St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge

Green valley with a stream and stone wall in the hills under a pale sky — Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash

On trail 14.9 mi 24.0 km
Walking time 7–8 h
Ascent 1,030 m 3,400 ft
Descent 930 m 3,050 ft
Difficulty Hard

Sea wall and St Bees Head, then a climb over Dent Fell to the village.

Section 1: St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge map

Two fingers to pan. Scrub the profile to follow the walk.

Example stay The Shepherds Arms Hotel

Cross-check: Coast to Coast route description on National Trails . The walk is taken from that page, checked 12 October 2026. Miles on our line are measured between these ends on the imported path. Where a walking guide uses the same two ends, its miles are from walkcoasttocoast.co.uk, also checked 12 October 2026.

The walk

The path leaves the sea wall at St Bees and follows the England Coast Path north for about 4 miles (6.4 km), past St Bees Head and Saltom Bay, leaving the coast at Birkhams Quarry. Inland it passes Sandwith, Lanehead, and a railway path around Moor Row and Cleator, then climbs a forestry track to the top of Dent Fell and comes down by Nannycatch Beck and Scarny Brow into Ennerdale Bridge. On our line this is 14.9 miles (24.0 km), with 1,030 m (about 3,380 ft) of climb. A walking guide measures the same two villages as 17.1 miles (27.5 km) and 801 m (about 2,630 ft).

Official start

St Bees

54.4908, -3.6046 Google Maps for St Bees (opens in a new tab)
St Bees Head

The coast share runs past St Bees Head and Saltom Bay before the path leaves the sea at Birkhams Quarry.
Dent Fell

A forestry track climbs to the summit, then the path drops by Nannycatch Beck into Ennerdale Bridge.
End of section

Ennerdale Bridge

54.5292, -3.4419 Google Maps for Ennerdale Bridge (opens in a new tab)

Section 1: St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge overview

The ground

Cliff path, lanes and a railway path, then a steep forestry track over Dent Fell.

Coast path, then the first fell. National Trails calls the western part of the trail the most demanding. This opening stretch is the cliffs and the climb of Dent Fell before the lakes.

Stops

Refreshments

St Bees has a Premier shop at the start. The night in Ennerdale Bridge on the published plans is The Shepherds Arms Hotel. The Fox and Hounds Inn is also in the village

Toilets

No source used for this section names a public toilet

Before you go

Opposite direction

Ennerdale Bridge to St Bees

Walked the other way, the section starts in Ennerdale Bridge, crosses Dent Fell, and finishes on the sea wall at St Bees. Signposts show both directions.

Official finish

St Bees

54.4908, -3.6046 Google Maps for St Bees (opens in a new tab)