The Coast to Coast Walk covers 192 miles (309 km) from St Bees on the Irish Sea coast of Cumbria to Robin Hood's Bay on the North Yorkshire coast. Devised by Alfred Wainwright in 1973, it was never an official trail — Wainwright published it as a personal route in his guidebook, and its adoption by walkers over fifty years has made it the most walked unofficial long-distance path in England. In 2025, the route was partially codified as the National Trail King Charles III Coast to Coast, though many purists still follow Wainwright's original line.
The route is remarkable for its variety: Lakeland fells, limestone dales, heather moorland, industrial heritage and Yorkshire coastal cliffs within 192 miles. Most walkers complete it in 12–16 days. This guide covers the full route, logistics, accommodation booking and what to expect in 2026.
Route Overview: Three National Parks in 13 Stages
The traditional 13-stage division crosses three National Parks — the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors — each with a distinct character that makes the walk feel like three separate trips rather than one continuous slog.
| Stage | Route | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Bees → Ennerdale Bridge | 23 km |
| 2 | Ennerdale Bridge → Borrowdale | 26 km |
| 3 | Borrowdale → Grasmere | 14 km |
| 4 | Grasmere → Patterdale | 18 km |
| 5 | Patterdale → Shap | 29 km |
| 6 | Shap → Kirkby Stephen | 30 km |
| 7 | Kirkby Stephen → Keld | 21 km |
| 8 | Keld → Reeth | 19 km |
| 9 | Reeth → Richmond | 18 km |
| 10 | Richmond → Ingleby Cross | 37 km |
| 11 | Ingleby Cross → Blakey Ridge | 29 km |
| 12 | Blakey Ridge → Grosmont | 22 km |
| 13 | Grosmont → Robin Hood's Bay | 21 km |
The Lake District Section (Days 1–5)
The first five days cross the Lake District from its western edge to Ullswater in the east — some of the finest Lakeland fell walking in England. The section includes High Stile and the Ennerdale traverse (Day 2), the famous Helvellyn ridge via Striding Edge (Day 4 variant), and the descent from the High Street Roman road to Patterdale. Weather in the Lake District is famously unpredictable: waterproofs should be in the top of the pack for every day of this section regardless of the morning forecast.
The Yorkshire Dales (Days 6–9)
East of the Lake District, the route crosses Shap Fell into the limestone Dales: Nine Standards Rigg above Kirkby Stephen, Swaledale (one of the most beautiful valleys in the north of England) through Keld and Reeth, and the Georgian market town of Richmond. The Dales section is gentler than the Lakes and the most socially active part of the walk — many C2C walkers stop in Reeth for a rest day and resupply.
The North York Moors (Days 10–13)
The final section crosses the Vale of Mowbray — a flat transition section that tests motivation — before climbing onto the North York Moors for two days of dramatic purple heather moorland (best in August) and the descent to the Yorkshire coast. Robin Hood's Bay, where walkers traditionally dip their boots in the North Sea and post a pebble from St Bees, is among the most complete trail endings in English walking.
Accommodation and Booking
The C2C is a point-to-point walk requiring pre-booked accommodation in most sections, particularly in summer (July–September). B&Bs, guesthouses and youth hostels are available throughout. Camping is possible in the Lake District section and North York Moors; the Yorkshire Dales section has limited camping options. Book 3–4 months in advance for summer dates; September walks can often be arranged 4–6 weeks ahead.
Baggage transfer services (Sherpa Van, C2C Packhorse) carry overnight bags between accommodation points, enabling walkers to carry only a day pack — a popular option that significantly reduces daily effort and makes the route accessible to walkers who cannot carry a full pack for 13 consecutive days.
Pack Selection
For walkers carrying their own overnight kit, a 50–65 litre pack covers the sleeping bag, spare clothing and first aid for a point-to-point route with B&B accommodation (no tent required in most conditions). The Osprey Aura AG 65 is well-suited to the C2C's mix of fell terrain and lane walking, with the anti-gravity suspension managing the moderate loads of a 13-day walk with daily overnight stops. For walkers using the baggage transfer service and carrying only a day pack, the Fjällräven Abisko Hike 35 is a capable 35-litre option for layers, food and waterproofs. Those camping on the Lakeland and Moors sections need the additional capacity of the Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 to accommodate tent, sleeping bag and cooking gear alongside the standard 13-day clothing kit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which direction should I walk the Coast to Coast?
West to east (St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay) is the conventional and most popular direction. It puts the prevailing westerly wind and weather behind you for most of the route and finishes at the more dramatic coastline. East to west is possible and offers solitude advantages — fewer walkers go this direction — but you walk into the wind more frequently and finish at the less-dramatic Irish Sea coast.
What is the best time of year for the C2C?
May–June (before peak season, long days) and September–October (post-summer, fewer people, autumn colour on the moors) are the best windows. July–August is the most crowded and requires the earliest accommodation booking. The Lake District section receives significant rainfall year-round; there is no dry season, only less-wet months — April and May are statistically drier than July and August.