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Planning your Coast to Coast walk

Published 22 Oct 2010. Last updated 17 February 2022

If you lot've been reading my Coast to Coast posts, there'due south a possibility that you've been inspired to walk it yourself. Either that or yous watched Julia Bradbury do it on the television receiver some years ago and idea "that looks great!" Or maybe yous've simply picked upwards the volume and decided to have a become.

Whichever mode you've come to the Coast to Coast doesn't affair. What matters is that you've idea "Yes, I could do that! Sign me up! How do I do it then?" Yous have, haven't you?

Y'all have? Great! And then what do yous need to know to program your trip walking from one side of the due west of England, to the east?

Inside This Guide

What is the walk like?
The Route
Planning an itinerary
Finding and booking accommodation
Getting to/from the Declension to Declension
Guide books and maps
Know how to utilise a map and compass
And finally, and any questions

What is the walk similar?

It has been on Idiot box and was created by a walking superstar, so the Coast to Coast is quite a famous route. And it'due south popular. And that ways people sometimes think it's going to exist easy – like walking in the park.

Information technology's not. It's 190 miles long, and there are some difficult bits, especially in the Lake Commune. And if the weather is bad, well it can exist very difficult indeed. And I'm proverb that every bit an experienced walker who has been up to his knees in bog on the Pennine Way.

I don't want to put people off doing the Coast to Coast, considering it'southward a very rewarding route and in many parts it's dainty and easy going. I've heard of people successfully walking information technology in their 70s and 80s. If you've washed some colina walking, peculiarly in Scotland or the Lake Commune, yous should be fine.

Even so practice not underestimate the Coast to Coast. The Mountain Rescue teams forth its road can regale y'all with plenty of tales of tales of those that do. To do it successfully y'all will need to be fit, have proficient walking boots and be very competent with a map and compass. Preferably you'll accept done some long distance walking earlier too.

That warning said, what should you lot wait? Well the Coast to Coast is an amazingly varied route, and no ii days are the aforementioned. There's fells, moorland, fields and mining history. In creating the walk Wainwright actually went out to brand it interesting, and he did a bully chore. It really does seem to cover everything you lot could ever possibly want in a long distance walk.

If you'd like to know more, you lot can read near my own Coast to Coast journey.

The Road

The Declension to Coast goes from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood'south Bay in North Yorkshire. You tin can see the route using the map above. Using the controls you lot can scroll around, zoom in and explore the road. Annotation that this map is a guide only, and should not be used for navigation.

The Declension to Coast has a number of options and variations over the form of its route. This is especially truthful in the Lake Commune. All Wainwright'southward variations are included on the map above.

Planning an itinerary

Unless y'all're camping, y'all need to work out your itinerary in advance and go it booked. As the Coast to Coast goes through many small villages, and is a very popular route, accommodation is very limited and booked up early on.

The Coast to Declension could be walked all year circular, however navigation and conditions tin can be difficult in poor conditions. As such, it is best walked in the period of May to October.

In that location are a couple of different possible itineraries and I accept listed three: 12 days, 14 days and fifteen days. Based on my experience I recommend the xv day one. The 12 day version includes some very long distances and is recommended only for fit and experienced walkers.

The towns and villages listed in the itinerary beneath have been selected as they all accept facilities – every one has a pub, and most have shops too. Where in that location are no shops, pubs and B&Bs volition be able to provide packed lunches. Locations with a railway station are marked with a 🚂.

12 Day Itinerary
Stage	From	To	Altitude		Notes
			Miles	Km
1	St Bees 🚂	Ennerdale Bridge	xiv	22½
two	Ennerdale Bridge	Rosthwaite	xiv	22½
3	Rosthwaite	Patterdale	17	27¼	[1]
4	Patterdale	Shap	15	24
5	Shap	Kirkby Stephen 🚂	20	32
half dozen	Kirkby Stephen 🚂	Keld	11	17¾
7	Keld	Reeth	10½	17
8	Reeth	Richmond	fifteen	24	[2]
9	Richmond	Ingleby Arncliffe	23	37	[ii]
10	Ingleby Arncliffe	Clay Bank Top	xi	17¾	[3]
11	Dirt Banking concern Meridian	Glaisdale	18	29
12	Glaisdale	Robin Hood's Bay	19	thirty½

