Scotland
Affric Kintail Way
Coming soon
What is this 11-day itinerary?
Eleven days is the operators' fast line with Reeth taken out, so Keld to Richmond is one day. The Vale of Mowbray is also one day, and on the official route, which crosses the A19 by a bridge to the north, that day is close to 29 miles. It suits fit walkers who are short of time and ready for two very long days back to back.
Read the Coast to Coast guide for the whole trail.
Will this 11-day split work for you?
- Fit, experienced hill walkers on a tight schedule.
- Keld to Richmond in one day, then the Vale of Mowbray in one very long day.
- Walking days: Northwest Walks sells this as "12 nights / 11 days".
Fitness & effort
The Lake District days are full fell days, with Kidsty Pike on day four the hardest, and waymarks stop above the fell wall. Days seven and eight are the test of this plan: Swaledale to Richmond, then the whole Vale. Both are on easy ground, but you need to be able to walk a very long day and another after it.
Your 11-day route on the map
Most people walk this way
St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay in 11 days
West to east, from the Irish Sea at St Bees. On-trail distances from our geometry. The walk from the path to the door is not included.
| Day | Stage | Distance | Overnight / destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | St Bees → Ennerdale Bridge | 14.9 mi (24.0 km) | The Shepherds Arms Hotel |
| Day 2 | Ennerdale Bridge → Rosthwaite | 15.2 mi (24.4 km) | Royal Oak Hotel (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 3 | Rosthwaite → Patterdale | 14.5 mi (23.3 km) | Patterdale Hotel |
| Day 4 | Patterdale → Shap | 15.9 mi (25.6 km) | Kings Arms Hotel |
| Day 5 | Shap → Kirkby Stephen | 19.3 mi (31.1 km) | The Kings Arms Hotel |
| Day 6 | Kirkby Stephen → Keld | 11.7 mi (18.8 km) | Keld Lodge |
| Day 7 | Keld → Richmond | 21.3 mi (34.3 km) | The Fleece Hotel (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 8 Longest | Richmond → Ingleby Cross | 28.9 mi (46.4 km) | The Blue Bell Inn (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 9 | Ingleby Cross → Great Broughton | 9.1 mi (14.6 km) | Wainstones Hotel (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 10 | Great Broughton → Egton Bridge | 21.5 mi (34.6 km) | Horseshoe Hotel (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 11 | Egton Bridge → Robin Hood's Bay | 16.7 mi (26.9 km) | Coast to Coast Finish |
-
Day 1
St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge
14.9 mi (24.0 km) ↑ 1,030 m (3,400 ft) ↓ 930 m (3,050 ft)
A coast start and a hill at the end: the cliffs of St Bees Head, farmland through Cleator, then Dent and a steep forest descent to Nannycatch Beck. Ennerdale Bridge is the first village with beds past the hill. Save your legs; the next three days are full fell days.
Example stay The Shepherds Arms Hotel
-
Day 2
Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite
15.2 mi (24.4 km) ↑ 860 m (2,800 ft) ↓ 880 m (2,900 ft)
The first full fell day. The lake shore and forest track up Ennerdale are long but easy; the work is Loft Beck after Black Sail Hut, then rough ground to Honister. Fill up at Black Sail or the Honister café. Borrowdale is a quiet valley night. Tomorrow crosses both passes, so get to bed early.
Example stay Royal Oak Hotel (opens in a new tab)
-
Day 3
Rosthwaite to Patterdale
14.5 mi (23.3 km) ↑ 1,240 m (4,050 ft) ↓ 1,140 m (3,750 ft)
Both Lakeland passes in one day: Greenup Edge, down to Grasmere for lunch, then Grisedale Tarn and down Grisedale to Ullswater. The descent past Lining Crag is rocky steps, so take them slowly. Grasmere is lunch, not the night; on this plan there is no time for Helvellyn.
Example stay Patterdale Hotel
-
Day 4
Patterdale to Shap
15.9 mi (25.6 km) ↑ 1,140 m (3,750 ft) ↓ 1,080 m (3,550 ft)
The hardest day of the walk: Kidsty Pike, the high point, a steep descent and the long rocky Haweswater shore, then farmland into Shap. Start early, carry the day's food and water, and check the forecast before committing to the tops. Tomorrow is easier underfoot but long, so rest well tonight.
Example stay Kings Arms Hotel
-
Day 5
Shap to Kirkby Stephen
19.3 mi (31.1 km) ↑ 610 m (2,000 ft) ↓ 690 m (2,250 ft)
Long but easy underfoot after the Lakes: the limestone plateau past glacial boulders, Sunbiggin Tarn and Smardale Bridge, with Orton a short detour for lunch. Kirkby Stephen is a market town, the place to restock before the moor. It is also one of the longer days on this plan, so keep a steady pace.
Example stay The Kings Arms Hotel
-
Day 6
Kirkby Stephen to Keld
11.7 mi (18.8 km) ↑ 630 m (2,050 ft) ↓ 480 m (1,550 ft)
The shortest day on this plan, and a welcome one. Nine Standards Rigg is the watershed of England and the boggiest ground on the walk; the route over the top changes with the season, and the road route is the choice in low cloud. Keld has very few beds, so book it first.
