Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap)

The Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap) is a 101 km point-to-point trail in north-west England, gaining roughly 3,713 m of elevation over 5 days. Rated strenuous, it carries you from the Irish Sea cliffs of St Bees across the high fells of the Lake District to the limestone village of Shap, the most mountainous half of Alfred Wainwright's classic route.

About the Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap)

The Coast to Coast Walk is one of Britain's best-loved long-distance routes, devised by the fellwalker and author Alfred Wainwright in 1973. The full path runs 290 km from St Bees on the Cumbrian coast to Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea. The St Bees to Shap section covers the first and hardest 101 km, threading the entire width of the Lake District National Park before the terrain eases on the approach to the Pennines.

This western half is where the climbing is concentrated: of the route's total ascent, the Lake District stages deliver around 3,713 m, more than the rest of the crossing combined. You begin by dipping your boots in the Irish Sea at St Bees, traditionally collecting a pebble to carry east, then climb away from the coast into a landscape of glacial valleys, tarns, slate passes and rugged summits. Although the Coast to Coast was only formally designated a National Trail in 2025, it has been walked by hundreds of thousands of people and is maintained with support from National Trails and partner bodies.

Most walkers tackle it west to east, the direction Wainwright intended, so that prevailing weather sits at their backs. The section ends at Shap, a former market village on the A6 where the high fells give way to gentler limestone country. Navigation is largely on the walker, as the historic route uses a patchwork of public rights of way rather than a single waymarked corridor, so map and compass skills matter here.

Route Overview & Stages

The St Bees to Shap section is conventionally split into five day-stages. Distances and ascent figures below follow the standard schedule; strong walkers sometimes combine stages 3 and 4, while those carrying camping gear often add a night.

Stage 5 is the crux of the whole section: at 25 km with 1,107 m of ascent over Kidsty Pike (780 m), the highest point on the entire Coast to Coast, it demands a full 8 to 8.5 hours and an early start. If the weather turns, an alternative valley route via Mardale Head avoids the most exposed ground.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• St Bees Head — the only Heritage Coast in north-west England, where red sandstone cliffs rise above the Irish Sea and seabird colonies nest below the path.
• St Bees Lighthouse — a working lighthouse marking the official start, where tradition has walkers pocket a pebble to drop in the sea at Robin Hood's Bay.
• Ennerdale Water — the most remote of the major lakes, with no public road along its shores, giving the wildest feel of any Lake District valley on the route.
• Black Sail Hut — a former shepherd's bothy turned youth hostel at the head of Ennerdale, one of the most isolated buildings in England.
• Honister Pass — a dramatic slate pass with a working slate mine, sitting at 356 m between Buttermere and Borrowdale.
• Grisedale Tarn — a high glacial tarn beneath Dollywaggon Pike, with optional ascents of Helvellyn or St Sunday Crag for the energetic.
• Kidsty Pike — at 780 m, the highest point of the full Coast to Coast and the summit of the Lake District stages.
• Haweswater Reservoir & Shap Abbey — the long western shore of Haweswater leads to the ruined 12th-century Shap Abbey on the River Lowther, the last landmark before Shap village.

Best Time to Hike the Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap)

The Lake District is one of the wettest places in England, with the central fells receiving over 3,000 mm of rain a year, so timing matters more here than on many trails. The walking season runs roughly from April to October. The single best month is June: as of 2026 it offers the longest daylight (up to 17 hours), the driest spell of the British summer, and fells clear of the lingering snow that can sit on Kidsty Pike and Greenup Edge into April.

May is a close second, with bluebells in the lower valleys and quieter paths, though high passes can still hold late snow. July and August bring warmth and reliable accommodation services but also the heaviest crowds and a higher chance of midges around the tarns. September delivers crisp visibility and autumn colour, with shortening days demanding an earlier start on the long Patterdale to Shap stage. Avoid November to March unless you have winter mountain experience: short daylight, ice on the high ground, and frequent low cloud make navigation across the unmarked fell sections genuinely hazardous. Whatever the month, build in a contingency day, because a single front off the Irish Sea can close the tops for 24 hours.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The St Bees to Shap stages pass through villages with a good spread of beds, but in summer they fill months ahead, so book early. Bed-and-breakfasts and guesthouses in St Bees, Ennerdale Bridge, Rosthwaite, Grasmere, Patterdale and Shap typically cost €55 to €110 per person per night. YHA hostels at Ennerdale (Black Sail), Borrowdale, Grasmere and Patterdale run around €25 to €40 for a dormitory bed. Campsites and camping barns charge roughly €10 to €20 per pitch; wild camping is tolerated above the highest fell wall if done discreetly and to leave-no-trace standards. Many walkers use a baggage-transfer service (about €12 to €18 per bag per stage) so they can carry only a daypack between accommodations.

