Wainwright's Coast to Coast

The Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the North York Moors national parks.

Length 182 miles (293 km) - not waymarked, route not marked on OS maps
Toughness 8 out of 10 - 26,250 ft (8,000 meters) of ascent over 12 to 15 days, some very long
Maps

OS Explorer Maps : 303, 4, 5, 19 (a few km), 30, 302, 26, 27

Walk Notes

The "Coast to Coast" is an unofficial but very popular long footpath. It starts on the west coast, at St Bees in Cumbria, and passes through the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and The North York Moors National Parks to finish on the east coast at Robin Hood's Bay.

The route was devised by Alfred Wainwright (of Lake District pictorial guides fame) in his 1973 book "A Coast to Coast Walk", but has since been changes slightly to reflect rights of way etc. He originally created it to start and finish at train stations. St Bees still has one, but Robin Hood's Bay's has long since closed. He suggested you deep your feet in the sea at either end of the walk, and take time to stand and stare.

The start in the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the finish in the North York Moors are the best bits, however there is a long slog between the Dales and the Moor's national parks. It is by far the most popular long distance path in the country. Wainwright '... finished the Pennine Way with relief, the Coast to Coast with regret.'

Due to the routes popularity, there are several baggage companies, who will transport your bags from overnight stop to overnight stop. Accomodation options include camping, Hostels, and B&s;Bs

The GPX route (see the map page) was fully updated in Jan'16. It includes the main options, e.g. the season dependant routes over Nine Standards Rig hill.

Stages < td>1950
  mileskm Ascent ftAscent m
Day 1 St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge 14.122.7 2950900
Day 2 Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite 14.423.2 1900575
Day 3 Rosthwaite to Grasmere 7.912.7 2300700
Day 4 Grasmere to Patterdale 7.011.3 1800550
Day 5 Patterdale to Shap 15.024.1 3100950
Day 6 Shap to Kirkby Stephen 19.431.2 1650500
Day 7 Kirby Stephen to Keld 11.418.3 1900575
Day 8 Keld to Reeth 11.718.8 1250375
Day 9 Reeth to Richmond 10.016.1 1050325
Day 10 Richmond to Danby Wyske 13.121.2 25075
Day 11 Danby Wyske to Ingleby Cross 8.814.1 20075
Day 12 Ingleby Cross to Blakey Ridge Lion Inn 19.831.8 36001100
Day 13 Blakey Ridge Lion Inn to Egton Bridge 11.218.0 400100
Day 14 Egton Bridge to Robin Hoods Bay 16.827.0575
Guides

The Trailblazer guide is the pick of the bunch - best for practical details like accomodation, transport, food etc. Wainwright's original guide has been updated to include changes in the route. The 'strip maps' are great - unless you get lost, or your accomodation is off the edge.

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By Train

Out (not a train station)

By Car

Start CA27 0BZ Map Directions

Finish Robin Hood's Bay, YO22 4R Map Directions

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Help

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Version

Jan-24

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