16 day UK Coast to Coast Trek

Walk with Emma, a UIMLA-certified mountain leader, through the picturesque countryside and quaint villages of England during this 16 day long distance trek between the Western and Eastern coasts of Great Britain!

16 Days

Apr - Sep

High

Intermediate

Description

During this 16 day program, we will enjoy one of the best long distance walks in the world, passing though charming English villages and the picturesque countryside of the region, as we cover more than 300 km on foot, from one coast of England to the other!

We will follow the 190 mile (approx. 305 km) route first mapped by Alfred Wainwright, a legendary British fell-walker, and published in his 1973 guidebook. After starting in St. Bees Head, a coastal village in Cumbria, Northwest England, we will spend the following two weeks walking eastward, until we finish in Robin Hood’s Bay, located in North Yorkshire.

We will walk along a wide variety of different trails and terrain, even passing through some remote areas with no trail at all. We will follow the route through fields, villages, woods, and countryside, and over steep rocky mountain paths and rolling hills. Along the way, we will explore the beautiful landscapes of Lake District National Park, Yorkshire Dales National Park, and North York Moors National Park, along with the many picturesque villages and hamlets of the region.

Each day, we will cover 13 km-34 km. Given the length and duration of this trip, so a good level of physical fitness is required.. We will rest each night at inns, guest houses, hotels, and traditional B&Bs. Whenever possible, we opt for charming, local accommodation with lots of character. Note that we arrange accommodation on a twin-share basis. Because we will have luggage support throughout this journey, at the end of each day your bags will be waiting for you. This also means that while walking, you will only need to carry a daypack.

While our standard program includes 14 days of trekking and lasts 16 days total (including days for arrival and departure), we can also arrange the program to so that the trekking portion is complete in 13 days. Alternately, for those who wish to move a little slower, we can plan the route so we trek for 15, 16, 17, or even 18 days. Lastly, we can also organize this trip in two halves, each one lasting a week. A day-by-day itinerary for the standard, 16 day (14 days of trekking) program is outlined below.

Book now and join me know for an incredible long distance trek through the lovely countryside and tranquil villages of England! This is a long distance trek you won’t soon forget!

If you love long distance walks be sure to check out my other trips: 1 week Alta Via 1 trek in the Dolomites, 8-day trek along the French Pyrenees GR10 (Stage 1), or my 10-Day Trek of Serra de Tramuntana on Mallorca!

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Dinner
Luggage transfer

Price details

Price includes: Guiding services, accommodation (twin share basis), breakfast, luggage deliver. Does not include: Insurance (mandatory for every participant), lunch and evening meals, transportation to and from starting points of trek, travel insurance, personal drinks and snacks, tips.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival: St Bees Head

Arrive in St. Bees Head. We will discuss the upcoming program, then enjoy a group dinner at a local pub.

Accommodation: B&B

Day 2: St Bees Head to Ennerdale Bridge

We will depart from the Beach in St Bees Head at the sign marking the beginning of the Coast to Coast route. We then follow the shore to sandstone cliffs. Next, we head inland and climb Dent, the first fell top of the trek.

Distance: 22.5 km

Accommodation:Hotel

Day 3: Ennerdale Bridge to Borrowdale

We walk along Ennerdale Water, ascend 300 m, then descend Honnister Pass and into the Borrowdale Valley. We stop for the night in the hamlet of Stonethwaite.

Distance: 24 km

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 4: Borrowdale to Grasmere

We walk through the more remote area of Greenup Edge, where there is not always a clear trail. Depending on the weather conditions, there are several potential routes we can take, but we ultimately will finish in the town of Grasmere, where we can explore the town that Wordsworth once called home.

Distance: 14.5 km

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 5: Grasmere to Patterdale

We have two different options depending on the weather and desires of the group: one is to take a shorter more direct route to the valley, and the other is to head up St. Sunday Crags, site of some of the best views of the trek.