Example stay Keld Lodge
-
Day 7
Keld to Richmond
21.3 mi (34.3 km) ↑ 1,000 m (3,300 ft) ↓ 1,180 m (3,850 ft)
All of lower Swaledale in one day, by the high mining route or the low river route to Reeth for lunch, then farmland past Marrick Priory and Marske into Richmond. This is the night the 12-day plan adds back. Take the low route if the weather is poor; tomorrow is longer still.
Example stay The Fleece Hotel (opens in a new tab)
-
Day 8 Longest
Richmond to Ingleby Cross
28.9 mi (46.4 km) ↑ 460 m (1,500 ft) ↓ 450 m (1,500 ft)
The longest day on this plan, across the whole Vale of Mowbray. The official route goes north to cross the A19 by the Black Swan Bridge, which makes it close to 29 miles on our line; older guides say 23 because they cross the dual carriageway on foot. Do not. Danby Wiske, about halfway, is the only pub and the only beds.
Example stay The Blue Bell Inn (opens in a new tab)
-
Day 9
Ingleby Cross to Great Broughton
9.1 mi (14.6 km) ↑ 740 m (2,450 ft) ↓ 490 m (1,600 ft)
A short day after the Vale, but busy with climbing: the Cleveland Hills switchback over Carlton Moor, Cringle Moor and the Wainstones, with Lord Stones café partway along. There are no beds at Clay Bank Top, so book the lift down to Great Broughton, and back up in the morning.
Example stay Wainstones Hotel (opens in a new tab)
-
Day 10
Great Broughton to Egton Bridge
21.5 mi (34.6 km) ↑ 580 m (1,900 ft) ↓ 920 m (3,000 ft)
The North York Moors in one go: Urra Moor, the old railway bed to the Lion Inn, then down Glaisdale Rigg and through the Esk woods to Egton Bridge. Mostly level after the first climb. Fill up at the Lion Inn: there is nothing until Glaisdale. The Esk woods make an easy end to a long day.
Example stay Horseshoe Hotel (opens in a new tab)
-
Day 11
Egton Bridge to Robin Hood's Bay
16.7 mi (26.9 km) ↑ 780 m (2,550 ft) ↓ 820 m (2,700 ft)
The last day is a full one: the estate road to Grosmont and its steam railway, the steep road onto Sleights Moor, Falling Foss by Littlebeck, a last moor, then the cliff path south. Robin Hood's Bay stays hidden until late. Finish on the foreshore and drop the pebble you carried from St Bees.
Finish Coast to Coast Finish
Cross-check: Northwest Walks 11 walking days . Their 11-day list uses these nights. Distances on this page are from our line, not their mile table.
Opposite direction
Robin Hood's Bay to St Bees in 11 days
Same nights, starting at Robin Hood's Bay. Coast to Coast Packhorse moves bags west to east only. The last walking day ends at St Bees.
| Day | Stage | Distance | Overnight / destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Robin Hood's Bay → Egton Bridge | 16.7 mi (26.9 km) | Horseshoe Hotel (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 2 | Egton Bridge → Great Broughton | 21.5 mi (34.6 km) | Wainstones Hotel (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 3 | Great Broughton → Ingleby Cross | 9.1 mi (14.6 km) | The Blue Bell Inn (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 4 Longest | Ingleby Cross → Richmond | 28.9 mi (46.4 km) | The Fleece Hotel (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 5 | Richmond → Keld | 21.3 mi (34.3 km) | Keld Lodge |
| Day 6 | Keld → Kirkby Stephen | 11.7 mi (18.8 km) | The Kings Arms Hotel |
| Day 7 | Kirkby Stephen → Shap | 19.3 mi (31.1 km) | Kings Arms Hotel |
| Day 8 | Shap → Patterdale | 15.9 mi (25.6 km) | Patterdale Hotel |
| Day 9 | Patterdale → Rosthwaite | 14.5 mi (23.3 km) | Royal Oak Hotel (opens in a new tab) |
| Day 10 | Rosthwaite → Ennerdale Bridge | 15.2 mi (24.4 km) | The Shepherds Arms Hotel |
| Day 11 | Ennerdale Bridge → St Bees | 14.9 mi (24.0 km) | St Bees |
-
Day 1
Robin Hood's Bay to Egton Bridge
16.7 mi (26.9 km) ↑ 820 m (2,700 ft) ↓ 780 m (2,550 ft)
North along the cliffs, inland over moor to Falling Foss and Littlebeck, then up Sleights Moor and down the steep road into Grosmont. The estate road leads to Egton Bridge.
Example stay Horseshoe Hotel (opens in a new tab)
-
Day 2
Egton Bridge to Great Broughton
21.5 mi (34.6 km) ↑ 920 m (3,000 ft) ↓ 580 m (1,900 ft)
Esk woods to Glaisdale, the long climb up Glaisdale Rigg, then the moor road to the Lion Inn for lunch. The old railway bed and Urra Moor finish at Clay Bank Top, where you need a lift down.