14 24-hour interval Itinerary
Stage	From	To	Distance		Notes
			Miles	Km
1	St Bees 🚂	Ennerdale Bridge	14	22½
ii	Ennerdale Bridge	Rosthwaite	14	22½
3	Rosthwaite	Patterdale	17	27¼	[1]
four	Patterdale	Bampton	xi½	xviii½
5	Bampton	Orton	11½	eighteen½
6	Orton	Kirkby Stephen 🚂	12½	20
7	Kirkby Stephen 🚂	Keld	11	17¾
8	Keld	Reeth	10½	17
9	Reeth	Richmond	15	24	[ii]
10	Richmond	Ingleby Arncliffe	23	37	[ii]
11	Ingleby Arncliffe	Dirt Banking company Acme	11	17¾	[3]
12	Dirt Banking concern Pinnacle	Lion Inn	ix	14½
13	Panthera leo Inn	Grosmont 🚂	12½	20
xiv	Grosmont 🚂	Robin Hood's Bay	xv½	25

fifteen Solar day Itinerary
Stage	From	To	Distance		Notes
			Miles	Km
one	St Bees 🚂	Ennerdale Span	xiv	22½
2	Ennerdale Bridge	Rosthwaite	14	22½
iii	Rosthwaite	Grasmere	9	14½
four	Grasmere	Patterdale	8	xiii	[one]
five	Patterdale	Bampton	11½	18½
6	Bampton	Orton	11½	18½
vii	Orton	Kirkby Stephen 🚂	12½	20
viii	Kirkby Stephen 🚂	Keld	xi	17¾
9	Keld	Reeth	10½	17
10	Reeth	Richmond	fifteen	24	[two]
11	Richmond	Ingleby Arncliffe	23	37	[ii]
12	Ingleby Arncliffe	Dirt Bank Top	xi	17¾	[3]
13	Clay Bank Top	Lion Inn	9	14½
xiv	Lion Inn	Grosmont 🚂	12½	20
fifteen	Grosmont 🚂	Robin Hood's Bay	15½	25

In 2022 Patterdale Hamlet Store closed. The nearest shop is a mile north in Glenridding. This is a sad loss for many reasons, including that the shop was the showtime to stock Wainwright'due south pictorial guides.
Nosotros've put Richmond here because most guide books will say become to Richmond. Just see below for a much more sensible fashion of doing things that doesn't involve a day walking 23 miles.
Clay Bank Pinnacle is simply a road laissez passer and there are no buildings here. Accommodation tin can exist found in nearby Swell Broughton (2½ miles northward up the road) and at Chop Gate (two miles south.) The route is busy merely if y'all ask nicely and in advance, B&Bs and pubs may pick y'all up and drop you off.

Don't practice the 23 miles in a day from Richmond – at that place is a far better mode

Anyone looking at any Coast to Coast guide volume or mileage chart volition annotation that from Richmond it is a 23 mile walk to the adjacent primary stopping place, Ingleby Arncliffe.

Here is my first slice of advice. DO Not Practice THIS. Information technology's far too much to practice in ane solar day, and at that place is a far more sensible way to dissever things upwards.

First you walk to Richmond from Reeth. Then, on the same day, carry for another 4½ miles to Brompton-on-Swale.

You then have a choice. You can stay in Brompton-on-Swale, or yous can get the bus back to Richmond. The 34 and 55 buses operated by Hodgsons volition take you there, and the journey takes ten minutes. The concluding bus runs at 18:21.

The side by side morning, if y'all're in Brompton-on-Swale, only set off walking once again. And if you're in Richmond, catch the 34 or the 55 back again. At that place's a 34 bus at 09:36, and at that place are earlier buses.

Doing this ways you lot only need to walk 18½ miles to Ingleby. Still hard work, but far more than manageable. Trust me, your feet will appreciate it!

Breaking the walk up for several trips

If you haven't got time to do it all in one get, you tin can pause the Coast to Coast up in a few ways.

The near sensible identify to carve up the route is half way at Kirkby Stephen which is on the Settle to Carlisle railway link.

