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St Bees seacote beach promenade

Treks / United Kingdom (England)

Coast to Coast Walk

United Kingdom (England) · Nearest city: Newcastle upon Tyne (also Manchester)

TypeMulti-day trek
Days12–14
Distance≈ 300 km
Climbingvaries
Highest point780 m

Alfred Wainwright's walk across northern England from St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay, through three national parks.

Fitness Demanding
Best seasonMay to September
High pointKidsty Pike

Watch out: The Lake District stages are the hardest. Book accommodation early for summer.

Why people choose it

It crosses England from the Irish Sea to the North Sea through three national parks, with the Lake District as its highlight.

What makes it different

  • Dip your boots in two seas
  • Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors
  • A classic created by Alfred Wainwright

Route options

There is rarely just one way to walk Coast to Coast Walk. These are the main choices people make.

  • Length: most people take 12–14 days, 13 is typical. You can shorten it by skipping a stage with a bus or lift, or lengthen it with rest days.
  • Alternative sections near Grasmere (8.8 + 5.5 + 8.4 + 1.9 + 5.3 km): an alternative to part of the main route.
  • Alternative sections near Kirkby Stephen (6.8 + 4.9 km): an alternative to part of the main route.
  • Variants are shown as dotted purple lines on the map above, as mapped in OpenStreetMap. Some are harder or more exposed than the main route: check conditions locally before you pick one.

Similar treks to consider

Kerry Way Ireland · 9 days · 200 km A long loop around the Iveragh Peninsula from Killarney, on old roads and green hills above the Atlantic. GR 221 Dry Stone Route Spain (Mallorca) · 7–8 days · 140 km A walk through Mallorca's Serra de Tramuntana on old mule tracks built with dry stone walls, between... Pennine Way United Kingdom (England) · 16–19 days · 431 km Britain's first National Trail runs along the backbone of England from Edale to the Scottish border, over...

Before you go

Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.

Phone and data

EU 'roam like at home' doesn't apply in United Kingdom, and many plans charge extra there. A Europe data eSIM covers United Kingdom too.

United Kingdom eSIM on Airalo

Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.

Insurance that covers this trek

Most travel insurance includes hiking at this height. Check that hiking is listed and that medical evacuation is covered.

Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.

World NomadsHeymondoSafetyWingTrue Traveller

True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.

Camping and where to sleep

Wild camping is not generally allowed in England without the landowner's permission. Use campsites, bunkhouses and B&Bs along the route.

Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.

Route map

Download GPX

Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.

Trail from OpenStreetMap (301.9 km) Route variant Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city

Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. The trail line is the OpenStreetMap hiking route and may differ from the variant you choose. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.

Stops: St Bees → Grasmere → Shap → Kirkby Stephen → Richmond → Robin Hood's Bay

Simple overview map
St BeesGrasmereShapKirkby StephenRichmondRobin Hood's BayNewcastle upon Tyne100 kmN

Step by step

  1. Months before

    Plan and book

    • Book huts or accommodation as soon as reservations open, starting with the busiest nights.
    • Best time to go: May to September.
  2. 6–12 weeks before

    Train and test your gear

    • Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
    • Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
    • Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.

    Readiness quiz · Packing list

  3. Getting there

    Travel to the start

    • Most people start from Newcastle upon Tyne.
  4. On the trail

    Walk it

    • Start early each day, so you arrive before the afternoon weather and the rush for beds.
  5. The finish

    Get home

    • It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.

How the season changes things

Best time: May to September

April to May

Spring

Often the driest time of year, with long days and fresh green hills. Can still be cold and windy on the tops.

Bring

  • Warm layer and hat
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Gloves for high ground

June to August

Summer

Longest days and warmest weather, but also rain showers, busier trails and, in Scotland, midges.

Bring

  • Midge head net and repellent in Scotland
  • Waterproofs, always
  • Book accommodation early

September to October

Autumn

Fewer people and beautiful colours, but wetter, windier weather and shorter days.

Bring

  • Full waterproofs, jacket and trousers
  • Headlamp
  • Waterproof boots

Be ready for

Rain

Plan for rain on most days. A proper waterproof jacket, a pack liner and quick-dry clothes keep you comfortable.

Rain jackets →

Navigation

Paths can be faint or disappear in mist. Carry an offline map on your phone and a paper map, and know how to use them.

What you'll see

10 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.

St Bees seacote beach promenade
St Bees south head Tomlin
Shap - Market Cross
Near GrasmerePath into Far Easedale - geograph.org.uk
Near Richmond, North YorkshireLow Moor Lane - geograph.org.uk
Near Robin Hood's BayStepping stones over River Esk at Egton Bridge - geograph.org.uk
Near GrasmereDay - Just arrived at Grasmere, The Lake District
Near Kirkby StephenGunnersidebeck-lead-mining-ruins
Near Kirkby StephenNorth Hush Gunnerside Beck
Near Richmond, North YorkshireLow Moor Lane - geograph.org.uk

Gear for the Coast to Coast Walk

Hiking boots Top pick: La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 Mid GTX Backpacks Top pick: Osprey Exos 58 Rain jackets Top pick: Patagonia Torrentshell 3L

Photo credits: St Bees seacote beach promenade by Doug Sim, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; St Bees south head Tomlin by Doug Sim, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Shap - Market Cross by Alexander P Kapp, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Path into Far Easedale - geograph.org.uk by Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Low Moor Lane - geograph.org.uk by Gordon Hatton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Stepping stones over River Esk at Egton Bridge - geograph.org.uk by Martin Dawes, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Day - Just arrived at Grasmere, The Lake District by Takashi Hososhima from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Gunnersidebeck-lead-mining-ruins by Kreuzschnabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; North Hush Gunnerside Beck by Kreuzschnabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Low Moor Lane - geograph.org.uk by Gordon Hatton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.