Example stay Wainstones Hotel (opens in a new tab)
-
Day 3
Great Broughton to Ingleby Cross
9.1 mi (14.6 km) ↑ 490 m (1,600 ft) ↓ 740 m (2,450 ft)
Lift up to Clay Bank Top, then west along the escarpment: Hasty Bank, the Wainstones, Cringle Moor and Carlton Moor, with Lord Stones café halfway. Down through Arncliffe Wood into Ingleby Cross.
Example stay The Blue Bell Inn (opens in a new tab)
-
Day 4 Longest
Ingleby Cross to Richmond
28.9 mi (46.4 km) ↑ 450 m (1,500 ft) ↓ 460 m (1,500 ft)
Off the hills at once, north to the Black Swan Bridge over the A19, then lanes and fields west through Danby Wiske to the Swale and Richmond. Flat but very long; Danby Wiske is the only place to stop.
Example stay The Fleece Hotel (opens in a new tab)
-
Day 5
Richmond to Keld
21.3 mi (34.3 km) ↑ 1,180 m (3,850 ft) ↓ 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
Out of Richmond past Marske and Marrick to Reeth for lunch, then up Swaledale to Keld by the river or the mining moors. A long climb-up day; Keld's beds go months ahead.
Example stay Keld Lodge
-
Day 6
Keld to Kirkby Stephen
11.7 mi (18.8 km) ↑ 480 m (1,550 ft) ↓ 630 m (2,050 ft)
Up from the Swale past Ravenseat onto the moor, over Nine Standards Rigg and the long descent into the Eden valley. Check the seasonal route before you set off, and use the road in low cloud.
Example stay The Kings Arms Hotel
-
Day 7
Kirkby Stephen to Shap
19.3 mi (31.1 km) ↑ 690 m (2,250 ft) ↓ 610 m (2,000 ft)
Smardale Fell and Smardale Bridge out of Kirkby Stephen, then moor past Sunbiggin Tarn and the long limestone plateau to Shap. Orton is still the lunch stop. The motorway crossing marks the end.
Example stay Kings Arms Hotel
-
Day 8
Shap to Patterdale
15.9 mi (25.6 km) ↑ 1,080 m (3,550 ft) ↓ 1,140 m (3,750 ft)
Farmland past Shap Abbey, then the long Haweswater shore before the steep climb to Kidsty Pike, so the hardest ground comes after lunch. High Street, Angle Tarn and Boredale Hause lead down to Ullswater. Start early.
Example stay Patterdale Hotel
-
Day 9
Patterdale to Rosthwaite
14.5 mi (23.3 km) ↑ 1,140 m (3,750 ft) ↓ 1,240 m (4,050 ft)
Up Grisedale to the tarn, down Tongue Gill to Grasmere for lunch, then up Far Easedale to Greenup Edge. The descent past Lining Crag is rocky steps; take them slowly when wet. Two passes either way, so start early.
Example stay Royal Oak Hotel (opens in a new tab)
-
Day 10
Rosthwaite to Ennerdale Bridge
15.2 mi (24.4 km) ↑ 880 m (2,900 ft) ↓ 860 m (2,800 ft)
Climb out of Borrowdale to Honister, cross the fell, then go down Loft Beck: steep, loose in places, and hard on the knees. The forest track to Ennerdale Water is long and easy after it; the lake-shore path is rockier than it looks.
Example stay The Shepherds Arms Hotel
-
Day 11
Ennerdale Bridge to St Bees
14.9 mi (24.0 km) ↑ 930 m (3,050 ft) ↓ 1,030 m (3,400 ft)
Nannycatch Beck and the steep forest climb onto Dent come first, then the long drop to Cleator and farm lanes to the coast. The last miles run along the St Bees Head cliffs with the sea ahead. Finish on the beach where most walkers start.
Finish St Bees
11-day itinerary FAQ
How long is the Vale of Mowbray day?
Close to 29 miles on our line, because the official route goes north to cross the A19 by the Black Swan Bridge. Operators and older guides often print 22.5 to 23 miles, which is the old line straight across the dual carriageway. Natural England strongly advises using the diversion. To split the day, choose 14 days or more, which sleep at Danby Wiske.
Why not stop at Danby Wiske on this plan?
The sold 11-day lists do not. Adding Danby Wiske adds a day; our 14-day plan and every longer one sleep there.
Can I download a GPX for the 11-day Coast to Coast?
Yes. Open this itinerary in the planner (free, no account). Download a full-route GPX or per-day files for Garmin, Komoot, or your phone. You can export the preset unchanged or edit overnight stops first.
Personalise this itinerary
This 11-day itinerary is ready as it stands. Open it in the planner to keep these stops, or change where you sleep, then download the GPX for your watch or phone.
Open in planner Back to the comparison
Full-trip and per-day GPX files. Free, no account.
Explore
