Walk one of the UK’s most iconic long-distance trails on the Coast to Coast Path National Trail, crossing northern England from St Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Sea. Covering 182 miles (293km), this classic route links three of England’s finest national parks – the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors – offering a spectacular journey through mountains, valleys, moorland and historic countryside.

The Coast to Coast Path is widely regarded as one of Britain’s best long-distance walks. Avoiding towns wherever possible and favouring high ground, the trail reveals the changing landscapes, geology and cultural history of northern England. Beginning with a dramatic clifftop walk at St Bees Head, the route soon heads inland into the western Lake District, exploring remote valleys and high passes beneath famous fells before leaving Lakeland by the shores of Haweswater. Beyond the Lake District, the route crosses the limestone uplands around Shap and enters the Yorkshire Dales, where historic mining landscapes and sweeping moorland lead to the high crossing of Nine Standards Rigg. The trail then continues through Swaledale and Richmond before traversing the quiet farmland of the Vale of Mowbray. The final section crosses the wide open heather moorland of the North York Moors and finishes with a memorable clifftop walk down to the North Sea at Robin Hood’s Bay.

• 13 stage-by-stage route descriptions covering the full Coast to Coast Path from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay
• Alternative itineraries of 15 and 19 days allowing a more relaxed pace across the 182-mile (293km) route
• Clear route guidance supported by 1:100,000 mapping and a detailed 1:25,000 OS map booklet
• Downloadable GPX files for easy navigation using GPS devices or smartphone apps
• Practical planning advice covering fitness preparation, accommodation, transport and daily logistics
• Stage summaries outlining distances, ascent, facilities and accommodation along the route
• Background information on the landscapes, geology and cultural history of northern England encountered along the trail

Whether you are tackling your first ever long-distance walk or planning your next multi-day National Trail, the Coast to Coast Path offers a rewarding end-to-end adventure. With clear mapping, practical planning advice and reliable route guidance, this guidebook makes it easier to organise your journey and enjoy every mile of this classic walk across England.

Walking the Coast to Coast Path - Quick Facts

Trail name: Coast to Coast Path National Trail
Location: Northern England (St Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Sea)
Designation: National Trail crossing three national parks – Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors
Distance: ~293 km / ~182 miles
Typical duration: ~2 weeks (commonly 13–19 days depending on itinerary)
Start: St Bees, Cumbria, England
End: Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire, England
Route format: Linear coast-to-coast long-distance walk
Stages: 13 stages (with alternative itineraries of 15–19 days)
Navigation: Well-established footpaths supported by 1:100,000 mapping, 1:25,000 OS map booklet and GPX files
Terrain: Mountain passes, fells, limestone uplands, river valleys, farmland and open heather moorland
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging – sustained multi-day walking with significant ascent and descent
Best season: Late spring to early autumn (May–September) for the most reliable weather
Accommodation: B&Bs, guesthouses, pubs, small hotels and hostels in villages and towns along the route

Author Highlight

“The Coast to Coast Path across northern England is a tantalising and inspiring excursion that today ranks among the best of the UK’s long-distance trails. It has become a firm favourite with generations of walkers from home and abroad who have followed its course up hill and down dale. Traversing the finest, many would say loveliest, ground in England, the route runs from the Irish Sea, lapping the pebbled western shores of Cumberland at St Bees, to where the waters of the North Sea flow into Robin Hood’s Bay on the Yorkshire coast. So, it is important to realise from the outset that tackling the Coast to Coast Path in one single and continuous endeavour is demanding.”

- Terry Marsh, author of Walking the Coast to Coast Path

Preface to the Fifth Edition     

Introduction   

An unmissable experience     

Across Lakeland         

Into the Dales 

The North York Moors            

Planning your walk   

Suggested itineraries  

Practicalities 

When to go     

Getting there   

Public transport           

Accommodation          

Facilities en route       

Baggage transfer        

Cash management     

What to take   

Weather          

Waymarking and paths           

Phones and Wi-Fi       

Emergencies   

Using this guide        

Distances, ascent and descent          

Walking times 

Maps   

Cicerone app and GPX files   

About the region       

Geography and geology         

Wildlife and plants      

History and pre-history           

The Coast to Coast Path National Trail      

Across Lakeland         

Stage 1           St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge  

Stage 2           Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite         

Stage 3           Rosthwaite to Patterdale        

Stage 4           Patterdale to Shap      

Into the Dales 

Stage 5           Shap to Kirkby Stephen          

Stage 6           Kirkby Stephen to Keld           

Stage 7A         Keld to Reeth (high-level route)         

Stage 7B         Keld to Reeth (low-level route)           

Stage 8           Reeth to Richmond     

Stage 9           Richmond to Danby Wiske     

Stage 10         Danby Wiske to Ingleby Cross           

North York Moors       

Stage 11         Ingleby Cross to Blakey Ridge           

Stage 12         Blakey Ridge to Grosmont     

Stage 13         Grosmont to Robin Hood’s Bay          

Appendix A     Useful contacts           

Appendix B     Accommodation along the route        

Appendix C       Further reading

Seasons

Accommodation along the Coast to Coast may be busy in summer and closed in winter on higher, more remote parts of the route. The path is at its best in spring and summer; less busy in autumn; demanding (but potentially stunning) in the poorer weather and shorter days of winter.

Centres

St Bees, Grasmere, Patterdale, Shap, Kirkby Stephen, Richmond, Ingleby Arncliffe, Grosmont, Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby

Difficulty

The Coast to Coast is usually walked in two weeks and has total ascent of 8330m (27,330ft). Waymarking is excellent although the route involves some remote stretches, especially on the North York Moors.

Must See

The Lakeland fells, Yorkshire Dales, Swaledale, Vale of Mowbray, North York Moors, cliff-top walks at Robin Hood's Bay

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