Alternatively you can exercise it into 3 sections by breaking at Shap and Richmond. Neither have a railway station, however local bus routes connect both with railway stations. Buses run from Shap to Penrith, and from Richmond to Darlington, both of which are served by mainline services.

Due to limited public ship services on other parts of the trail, there are no other easy means to split the Coast to Coast up.

Rest Days

Walking 12-15 days consecutively may sound a lot, although if you keep your daily mileage reasonable, you'll observe it easier than you may recollect. Nonetheless you may want to program in some places where yous can take a twenty-four hours off.

If you're going to take a day off hiking, then y'all might besides do it at a identify where there's plenty to do. The post-obit suggestions are all worth considering:

Grasmere – very early in the Coast to Coast, however Grasmere is a walkers paradise and a lovely village to boot. You can potter effectually the shops, stroll in the nearby hills or maybe buy some gingerbread.
Kirkby Stephen – nigh half way through your trip, this little town is in the beautiful Eden Valley, and is on the Settle to Carlisle line if you lot fancy a trip on an iconic train line. There's also a cycle hire shop and craft shops to explore.
Richmond – the largest town on the Coast to Coast, Richmond is a bustling identify with a castle and lots of history to explore. Information technology's an ideal candidate to rest earlier pushing on for a very long 24-hour interval the next day. However after all that walking in the relative piece and quiet, this can be a rather disorientating identify and even though we merely stopped there for less than an 60 minutes, I personally couldn't wait to go out!
Grosmont – with simply a few miles left to Robin Hood'southward Bay, Grosmont might seem a bonkers place to stop. However Grosmont is home to the North York Moors Railway which means steam trains! It's a lovely fiddling line with lots of places to potter around and become off and walk through moorland and wood. Seriously recommended, merely do – of course – cheque the railway is running on your visit! Trains operate daily in the summertime school holidays, however at other times operating patterns vary.

Finding and booking accommodation

The Declension to Declension is very busy and in the Lake District in detail, it tin can exist very hard to observe accommodation. Accelerate booking is pretty much essential if you're walking in the summer.

Doreen Whitehead has been publishing an accommodation guide for the route for over 15 years and it is updated annually, and a print re-create is available for £6. A free online version is also bachelor.

Whilst Doreen's guide provides excellent coverage, it is not exhaustive and y'all may demand to search online for alternatives.

Adaptation Booking Services and Baggage Transfer

As a very popular walk, at that place are scores of operators who will book adaptation for you. There are far also many for usa to mention, so we suggest a good web search using your favourite search engine. Nigh operators will also include luggage transfer in the price.

The following companies also provide baggage transfer services for those planning their own walk:

C2C Packhorse
Sherpa Van
Brigantes

Hostels and bunkhouses

Most of the hostels you'll find are in the Lake District, however some tin be found on other parts of the route. The hostels on or near the route are:

YHA Ennerdale – note that this is a few miles across from Ennerdale Bridge
YHA Black Sail, Ennerdale – iconic remote hostel 4 miles on from YHA Ennerdale.
YHA Honister Hause, Honister – most three miles before Rosthwaite
YHA Borrowdale, Rosthwaite – just outside the village
YHA Grasmere Butharlyp Howe, Grasmere
Thorney How Contained Hostel, Grasmere – old YHA hostel on the edges of the hamlet
YHA Patterdale
Shepherd's Crook Bunkhouse, Patterdale – independent bunkhouse near the village
New Ing Gild, Shap
Kirkby Stephen Hostel – formerly YHA Kirkby Stephen, now independent
Keld Bunkhouse – a short way out of the village
Dales Bike Heart, Reeth – independent bunkhouse close to Reeth
Brompton on Swale Bunkbarn
The Sometime Schoolhouse Business firm, Robin Hood'due south Bay – independent hostel
YHA Bungle Hole, Fylingthorpe – a mile'south walk from Robin Hood'due south Bay

If you lot plan to stay at multiple YHA hostels, it's well worth because becoming a member as this will salvage you lot some money.

Camping

Many people who walk the Coast to Declension do so with a tent and the trail is very well served for campers. There'south some campsites, only many pubs and farms offering space for walkers to pitch up and there's a few camping barns too. Doreen's adaptation guide (noted in a higher place) includes information on camping.

