A Northern Coast to Coast Walk
This guidebook follows England's Coast to Coast walk, popularised by Wainwright, which runs from St Bees Head in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay on Yorkshire’s east coast. At 178 miles (300km), this popular long-distance walk can be easily walked within a two-week holiday. Third edition of this successful guide.
A Northern Coast to Coast Walk
From St Bees Head to Robin Hood’s Bay
Author
Cover
Paperback - PVC
Edition
Third
ISBN_13
9781852845056
Availability
Reprinted
Price
£12.95
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Seasons
Accommodation may be busy in summer and higher, more remote, parts difficult in winter. Spring or autumn is ideal.
Centres
St Bees, Grasmere, Shap, Kirkby Stephen, Richmond, Ingleby Arncliffe, Grosmont, Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay
Difficulty
A two-week walk with total ascent of 6995m (22,825ft). Some remote stretches, especially on the North York Moors.
Must See
The Lakeland fells, Swaledale, Vale of Mowbray, North York Moors, cliff-top walk to Robin Hood’s Bay
Coast to Coast update, August 2006
West to East direction
pp168-169
The text for the route across Sleights Moor, taking in the tumulus of Flat Howe, corresponds with the original line devised by Wainwright, although the latest edition of his work has been revised, presumably to reflect the fact that the former route was not a right of way. Now the route lies across Access Land, and is freely and lawfully available to walkers. It saves 700m of walking along a minor road, and a further 500m of walking beside the busy, high-speed A169. But, because it had become abandoned by most other guidebooks, the way has become overgrown, and is little more than a narrow trod through low heather, and not always easy to locate. Moreover, the point at which this route leaves the minor road (opposite High Bride Stones) is not clear.
In its place, walkers are encouraged to continue along the minor road to 8549 0427, where a signpost (opposite a large parking area on the right) indicates the way to Littlebeck. This alternative route, also through low heather, reaches the verge of the A169 at a step-stile, followed by 500m alongside the road, to rejoin the original line.
The map shown on p169 does not show either of these options correctly, and will be amended when the book is next reprinted.
Meanwhile, the following text should be substituted for that on pages 168 and 169:
'When the lane reaches the open moor (now Access Land), a line of standing stones known as the Low Bride Stones may be spotted to the south, and further on another set, the High Bride Stones, can be seen off to the right.
There are now two possible routes:
(a) From the point where a path leads south to High Bride Stones, cross the road to a small pull-in, and locate a narrow trod through heather that leads towards the tumulus of Flat Howe on the high ground of Sleights Moor. This is not always clear, but once Flat Howe comes into view it is easier to follow.
From Flat Howe a similar, narrow path descends to meet the A169 at the top of Blue Bank (aim for a conspicuous large blue road sign), gaining access to the roadside at a stile beside a gate.
Cross the road with great care, and go right, up the road, for 15m, and then left to a gate giving on to a stony track. [The original line is 50m to the right of the gate, but as this is now all Access Land, you can safely use the nearest gate.] Continue down the track to meet the narrow and twisting metalled road leading to the hamlet of Littlebeck.
(b) Ignore Flat Howe and continue along the minor road for 700m beyond High Bride Stones, to a signpost opposite a large parking area on the right. At the signpost, leave the road for a clear path through heather that shortly meets the A169. Turn left along the verge beside the A-road, crossing it when you can safely do so. After 500m, you encounter a signpost on the right pointing to a gate that gives onto a bridleway heading left through heather to meet a stony track. Turn right onto the stony track, now having joined the original route.'
East to west direction
p180
Substitute the following for the text at the bottom of page 180.
'On reaching the A169, you have two possible onward routes:
(a) Cross the road with care to a signpost, step-stile and gate more or less opposite. Over the stile, a clear path loops across the moor; ignore this. Instead, bear left on a narrow trod through low heather, roughly heading for a solitary tree, but gradually climbing onto Sleights Moor to reach the pronounced tumulus of Flat Howe. From this, continue in a south-westerly direction, following another narrow path through heather to reach a minor road opposite High Bride Stones. Turn right and follow the road into Fair Head Lane and down to Grosmont.
