Coast To Coast Walk

Understand

The walk (also 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

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.

Eat You will find a mix of hearty pub grub, tea rooms, and local delicacies like Grasmere Gingerbread or Kendal Mint Cake. Most villages have a pub or small shop, but some remote stretches (like the climb out of Ennerdale or the moors) require you to carry a packed lunch. Many B&Bs will provide a sandwich box for a small fee if booked in advance. While some hostels have kitchens, most hikers rely on village infrastructure rather than carrying a stove.

Drink Tap water in England is potable and easy to refill at your accommodation or in village cafés. While the route is rich with streams in the uplands, you should use a filtration bottle or treatment tablets if drinking from natural sources due to nearby livestock.

Sleep Accommodation is varied, ranging from cosy B&Bs and traditional pubs to independent hostels and YHAs. Because the route passes through popular tourist areas, it is highly recommended to book well in advance, particularly in the Lake District and smaller villages like Keld. "Wild camping" is generally illegal without landowner permission in England, though many official campsites exist along the trail. Some pubs also allow camping in their gardens for a small fee.

Climate The weather is notoriously unpredictable; expect rain and wind

Get in

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

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 to Shap St Bees to Shap runs for around 61.25 mi.

The route begins at the Irish Sea in 1 St Bees, where many walkers traditionally dip their boots in the sea before setting off. It climbs quickly onto the red sandstone cliffs of 1 St Bees Head, giving a dramatic opening with sea views, nesting seabirds, and the lighthouse on the headland. After leaving the coast, the path turns inland through farmland and the former mining villages of 2 Sandwith, 3 Moor Row, and 4 Cleator. The first serious hill is 2 Dent Fell, followed by a descent through Nannycatch valley to the quiet village of 5 Ennerdale Bridge.

This is one of the wilder Lake District stages. The path follows the shore of Ennerdale Water, with views towards the western fells, then continues up the valley on tracks and paths through remote country. Beyond 1 YHA Black Sail, one of the most isolated hostels in England, the route climbs beside Loft Beck towards the high ground near 3 Grey Knotts. The descent passes the Honister area and drops into Borrowdale, reaching 6 Seatoller before following valley paths and woodland into 7 Rosthwaite (Borrowdale).

A shorter but still mountainous stage, leaving Borrowdale by way of Stonethwaite and the valley of Greenup Gill. The climb to Greenup Edge is rough in places and can feel remote in poor weather, but it gives a fine crossing between two classic Lake District valleys. The route then descends by Far Easedale, gradually returning to enclosed fi

Stay safe

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

There are several other long distance walks in the United Kingdom.

The Pennine Way is a 268-mile walk in northern England. The 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.