In that location'southward no legal right to wild campsite in England, although it is tolerated in some areas, specially in the Lake Commune which has a plethora of excellent wild camping spots. Nevertheless unless you're an experienced wild camper, we'd recommend staying on proper facilities.

Getting to/from the Declension to Declension

Because the route takes you lot from one side of the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland to the other, the most sensible way to arrive and depart is by public send. St Bees in Cumbria is on the Cumbrian Declension Line which is a bit slow although rather nice – trains run from Carlisle or Lancaster – the route Lancaster route is, I'chiliad told, the near scenic. Both Carlisle and Lancaster have excellent rail links with the rest of the state.

Robin Hood'south Bay no longer has a railway station, however there'south hourly (half hourly in summertime) buses on road X93 to Whitby or Scarborough operated past Arriva Northward East. Whitby is nearer although there are more trains from Scarborough and the coach journey is non much longer. Scarborough trains go via York, which also has splendid rails links.

Alternatively if you have a car, the Coast to Coast Packhorse runs daily minibuses from Kirkby Stephen and they have car parking facilities at there. Some B&Bs may besides allow you exit your auto at that place for a fee.

Guide Books and Maps

The popularity of the Coast to Coast means that there'south a huge number of guide books, in several languages. The following are our recommendations.

A Coast To Coast Walkby A.Wainwright

The obvious book to mention when talking about the Coast to Coast is the original A Coast To Coast Walk by Wainwright himself. It's the book that started it all off and we carried a copy with united states at all times. It's full of history and information besides as detail of the route, ready out in Wainwright's handwritten style consummate with his line drawings and occasional doodles.

The 2nd Edition of the book was updated by Chris Jesty in 2010, and re-published in 2017.

Although Wainwright wrote his pictorial guide in such a manner that y'all can navigate using information technology, you'll probably desire to plot your route out on a map equally well. We tended to use Wainwright in the evenings to come across what nosotros'd done, and information technology does make a great memento of the trip.

Buy from Amazon UK
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The Coast to Declension Walkby Martin Wainwright

Most people prefer to use a more than mod guide book for day to twenty-four hour period navigating and the popularity of the route means that there are many.

Based on previous experience we recommend Aurum Press'due south The Coast to Coast Walk (Recreational Path Guide) by Martin Wainwright (who is no relation).

The Aurum guides are clear and interesting reads, and always include Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 scale mapping. They also show a good area around the route, just in case you get lost. The nigh contempo edition was published in 2016.

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Trailblazer Coast to Coast

Now in its 7th edition, Trailblazer's Coast to Declension guide contains detailed information of where to stay, eat and drink, then is platonic for anyone planning a walk. There's too extensive information on public transport along the route, complete with bus numbers and operators. There are detailed hand-drawn maps, although I'd recommend that a proper map is used in conjunction with the volume, and ultimately its planning rather than navigation in which the Trailblazer series truly excels.

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Coast to Coast Adventure Atlasby A-Z

If you prefer just to use maps, then there are two options. Firstly, in that location is the A-Z Risk Series Coast to Coast Map Book.

The excellent A-Z Adventure Serial includes Ordnance Survey mapping for the whole route (at the one:25,000 Explorer scale), as well as an alphabetize to help you find places. The book is a like size to a map and will fit neatly in a map example, and is a lot easier to fold in wind! It has a modest, compact size.

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Finally, if yous'd prefer to take a stack of Ordnance Survey maps with you (and it will exist quite a stack), you volition need the following maps. Note that the Coast to Declension is not specifically marked on Ordnance Survey maps.

Landranger (1:50,000): 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 99
Explorer (1:25,000): OL4, OL5, OL19, OL26, OL27, OL30, 302, 303, 304

A Declension To Coast Periodicalpast Catherine Redfern

On a lighter notation, if you've got a Kindle, you can get a copy of A Coast to Declension Journal, past Catherine Redfern. Catherine walked the Coast to Declension in 2010. Funnily enough at exactly the same time as I did. A Declension to Coast Journal explores the Coast to Coast in cartoon form, complete with guides of what to exercise with walking poles! Oh and it stars me too.