(b) Turn left and walk beside the A169 for 500m, crossing the road when you can safely do so. Leave the road at a step-stile on the right, giving onto a clear track across heather moorland. This reaches the minor road to Grosmont at a signpost opposite a large parking area. Turn right and follow the road into Fair Head Lane and down to Grosmont, on the way passing High Bride Stones and later Low Bride Stones.'
West to East direction
pp168-169
The text for the route across Sleights Moor, taking in the tumulus of Flat Howe, corresponds with the original line devised by Wainwright, although the latest edition of his work has been revised, presumably to reflect the fact that the former route was not a right of way. Now the route lies across Access Land, and is freely and lawfully available to walkers. It saves 700m of walking along a minor road, and a further 500m of walking beside the busy, high-speed A169. But, because it had become abandoned by most other guidebooks, the way has become overgrown, and is little more than a narrow trod through low heather, and not always easy to locate. Moreover, the point at which this route leaves the minor road (opposite High Bride Stones) is not clear.
In its place, walkers are encouraged to continue along the minor road to 8549 0427, where a signpost (opposite a large parking area on the right) indicates the way to Littlebeck. This alternative route, also through low heather, reaches the verge of the A169 at a step-stile, followed by 500m alongside the road, to rejoin the original line.
The map shown on p169 does not show either of these options correctly, and will be amended when the book is next reprinted.
Meanwhile, the following text should be substituted for that on pages 168 and 169:
'When the lane reaches the open moor (now Access Land), a line of standing stones known as the Low Bride Stones may be spotted to the south, and further on another set, the High Bride Stones, can be seen off to the right.
There are now two possible routes:
(a) From the point where a path leads south to High Bride Stones, cross the road to a small pull-in, and locate a narrow trod through heather that leads towards the tumulus of Flat Howe on the high ground of Sleights Moor. This is not always clear, but once Flat Howe comes into view it is easier to follow.
From Flat Howe a similar, narrow path descends to meet the A169 at the top of Blue Bank (aim for a conspicuous large blue road sign), gaining access to the roadside at a stile beside a gate.
Cross the road with great care, and go right, up the road, for 15m, and then left to a gate giving on to a stony track. [The original line is 50m to the right of the gate, but as this is now all Access Land, you can safely use the nearest gate.] Continue down the track to meet the narrow and twisting metalled road leading to the hamlet of Littlebeck.
(b) Ignore Flat Howe and continue along the minor road for 700m beyond High Bride Stones, to a signpost opposite a large parking area on the right. At the signpost, leave the road for a clear path through heather that shortly meets the A169. Turn left along the verge beside the A-road, crossing it when you can safely do so. After 500m, you encounter a signpost on the right pointing to a gate that gives onto a bridleway heading left through heather to meet a stony track. Turn right onto the stony track, now having joined the original route.'
East to west direction
p180
Substitute the following for the text at the bottom of page 180.
'On reaching the A169, you have two possible onward routes:
(a) Cross the road with care to a signpost, step-stile and gate more or less opposite. Over the stile, a clear path loops across the moor; ignore this. Instead, bear left on a narrow trod through low heather, roughly heading for a solitary tree, but gradually climbing onto Sleights Moor to reach the pronounced tumulus of Flat Howe. From this, continue in a south-westerly direction, following another narrow path through heather to reach a minor road opposite High Bride Stones. Turn right and follow the road into Fair Head Lane and down to Grosmont.
(b) Turn left and walk beside the A169 for 500m, crossing the road when you can safely do so. Leave the road at a step-stile on the right, giving onto a clear track across heather moorland. This reaches the minor road to Grosmont at a signpost opposite a large parking area. Turn right and follow the road into Fair Head Lane and down to Grosmont, on the way passing High Bride Stones and later Low Bride Stones.'
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