Highlights of the Coast to Coast Walk

Make your own way to the starting point of your Highlights of the Coast to Coast Walk. The resort of St Bees is on the edge of the Irish Sea where you'll have views across to the Isle of Man (but that's another trip). In St Bees you should have time to visit the Abbey church, which has features on the local history and a display on a mummified knight that was discovered in a lead coffin from the graveyard. If you have booked with us an extra night here, you can follow the coastal path or quiet inland roads to the attractive town of Whitehaven, with its marina and great museum. Whitehaven is famous in the annals of the US navy as the site of an elaborate raid on the British mainland by one John Paul Jones during the American War of Independence. Accommodation: A family-run bed and breakfast in a large modernised Georgian farmhouse in the centre of St Bees.

Take the first steps on the Highlights of the Coast to Coast Walk when you ascend from the beach at St Bees. Take a footpath along red sandstone coastal cliffs off St Bees Head with England’s only breeding colony of Black Guillimots (until July). Then head inland over hilly ground to the edge of the Lake District National Park. Dent Hill is the first real fell that you cross and will give you some indication as to whether you are fit enough for the following days! Although short, there follows possibly the steepest descent of the whole trip down to Nannycatch Gate and Beck. A delightful stroll brings you to the final descent to leafy Ennerdale Bridge. // The day’s total ascent 780m / descent 665m. Accommodation: Overnight at a friendly pub.. Opt to enjoy a home-cooked meal of local produce including fish and game in season. A traditional feel is retained by the hotel, with its open fire, and the fully licensed bar serves a range of beverages including locally produced ale. If we are unable to book you into Ennerdale then we will secure accommodation for you at Cleator with a return taxi transfer that we will put in place for you (own expense).

Follow a quiet and scenic footpath along the shore of Ennerdale Water, with a bit of an easy scramble under Angler’s Crag at Robin Hood’s Seat. A long walk on a forest track then continues to Black Sail Hut, which is the smallest youth hostel and originally a shepherd’s hut. A steep climb follows up the Lowther Beck before traversing some of the Lakeland fells, perhaps with views down to Buttermere. Finally, you reach the ‘drum house’, which marks the descent path to the Honister Slate Mine workings & cafe and Borrowdale. This is perhaps the most delightful valley in England's Lake District with its crags and broadleaved trees. Borrowdale is a delightful ensemble of hamlets: Seatoller, Longthwaite, Rosthwaite and Stonethwaite. Delightful riverside paths connect the places and their pubs together (if you have sufficient energy left for the evening!). You might be interested to know that ‘thwaite’ is old Norse for paddock. // The day’s total ascent 765m / descent 785m. Accommodation: Your hotel tonight is located at the southern end of the Borrowdale (Seatoller) Valley. It has striking views over the local fells.

Enjoy classic Lakeland scenery over Greenup Edge to Easedale and Grasmere. Its a stiff 500m climb up to the edge via Lining Crag where you may get great views back down into Borrowdale. The once boggy trail over the pass has been improved with the laying down of hundreds of Flagstones. After the pass the trail becomes rough and descends steeply into the flower meadows on the ouskirts of Grasmere. In good weather the longer variant optional path to Helm Crag is well worth it. Grasmere is one of Lakeland’s most celebrated villages and you might have time either this afternoon or tomorrow morning to visit poet Wordsworth's home at Dove Cottage and perhaps drop into the famous Ginger bread shop! // The day’s total ascent 750m / descent 760m. Accommodation: We use a number of different accommodation in the busy village of Grasmere.

A great walk over Grisedale Pass (609m/2000ft) and around the small mountain lake of Grisedale Tarn to Patterdale. In good weather and if you are a reasonably strong walker, we recommend that you take the detour route up St Sunday Crag (add 1½ hours). It will give some exceptional views down across Ullswater on the descend to Glenridding, possibly the most breathtaking of the Coast to Coast Path. Another detour option is via the summit of Helvellyn, for this add 2 miles and 2 hours. // The day’s total ascent: 900m / descent 805m (via the optional route over St Sunday Crag, less if you avoid this). Afternoon taxi transfer (approx 5pm, included) to Kirkby Stephen. Accommodation: Tonight’s accommodation is a family-run guesthouse.

