Home › Trails › Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap) vs West Highland Way (Kinlochleven to Fort William)

Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap) vs West Highland Way (Kinlochleven to Fort William)

A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.

Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap) West Highland Way (Kinlochleven to Fort William)
Distance 142 km 24 km
Elevation gain 3,055 m 593 m
Typical duration — —
Difficulty — —
Route type Point-to-point Point-to-point
Network National National
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Best time to hike Best months: May, July, August Best months: May, July, September
map Route & GPX map Route & GPX

Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap) vs West Highland Way (Kinlochleven to Fort William): which should you hike?

At 142 km, Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap) is the longer route — roughly 118 km more than West Highland Way (Kinlochleven to Fort William) (24 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, West Highland Way (Kinlochleven to Fort William) is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.