16-day Coast to Coast itinerary

1. Day 1

   St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge

   7–8 h 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 and the farmland after them are easy; Dent comes late, with a steep forest descent to Nannycatch Beck. On a sixteen-day plan this is one of the longer days, so take the morning easily and save your legs for the hill.

   Example stay The Shepherds Arms Hotel

2. Day 2

   Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite

   7–8 h 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 easy but long; the work is Loft Beck after Black Sail Hut, then rough ground to Honister. Fill up at Black Sail or the Honister café. After this the plan has short days in the Lakes until Kidsty Pike.

   Example stay Royal Oak Hotel (opens in a new tab)

3. Day 3

   Rosthwaite to Grasmere

   4–5 h 7.5 mi (12.1 km) ↑ 650 m (2,150 ft) ↓ 640 m (2,100 ft)

   A short day over one pass, Greenup Edge, with the rocky steps beside Lining Crag the slow part. You reach Grasmere with time to see the village; in clear weather the Helm Crag ridge is the better way down. Book Grasmere early: single weekend nights are hard to get.

   Example stay Bridge House Hotel (opens in a new tab)

4. Day 4

   Grasmere to Patterdale

   3–4 h 7.0 mi (11.3 km) ↑ 600 m (1,950 ft) ↓ 500 m (1,650 ft)

   Another short pass day. Grisedale Tarn is the only climb, then the long Grisedale valley down to Ullswater. On a plan this relaxed there is room for St Sunday Crag in good weather if you are an experienced fell walker, but it adds time before the hardest day.

   Example stay Patterdale Hotel

5. Day 5

   Patterdale to Shap

   8–9 h 15.9 mi (25.6 km) ↑ 1,140 m (3,750 ft) ↓ 1,080 m (3,550 ft)

   The hardest day of the walk, and one of the most challenging official sections. Kidsty Pike is the high point, then a steep descent and a long, rocky Haweswater shore before farmland into Shap. Start early, carry the day's food and water, and check the forecast before committing to the tops.

   Example stay Kings Arms Hotel

6. Day 6

   Shap to Orton

   3–4 h 7.1 mi (11.4 km) ↑ 270 m (900 ft) ↓ 260 m (850 ft)

   The recovery day this plan adds after Kidsty Pike. Over the motorway and onto the limestone plateau, past Oddendale and glacial boulders, then off the route at Orton Scar into the village. You arrive early; Orton has a chocolate factory and few beds, so book it ahead.

   Example stay The George Hotel

7. Day 7

   Orton to Kirkby Stephen

   5–6 h 12.2 mi (19.6 km) ↑ 340 m (1,100 ft) ↓ 440 m (1,450 ft)

   A middling day across farm and moor past Sunbiggin Tarn, down to Smardale Bridge for lunch, then over Smardale Fell into Kirkby Stephen. The market town is the place to restock before Nine Standards and two days in upper Swaledale, where the villages are small.

   Example stay The Kings Arms Hotel

8. Day 8

   Kirkby Stephen to Keld

   5–6 h 11.7 mi (18.8 km) ↑ 630 m (2,050 ft) ↓ 480 m (1,550 ft)

   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 in low cloud or heavy rain the road route is the sensible choice. Keld has very few beds, so it is the first night to book.

   Example stay Keld Lodge

9. Day 9

   Keld to Reeth

   5–6 h 10.9 mi (17.5 km) ↑ 630 m (2,050 ft) ↓ 740 m (2,450 ft)

   Swaledale's choice of routes: old lead-mining moor past ruined smelt mills, or the river through Muker and Gunnerside, with a pub on the way. Both end in Reeth, a green village with pubs and tea shops. On this plan the day is short either way, so the high route over the mining ground is worth taking in good weather; keep to the river in cloud or rain.

   Example stay The Kings Arms Hotel (opens in a new tab)

10. Day 10

    Reeth to Richmond

    4–5 h 10.4 mi (16.7 km) ↑ 370 m (1,200 ft) ↓ 430 m (1,400 ft)

    A short, easy day into Richmond, the largest town on the route, with a castle, a cobbled market square and shops. You arrive with the afternoon free to see the castle or walk down to the falls on the Swale, and operators suggest Richmond for a rest day if you want one. Most shops close on Sunday, so restock on another day if you can.

    Example stay The Fleece Hotel (opens in a new tab)

11. Day 11

    Richmond to Danby Wiske

    6–7 h 14.1 mi (22.7 km) ↑ 200 m (650 ft) ↓ 300 m (1,000 ft)

    The first half of the Vale of Mowbray: flat fields and lanes along the Swale past Brompton-on-Swale to Danby Wiske, the only village with beds in the Vale. An easy day after the Dales, and the first of two that keep the official A19 diversion from being one long slog.

    Example stay Inglenook B&B (opens in a new tab)

12. Day 12

    Danby Wiske to Ingleby Cross

    6–7 h 14.8 mi (23.7 km) ↑ 260 m (850 ft) ↓ 150 m (500 ft)

    Lanes and fields across the rest of the Vale, then the official diversion north to the Black Swan Bridge over the A19. Older guides make this day short because they cross the dual carriageway on foot; the official route does not, and neither should you. You finish at the foot of the Cleveland Hills.

    Example stay The Blue Bell Inn (opens in a new tab)

13. Day 13

    Ingleby Cross to Great Broughton

    4–5 h 9.1 mi (14.6 km) ↑ 740 m (2,450 ft) ↓ 490 m (1,600 ft)

    Short on distance 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 arrange the lift down to Great Broughton, and back up in the morning, when you book.

    Example stay Wainstones Hotel (opens in a new tab)

14. Day 14

    Great Broughton to Blakey Ridge

    4–5 h 10.2 mi (16.4 km) ↑ 390 m (1,300 ft) ↓ 390 m (1,300 ft)

    A short, high moor day: a steep climb from Clay Bank Top onto Urra Moor, then the old Rosedale railway bed level to the Lion Inn. Blakey Ridge is one building on an open ridge, so book it early, and in bad weather expect the trackbed to feel bleak and exposed.

    Example stay The Lion Inn (opens in a new tab)

15. Day 15

    Blakey Ridge to Egton Bridge

    4–5 h 11.3 mi (18.3 km) ↑ 180 m (600 ft) ↓ 530 m (1,750 ft)

    Mostly downhill, from the moor road past the Fat Betty cross to Glaisdale and the wooded Esk valley. There is nothing between the Lion Inn and Glaisdale, so carry what you need. Beggar's Bridge and the riverside woods lead to Egton Bridge, with two pubs and stepping stones over the river.

    Example stay Horseshoe Hotel (opens in a new tab)

16. Day 16 Longest

    Egton Bridge to Robin Hood's Bay

    8–9 h 16.7 mi (26.9 km) ↑ 780 m (2,550 ft) ↓ 820 m (2,700 ft)

    The longest day on this plan, and a full last day: 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. If you would rather finish on a short day, the 17-day plan sleeps at Littlebeck.

    Finish Coast to Coast Finish

Cross-check: Walk With Williams 16 walking days . Their 16-day list uses these nights. Distances on this page are from our line, not their mile table.

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