Getting There & Back

St Bees has its own railway station on the Cumbrian Coast Line, reached via Carlisle or Lancaster; the connection from Carlisle takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. The nearest major airport is Manchester (MAN), roughly 3 to 3.5 hours away by train via Lancaster and Carlisle. At the finish, Shap sits on the A6 with regular bus links to Penrith (about 25 minutes), whose West Coast Main Line station puts you 3 hours from London Euston or 1 hour from Carlisle. Plan transfers around the limited Sunday timetables on rural Cumbrian services.

Permits & Fees

No permit or entry fee is required to walk the Coast to Coast or to enter the Lake District National Park. The route uses public rights of way and open-access land throughout. The only costs are accommodation, food, optional baggage transfer and any car-parking charges at trailheads. Check current trail conditions and any diversions through National Trails and the Lake District National Park Authority before you set out.

Gear & Packing List

Lake District weather changes fast, so pack for four seasons even in summer: waterproof jacket and trousers, warm midlayer, hat and gloves, plus a paper OS map and compass for the unmarked fell sections. Sturdy boots with ankle support handle the rocky descents off Kidsty Pike and Honister far better than trail runners. Because the long days top out at 8.5 hours, weight discipline pays off. A comfortable 35 to 55 litre pack is ideal if you use baggage transfer; consider the lightweight 2400 Windrider for fast-and-light walkers, the larger 3400 Windrider if you carry camping kit, or the supportive Abisko Hike 35 for daypack use. For more options see our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026. Carry at least 1.5 litres of water and high-calorie snacks; the climbs here burn through energy, and our guide to how many calories you need hiking a full day helps you plan portions for the 25 km Shap stage.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the fells and big-mileage days of the Coast to Coast appeal, two other British long-distance routes make natural next steps. The Pennine Way (Middleton in Teesdale to Kirk Yetholm) shares the wild, exposed upland character and even crosses the Coast to Coast near Keld, while the Via Francigena - 01 part Great Britain offers a gentler, history-rich introduction to multi-day walking. For a complete contrast in scenery, the alpine drama of the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania shows how the same point-to-point format works in much higher mountains.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike St Bees to Shap?
June is the best month, offering up to 17 hours of daylight, the driest weather of the British summer, and fells finally clear of late snow. May is a strong alternative with quieter paths, and September brings crisp visibility. Avoid the November-to-March window unless you have winter mountain skills, as ice and low cloud make the unmarked fell sections dangerous.

How difficult is this section?
It is rated strenuous and is the hardest part of the whole Coast to Coast. Over 101 km you climb around 3,713 m, crossing high passes like Greenup Edge and Kidsty Pike at 780 m. Much of the route is unmarked across open fell, so confident map-and-compass navigation in poor visibility is essential, alongside good general hill fitness.

How far is each day?
The five standard stages range from 12.5 km to 25 km, averaging about 20 km per day. The shortest are Rosthwaite to Grasmere (13 km) and Grasmere to Patterdale (12.5 km), often combined by stronger walkers. The longest and toughest is Patterdale to Shap at 25 km with 1,107 m of ascent, needing a full 8 to 8.5 hours.

What accommodation is available?
Every overnight village has B&Bs and guesthouses costing roughly €55 to €110 per person, plus YHA hostels at €25 to €40 and campsites from €10 to €20. Black Sail Hut, a remote former bothy, is a highlight. Book months ahead for summer, and consider a baggage-transfer service so you walk with only a light daypack.

Do I need a permit or pay any fees?
No. The Coast to Coast uses public rights of way and open-access land, so no permit, booking or entry fee is required to walk it or to enter the Lake District National Park. Your only costs are accommodation, food, optional baggage transfer and any parking charges at trailheads such as St Bees and Shap.