Climb out of town to the cairns of Nine Standards Rigg (661m / 2170 feet) with its array of obelisks. This is an ancient, possibly, boundary feature that no one has any real knowledge of. It marks the Watershed of England. Next you cross squelchy moors down to Keld in Swaledale. The trail from the Nine Standards, once the most notorious of the Coast to Coast, has been much improved once again with the placement of hundreds of flagstones. Passing the farm at Ravenseat, where they breed prime rams, the moors then become increasingly gentler as you walk into Keld with its many waterfalls and old stone barns. /// The day’s total ascent 780m / descent 575m. | Accommodation: Keld - A medium-sized guesthouse with traditional Yorkshire fayre served in an attractively decorated dining room, and there are tea & coffee making facilities in all rooms.

There are two options today. 1) The first is the higher alternative over wild moorland with long-abandoned lead mines, a magnet for the industrial archaeologist. 2) The second option is the pretty bucolic route via Swaledale, which is a lovely option if you have unfavourable weather or you just prefer a lower level walk. This takes you through numerous pastures with tiny gates through the dry stone walls. Whichever option you choose, your day finishes in Reeth, an attractive green village which flourished at the height of the mining age and today has a collection of pubs and tea shops. The day’s total ascent 838m / descent 911m (via the higher route). Accommodation: Your accommodation tonight is the oldest surviving Inn in Reeth, dating from 1680.

The route threads its way along the Swale River past Grinton to the old priory at Marrick. From here find a steep set of stone slabs, then cross fields and down to Marske with its fascinating church of Edmund The Martyr. You will then be high above the river in pretty Swaledale, lined with limestone crags. You should arrive early enough to allow time in Richmond for shopping (most shops are closed Sundays) & sightseeing. The extremely picturesque largely Georgian North Yorkshire town of Richmond, with its cobbled market square and Norman castle, is an ever-popular destination for visitors. You can also choose to follow the Swale River to Town Falls, which are quite impressive when the river is in spate. The day's total ascent 395m / descent 510m. Accommodation: The extremely picturesque North Yorkshire town of Richmond, with its cobbled market square and Norman castle, is an ever-popular destination for visitors. We use a number of guesthouses or pub accommodation in this busy town.

A morning transfer takes you to Clay Bank Top (55 minutes), a pass in the Cleveland hills. From here there is a steep climb across the heather over Urra Moor passing Round Hill (454m), the high point of the day. The last 7km or so are on the easy gradient of the dismantled Rosedale Railway line which takes you around the side of Farndale to Rosedale. The moor can be bleak and is punctured in places by standing stones, some marked with inscriptions. There are enticing views at times into the fertile upper valleys of Farn and Esk dales. Finally, arrive at the ancient Lion Inn at Blakey. The day’s total ascent 251 m / descent 128 m. Accommodation: You'll stay at the Lion Inn in this bleak moorland location. This pub hotel has been a refuge from the elements for 400 years or so, and very cosy it is too! Normally there are a large number of ales to reward yourself with and great dining in either the bar or the restaurant.

After a bit of a road perambulation past a white cross called Fat Betty, you follow an easy undulating descent down to beautiful wooded Eskdale. You also get some views opening up to the sea. The latter part of today's walk follows a pretty path through the woodlands on the banks of the River Esk. You come across the ‘Beggars Bridge’ a parabolic stone structure that has a story of love lost and love refound! Egton Bridge features a church with relics of the Catholic martyr Nicholas Postgate. A really pretty setting, the river is famous for fly fishing and has some interesting stepping stones, which enable you to hop between the two pubs faster than using the road! The day’s total ascent 265m / descent 616m. Accommodation: Egton Bridge or Grosmont - We use a variety of lovely guesthouses/B&Bs in either of these villages.

You follow a delightful, private road to Grosmont, where you might want to try and get in time to see a steam train pull out for Pickering. You then follow a very steep pull up across heather moors with views down to Whitby Bay and its Abbey. But the sea and journey’s end is still tantalizingly far as the Coast to Coast route abruptly changes course to visit the May Beck valley with its Falling Foss waterfall. A last area of high moor brings you to the North Sea coast, where the last 5 km/3 miles are spent on the coastal cliff path to Robin Hood's Bay. It will appear almost by surprise as you near it. This is a village of red-roofed houses clustered around its harbour on the North Sea coast marking the end the 190 odd-mile Coast to Coast crossing of England. Celebrate with a drink at The Bay Hotel and as tradition states, dip your toes into the sea. The day’s total ascent 775m / descent 770m. Accommodation: Your final night is spent in an elegantly refurbished Victorian guesthouse with many original features. This is a popular seaside location so one of many similar B&B's may be used.

Your Coast to Coast walk concludes in Robin Hood's Bay after breakfast.