Coast to Coast: Walking Guide & Planner

What is the Coast to Coast?

"Surely there cannot be a finer itinerary for a long-distance walk," wrote Alfred Wainwright, who first described the Coast to Coast in 1973. It crosses England for 190 miles (306 km), from the Irish Sea at St Bees to the North Sea at Robin Hood's Bay, and became a National Trail in March 2026.

Three national parks lie between the two seas. The Lake District has the high fells and the hardest days. The Yorkshire Dales bring limestone, hay meadows and old lead mines, and the North York Moors miles of heather before a last cliff path down into the bay. Tradition says you carry a pebble from the beach at St Bees and throw it into the North Sea at the finish.

Coast to Coast route map

The full Coast to Coast from St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay. Tap any day to open that itinerary in the planner and see overnight stops along the way. The panel below the map shows the elevation profile.

Tap the map to choose an itinerary.

How hard is the Coast to Coast?

It is a demanding walk: hilly, steep, and remote in places. You do not need to scramble. The western fells are the hardest part. Patterdale to Shap is one of the most challenging sections. Reeth to Richmond is one of the easier ones.

The test is the number of days. Our plans run from 10 to 18 walking days, and we suggest 15 for a first crossing. Mickledore says their 15-day and 16-day holidays are the popular options, and that many regular mountain walkers use 14. Ten to thirteen days are fast plans, each with at least one day of more than 23 miles (37 km).

Coast to Coast itineraries and official sections

Pick a day count and the 10–18 day splits show where you would sleep each night, or read the route as the official town-to-town sections.

When is the best time to walk it?

January, winter
February, winter
March, winter
April, good
May, best
June, fair
July, fair
August, fair
September, best
October, good
November, winter
December, winter

Best months: May and September

May and September are the usual first-timer window: long enough days, and quieter beds than July and August. Bag transfer runs from March to October.

June to August is peak: the small nights at Keld and Blakey Ridge go months ahead. April and October still work, with shorter days and more weather. The trail is open all year, but the Lakes fells in winter need hill skills.

Carry waterproofs even in May. The Lakes days take the weather; the Vale and the east are drier, but the moors still get wet.

Rain days each month:

January, 14 rain days
February, 12 rain days
March, 11 rain days
April, 11 rain days
May, 10 rain days
June, 11 rain days
July, 12 rain days
August, 12 rain days
September, 11 rain days
October, 14 rain days
November, 15 rain days
December, 14 rain days

Driest: May — still 10 rain days.

These are northern England averages. The Lakes days are wetter than the Vale and the east coast.

How do I get there and back?

St Bees has a station on the Cumbrian Coast Line, between Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness. The beach where the walk starts is about a 20-minute walk from the station.

Robin Hood's Bay has no station. The X93 bus runs to Whitby and to Scarborough, and both towns have trains. Check the times before you travel. They change with the season.

Frequently asked questions

The walk

How long does the Coast to Coast take?

Our plans run from 10 to 18 walking days, and we suggest 15 for a first crossing. It splits the Lakes at Grasmere and the Vale of Mowbray at Danby Wiske. The National Trail describes the crossing as about 13 days with a rest day. Operators often count nights or travel days, so a 17-day holiday can be 15 days on the trail.

Can I walk the Coast to Coast in winter?

The trail is open all year. High sections can be difficult in winter or in bad weather. Some of those sections have a lower option.

Which direction should I walk?

Most people walk from St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay, west to east, so the prevailing wind is behind them. Signposts show both directions. Coast to Coast Packhorse moves bags west to east only.

Getting set

Do I need to book accommodation in advance?

Yes. Book the whole line before you fix the dates. In June, July, August, and September the beds at Keld and at Blakey Ridge go months ahead. Do not plan a night at Clay Bank Top. It is a road pass, not a settled bed.

Can I get my bag transferred?

Yes. Coast to Coast Packhorse moves bags from March to October, and only from west to east. On their page a walker's bag is £17 a move. Some stays in the old village of Robin Hood's Bay are not served, and the bag is dropped the next day. Prices and the season change, so check with them.

This site & app

Do I need to sign up?

No. A Coast to Coast plan opens without an account. Add an email only when you want the edit link on another phone.

Plan your Coast to Coast

Choose your dates and pace, adjust overnight stops on the map, then export GPX files built around your route.