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Wainwright Walks: Declension to Coast

Want to picket the Coast to Coast and encounter what it's like from the comfort of your living room? Well yous tin. In 2009 Julia Bradbury walked the whole trail and had a camera coiffure with her as she did it. On her mode she sees the sights and talks to those with a connexion to the route.

Originally broadcast on BBC Four, Wainwright Walks: Coast to Coast is available on DVD.

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Wainwright's Declension to Coast Walk

If that's plenty, in 1990 Wainwright himself was persuaded to star in a TV series virtually his own cosmos. Presented by Eric Robson, Wainwright's Declension to Coast Walk was released on DVD in 2004, giving you insights to the trail from its creator.

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Downhill

Finally, such is the fame of the Coast to Coast that there'southward even been a film made virtually it. Well, about iv middle aged men walking it. Released in 2014, Downhill describes itself as a "road moving picture on foot".

If you're expecting pin-point accurateness on locations, and lavish helicopter shots of the route, you may exist disappointed. For starters it was recorded on 1 of the wettest Junes in recent history, and in that location's several $.25 that clearly were recorded on other paths (probably for applied reasons.) However if you lot desire a subtle and rather understated British one-act then this is for you.

For an added bonus, sentry it after you've done the walk yourself, and see how many similarities there are between the main characters and people you saw out there!

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Know how to use a map and a compass

Equally the Coast to Declension is a completely unofficial route, waymarking is variable. The Wainwright Guild has waymarked much of the route, and some customs groups and individuals have placed their own signs to help the walkers. Nevertheless the Coast to Coast is not a trail that you can navigate using just waymarks lone.

Every bit such you volition need a guide book with good quality maps in it (such equally the Aurum guide book detailed above), or you will need maps. You'll as well need to know how to use a compass.

The importance of this cannot be underestimated. Whilst we were walking the Coast to Coast nosotros saw some people who were woefully unprepared. Don't exist the human we saw who was navigating through the Lakes with a laminated A5 carte du jour that showed next to nil other than a wiggly line with some identify names. Had there non been other people around, chances are that he would have got very lost. In that location'south not a year that goes by when local mount rescue teams don't have to rescue lost Declension to Coast walkers.

Make certain you have a good map and compass, and know how to apply them. So if you, or one of your party doesn't know how to use a map and compass together, I'd acquire. Better still, make sure everyone in the party knows. You will need those skills.

There are several online guides similar How To Use A Compass, and y'all may besides notice grooming courses in your area – many YHA hostels host such events.

Knowing how to use a map and compass together will really help you and will (hopefully!) stop you getting lost. And if you lot do get lost, you'll stand a chance of finding your manner once more.

And finally, and any questions

Hopefully at present you're now raring at the bit ready to go and then there's little to practice other than offer you some sage advice. Take some good, comfortable, well cleaved in boots and some good breathable waterproofs – it'southward often moisture in the Lake Commune especially.

And where information technology's wet, wet boots inevitably follow. A tip which many walkers don't seem to know almost boots wet within is when you take them off, fill up them with assurance of newspaper. The paper soaks upward the water from inside the boot, thus drying them out. It works a lot faster than letting them air dry. Endeavour checking and replacing the newspaper after a few hours to help.

On a related wetness notation, if there'due south ane thing you lot should pack, information technology'south waterproofing wax for your boots. Waterproofing on hiking boots does wear off (something people often don't realise) and we had problems with boots getting soaked inside because of it fifty-fifty though both pairs were relatively new (that said, they had gone in many bogs and things…)

At the outdoor store at Kirkby Stephen the owner recommended Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather. From experience it works very well, and you tin use information technology even to soaked boots. I tend to slap it on every few days just to make sure – it does work, and maintains the boot'south breathability if the boot is lined with something like Gore-Tex. If y'all don't have leather boots, consult your local outdoor shop equally similar products exist for other boot types.

All the same it doesn't always rain. Accept your suncream and insect bite cream as well and you'll be covered for all occasions! And if you are thinking of doing it, why not allow me know in the comments box below? Also don't hesitate to ask any questions too. However please notation that I can but advise on "normal" walks – I take no knowledge on walking the Coast to Declension in 2 days, or any other more "challenge based" itineraries.

Starting time Published: 22 Oct 2010 . Last updated 17 February 2022

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