Coast to Coast Walk

About this trail

The Coast to Coast Walk crosses northern England from sea to sea, linking the Irish Sea to the North Sea through three entirely different national parks in a single unbroken journey. The route moves from the rugged peaks and glacial lakes of the Lake District through the open limestone uplands of the Yorkshire Dales and across the vast heather moorland of the North York Moors, finishing at the cliffside fishing village of Robin Hood's Bay. Devised by Alfred Wainwright, it is one of Britain's most celebrated long-distance routes and rewards those who finish it with a tradition: paddling in the North Sea at journey's end. The Lake District section is by far the most demanding, with sustained climbs over exposed high passes and rough rocky terrain between Ennerdale Bridge, Rosthwaite, Grasmere, and Patterdale that requires confident footwork and appropriate mountain experience. Beyond Shap the altitude drops considerably, but the boggy moorland around Keld and the Yorkshire Dales can be navigationally tricky in low cloud or mist. The route is not an officially waymarked national trail, so Wainwright's guide and 1:25000 OS maps are essential — do not rely on phone signal alone in the high sections. Accommodation in B&Bs, inns, and bunkbarns is available throughout, but summer demand is intense and advance booking weeks or even months ahead is essential. Late May through early September offers the best conditions; winter crossings of the Lake District passes carry serious mountain risk and should not be attempted without alpine experience.