Walking the Coast to Coast Path

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.

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