Distance: 13.5 km

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 6: Patterdale to Shap

During our last day in the Lake District, we ascend to the highest point on the Coast to Coast trail: Kidsty Pike. We then walk along Haweswater, passing Shap Abbey on our way to the village of Shap.

Distance: 25 km

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 7: Shap to Kirkby Stephen

While we will cover a lot of distance today, the route is less strenuous. We cross limestone plateau to heather-filled moorland. We have the option to pass Robin Hood’s grave before we reach our destination, the town of Kirkby Stephen.

Distance: 33 km

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 8: Kirkby Stephen to Keld

Now in the Yorkshire Dales, we ascend to Nine Standards Rigg. From here, our route depends on the season due to potentially boggy conditions and erosion. We eventually reach the river Swale and the village of Keld, where we stop for the night.

Distance: 21 km

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 9: Keld to Reeth

Today, we can decide whether we wish to pass through old lead mines, which is not the most scenic section but provides an interesting glimpse into Britain’s industrial history. Alternately, we can follow the river Swale, which takes us through beautiful Swaledale.

Distance: 18 km

Accommodation: B&B

Day 10: Reeth to Richmond

We walk through the Benedictine ruins of Marrick Priory, then head through farmland until we reach Richmond. We will arrive in time for a late lunch, so that you have the afternoon to explore the sites of this historical city, including its castle.

Distance: 17 km

Accommodation: Guest house

Day 11: Richmond to Danby Wiske

We pass from the Yorkshire Dales into the Vale of Mowbray, which we cross over the next two days. We will explore various footpaths and bridleways along the way to avoid walking along a road, which is the less scenic option.

Distance: 22 km

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 12: Danby Wiske to Ingleby Cross

We stick to the footpaths and bridleways as much as possible as we finish crossing the Vale of Mowbray. We reach Ingleby Cross, where we have a chance to relax in the woods and explore the Mount Grace Priory.

Distance: 18 km

Accommodation: B&B

Day 13: Ingleby Cross to Blakey Ridge

We will get going early today. We will enjoy the changing landscape as we enter the North York Moors. We walk in the Cleveland Hills and follow an old railway track until we reach the Lion Inn.

Distance: 34 km

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 14: Blakey Ridge to Egton Bridge

Today we pass the legendary Fat Betty Post, a landmark of the Cross to Cross route. We continue walking across the moors, following the trail along a river and through the woods to our resting place.

Distance: 23 km

Accommodation: B&B/Hotel

Day 15: Egton Bridge to Robin Hood's Bay

We walk on an old toll road, reaching the old village of Grosmont. We then take a final ascent and, if the weather is clear, will have views of the coast. Once we finish our ascent, we walk along the cliffs to Robin Hood’s Bay, ending our trek the same way we started – at the sea. We can then enjoy a well-deserved pint in town.

Day 16: Robin Hood's Bay: Departure

After breakfast, we say goodbye and depart for our homes.

Details

More info

Insurance

It is compulsory that you take out adequate travel insurance, and it is a condition of booking with us that your insurance covers the following as a minimum: medical expenses, injury, illness, death, repatriation, personal accident, mountain rescue including helicopter evacuation, along with cancellation and curtailment. Your insurance must be valid for the duration of your tour.

Meeting point

We will meet at our accommodations in the village of St. Bees Head

About the guide

Emma

4.5

(8)

Mountain Leader

I'm a qualified International Mountain Leader (IML) and I have been leading expeditions for the last 15 years. I have led the Tour du Mont Blanc over 40 times, the Everest Base Camp trek 27 times, Kilimanjaro 10 times, and I have also led trips in Nepal, Peru, Cuba, India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Thailand, the Alps, the Pyrenees, Russia, Uzbekistan and Madagascar, amongst others.

I'm a passionate skier, in 2009 I made the first ski descent of Manaslu, the 8th highest mountain in the world (8156m).

Fluent in French, Russian and Spanish, I also work as an interpreter and love to chat.

Languages

Russian | French | English

Certificates

UIMLA

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