18-day Coast to Coast itinerary

1. Day 1

   St Bees to Cleator

   5–6 h 10.0 mi (16.1 km) ↑ 690 m (2,250 ft) ↓ 560 m (1,850 ft)

   The short first day this plan adds. The cliffs of St Bees Head come first, with the Isle of Man out to sea, then farmland through Sandwith and Moor Row to Cleator. Dent is left for tomorrow. Operators describe this start as a way to find your walking legs before the fells, and you arrive with the afternoon to spare.

   Example stay Ennerdale Country House Hotel

2. Day 2

   Cleator to Ennerdale Bridge

   2–3 h 4.9 mi (7.9 km) ↑ 330 m (1,100 ft) ↓ 370 m (1,200 ft)

   A short hill day. Dent comes straight from the door, a steady climb then a steep forest descent to Nannycatch Beck, and lanes lead into Ennerdale Bridge. You are in the village early, with the café or the pub for the rest of the day. Tomorrow is the first long fell day, so rest.

   Example stay The Shepherds Arms Hotel

3. Day 3

   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 two short days this is a real step up, so start early and take the Loft Beck climb slowly. Two short days in the Lakes follow.

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

4. Day 4

   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 for the village; in clear weather the Helm Crag ridge is the better way down. Book Grasmere early: single weekend nights are hard to get, and operators suggest it for a rest day. On this plan Orton has already broken the plateau, so you arrive with time to spare.

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

5. Day 5

   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. Experienced fell walkers can add St Sunday Crag in good weather, but tomorrow is the hardest and longest day of this plan, so most will keep it simple.

   Example stay Patterdale Hotel

6. Day 6 Longest

   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 and longest day on this plan. Kidsty Pike is the high point of the walk, 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

7. Day 7

   Shap to Orton

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

   A short recovery day 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

8. Day 8

   Orton to Kirkby Stephen

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

   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 upper Swaledale, and operators suggest it for a rest day. On this plan Orton has already broken the plateau, so you arrive with time to spare.

   Example stay The Kings Arms Hotel

9. Day 9

   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

10. Day 10

    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. The day is short either way; keep to the river in cloud or rain.

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

11. Day 11

    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 the falls on the Swale. Most shops close on Sunday, so restock another day if you can.

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

12. Day 12

    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, 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)

13. Day 13

    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)

14. Day 14

    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)

15. Day 15

    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)

16. Day 16

    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)

17. Day 17

    Egton Bridge to Littlebeck

    2–3 h 5.2 mi (8.4 km) ↑ 260 m (850 ft) ↓ 220 m (700 ft)

    A short day near the end. The estate road leads to Grosmont, with time for the steam railway and the station tea room, then the steep road onto Sleights Moor gives the first view of the sea. Down through heather into Littlebeck, a hamlet with a handful of beds; book it early.

    Example stay Alum House Littlebeck (opens in a new tab)

18. Day 18

    Littlebeck to Robin Hood's Bay

    5–6 h 11.5 mi (18.5 km) ↑ 520 m (1,700 ft) ↓ 600 m (1,950 ft)

    An easy finish. Woods along Little Beck lead to Falling Foss waterfall, then a last stretch of heather moor and lanes to the coast. The cliff path runs south, and Robin Hood's Bay stays hidden until the end. Finish on the foreshore and drop the pebble you carried from St Bees.

    Finish Coast to Coast Finish

Cross-check: Northwest Walks 18 walking days . Their 18-day list uses these nights, with Bampton for Shap. Distances on this page are from our line, not their mile table.

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