the site of an old mine. The valley was an important and busy area of lead mining during the 17th to 19th centuries, and for much of the day we will be walking along good tracks through the fascinating remains of this industrial landscape. Our destination is Reeth, an attractive village where old houses are built around a large rectangular green.

11½ miles (18km) with 2,150 feet (650m) of ascent

Following field paths along the delightful River Swale we reach 12th century Marrick Priory, now an adventure centre. We leave the river to pass the hamlet of Marrick, then the attractive little village of Marske, with its 12th century church. Continuing high above the Swale, we pass Whitcliffe Scar and continue to reach the picturesque and historic town of Richmond, dominated by the dramatic Norman castle.

10½ miles (17km) with 1,250 feet (380m) of ascent

From Swaledale to the Cleveland Hills is the Vale of Mowbray, a fertile plain just above sea level and the only section of our journey that lies entirely over low ground. From the cobbled streets of Richmond we continue along the Swale, passing under the A1 where it crosses the river at Catterick Bridge. At the church in Bolton-on-Swale there is a monument to a local resident who is said to have lived for 169 years. We finish at Danby Wiske, at 110 feet the lowest point on the entire walk.

15½ miles (25km) with 600 feet (200m) of ascent

As we continue across the Vale of Mowbray, following an assortment of field paths, farm roads and quiet lanes, the Cleveland Hills become visible ahead, the village of Ingleby Arncliffe nestling at the foot. Our first ascent of the day is Beacon Hill, a fine viewpoint despite being only 982 feet high. The Ordnance Survey column on the summit, starting point for the Lyke Wake Walk, marks the start of the North York Moors section of our walk, today a splendid high-level traverse along the escarpment of the Cleveland Hills. We descend steeply into the peaceful wooded valley of Scugdale, and then ascend again towards the open expanse of Carlton Moor and our destination of Carlton Bank.

17 miles (27.5km) with 2,150 feet (650m) of ascent

We begin the day with a rugged, steeply undulating walk past the dramatic Wainstones to Clay Bank Top, where 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 ironstone railway at Bloworth Crossing, following the track to the 16th century Lion Inn, standing alone on Blakey Ridge.

12 miles (19.5km) with 1,950 feet (600m) of ascent

Crossing the head of Rosedale, we see a number of ancient crosses and visible scars of the ironstone workings. A good track takes us over Danby Moor to Great Fryup Head and on to Glaisdale Rigg. We descend to the village of Glaisdale with the 17th century Beggar's Bridge. Along the wooded Esk Valley we cross the river at Egton Bridge, and then follow an old toll road to Grosmont.

13 miles (21.5km) with 600 feet (200m) of ascent

Our final day starts with a steep surfaced road ascent out of Grosmont to Sleights Moor. From the high point of Flat Howe (953 feet) we look ahead to the North Sea, with Whitby and its Abbey. We drop into the pretty wooded valley of Little Beck, and then re-ascend to cross Greystone Hills, the last stretch of moorland. Continuing to the village of Hawsker, we enjoy an invigorating cliff walk along part of the Cleveland Way to our destination at Robin Hood’s Bay.

15½ miles (25km) with 1,950 feet (600m) of ascent

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.