The Coast to Coast Walk is a 190-mile long-distance trail in England that crosses the north of the country from St Bees in Cumbria on the west coast to Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire on the east coast.
Understand
[edit]The walk (known as the 'C2C') was created in 1972 by Alfred Wainwright, when, in response to the creation of the Pennine Way, he set about devising the best walk he could imagine in England. It has never been adopted as an official National Trail, though a campaign has begun, but is hugely popular, and once came second (after the Milford Track) in a poll among travel writers conducted by Country Walking magazine to find the finest walk in the world.
Along its route the walk passes through three National Parks: The Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the North York Moors. The creator suggested walking from West to East in order to enjoy the best possible views, and to have any prevailing weather at your back rather than in your face.
The original guidebook was written in Wainwright's characteristic style of hand-written text and hand-drawn maps, in the same manner as his seminal Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells.
Prepare
[edit]
The walk typically takes people two weeks to complete, longer if you adopt Wainwright's 'stop and stare' approach. You'll want a copy of the guidebook, maps, and suitable outdoor gear. The walk crosses through the mountains of the Lake District but generally keeps to the passes, apart from the occasional option to cross summits.
Walkers may split the walk in various ways to suit the distance they want to walk in a day, though the availability of accommodation may limit this. The author suggested breaking the walk into twelve days, which makes about 16 miles a day. Some find this a little too much for comfort and choose to have the odd rest day or a couple of short days, or even to take other transport as substitution for a day or two.
An option to lighten the load is a daily baggage transfer service, such as pack horse or Van, who will take your luggage to the next day's finish point for around £10 per bag.
Get in
[edit]
To St Bees.
By train
St Bees has a station on the Cumbrian Coast rail line. From the West Coast Main Line, change at Carlisle or Lancaster off the west Coast main line, or at Barrow-in-Furness. There are, as of 2013, 21 stopping passenger trains a day. The station is on the Main Street in the centre of the village, where there are three pubs within 5 minutes' walking. It is a 20-minute walk to the official start of the Coast to Coast walk at the main beach.
By car
Leave the M6 at junction 40 (Penrith) and head west along the A66 to Cockermouth, then south along the A5086 to Egremont. St Bees is a couple of miles to the west and will be signposted.
Walk
[edit]
The walk starts at the seawall at the main beach in St Bees; there is a monument to mark this with an interpretation board. The scenery throughout is beautiful, but also varied, since you pass through a number of different types of landscapes. The start is a coastal walk, with cliffs, seabirds, and a lighthouse. Soon after heading inland you pass through the Lake District, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, which has a fantastic variety of landscapes. The northern part of the Yorkshire Dales is limestone country, then the Vale of Mowbray is lower-level terrain. The North York Moors are peaty moorlands, and finally you reach the sea once more at Robin Hood's Bay among the highest cliffs in England.
St Bees - Ennerdale Bridge
[edit]- Distance
- 14¾ mi
The route begins at the Irish Sea in 1 St Bees 
, climbing to the cliffs of 1 St Bees Head before turning inland through 2 Sandwith , 3 Moor Row , and 4 Cleator . It then enters the Lake District via 2 Dent Fell and finishes in the quiet village of 5 Ennerdale Bridge .
Ennerdale Bridge - Rosthwaite
[edit]- Distance
- 14¾ mi
Follow the length of Ennerdale Water and continue through remote terrain to 1 YHA Black Sail. The route then ascends to 3 Grey Knotts before descending into Borrowdale via 6 Seatoller and ending in 7 Rosthwaite (Borrowdale) .
Rosthwaite - Grasmere
[edit]- Distance
- 8¼ mi
Climb alongside Stonethwaite Beck and over Greenup Edge before descending through Far Easedale into the bustling village of 8 Grasmere (Cumbria village).
Grasmere - Patterdale
[edit]- Distance
- 7¾ mi
The trail passes by the summit of 4 Seat Sandal , with optional detours to 5 Helvellyn or 6 St Sunday Crag , ending at the head of Ullswater in 9 Patterdale .
Patterdale - Shap
[edit]- Distance
- 15¾ mi
The trail ascends to 7 Kidsty Pike , the highest point of the walk, then descends past Haweswater Reservoir, continuing through farmland to 10 Shap .
Shap - Orton
[edit]- Distance
- 8 mi
A gentler day across limestone moorland and past prehistoric remains, arriving in the quaint village of 11 Orton .
Orton - Kirkby Stephen
[edit]- Distance
- 20 mi
Traverse remote countryside with views of the Howgill Fells before descending into the market town of 12 Kirkby Stephen .
Kirkby Stephen - Keld
[edit]- Distance
- 14½ mi
Ascend to the 8 Nine Standards Rigg , then descend into Swaledale, reaching 13 Keld where the route joins the Pennine Way.
Keld - Reeth
[edit]- Distance
- 12½ mi
Two options: a high-level moorland path past old lead mines, or a riverside route through 14 Muker and 15 Gunnerside . Both lead to the village of 16 Reeth .
Reeth - Richmond
[edit]- Distance
- 12½ mi
Follow the River Swale past 9 Marrick Priory and through woodland to arrive in the Georgian town of 17 Richmond.
Richmond - Osmotherley
[edit]- Distance
- 24 mi
A long stage across flat farmland through 18 Danby Wiske and 19 Ingleby Arncliffe , finishing at the edge of the North York Moors in 20 Osmotherley .
Osmotherley - Blakey Ridge
[edit]- Distance
- 21 mi
Follow moorland ridges and forest trails along the Cleveland Way. The trail climbs to Carlton Bank and Clay Bank before reaching the remote 2 Lion Inn at 21 Blakey Ridge.
Blakey Ridge - Egton Bridge
[edit]- Distance
- 10 mi
Crossing the North York Moors via Glaisdale Rigg, descend into Eskdale, passing through 22 Glaisdale to 23 Egton Bridge .
Egton Bridge - Robin Hood’s Bay
[edit]- Distance
- 9 mi
Follow the River Esk through 24 Grosmont , then climb to the moor tops one final time before descending to the North Sea at 25 Robin Hood’s Bay .
Stay safe
[edit]Your main risks are keeping on track and route finding in low cloud, especially in the Lake District. The walk passes close to Seathwaite which has the highest recorded annual rainfall in England so if (when) it rains, having the right waterproofs and walking gear is important.
Go next
[edit]There are several other long distance walks in the United Kingdom.
- The Pennine Way is a 268-mile walk in northern England.
- Southern Upland Way is a 212-mile coast to coast walk in southern Scotland.
- The Great Glen Way is a 73-mile walking and cycling route from coast to coast in northern Scotland.