Unwaymarked Route: Cumbria/Yorkshire
Coast to Coast WalkSt Bees to Robin Hoods Bay 304km/190 miles CHALLENGINGDevised by the late Alfred Wainwright in 1973 to link the Irish Sea and the North Sea via the hills, moors and valleys of northern England. The route crosses three National Parks: the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. It is scenic, but high-level, including some fairly demanding upland stretches, and visits only two towns of any real size, Kirkby Stephen and Richmond. It is also extremely popular, and has consequently suffered from erosion. Connects with Allerdale Ramble (see Cumbria Way), Cleveland Way (E2), Cumbria Way, Cumbria Coastal Way, Eden Way, Esk Valley Walk, Inn Way to the English Lake District, Lyke Wake Walk, Pennine Way (E2), Rosedale Circuit Local authorities Cumbria, North Yorkshire Parks and countryside Lake District National Park, North York Moors National Park, Yorkshire Dales National Park Walking Advice
| Status of the route | Accommodation/Practical Info | Maps,
Books, Links The route is traditionally walked from west to east (St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay), so that the prevailing weather will be coming from behind. But others choose to begin on the Yorkshire coast, so as to have the Lake District section as a grand finale. Similarly, the walk can be as long or as short as you want. Some people prefer to walk it in weekend sections, but most walk it continuously, averaging between 10-14 days in total. Scenery and terrain is varied. The valleys and arable land make for straightforward walking, but the hills – particularly in the Lake District – are high and the gradients sometimes steep. Many stages are bare and exposed, such as the North York Moors, and help may not always be close to hand. Unless you are an experienced long-distance walker, it is advisable to take a companion. And before you set off, make sure you have the necessary:
The Coast to Coast Walk is not an official promoted route: it exists only as a published route description taking advantage of existing paths and access land. It is generally not waymarked in its own right and can only be followed in its entirety with the aid of a guidebook and map. It is not officially recognised by the local authorities responsible for footpaths, although countryside, walking and tourism professionals are aware of the route and have had to respond to the problems caused by its great popularity. Numerous problems have emerged with the exact route alignment described in early editions of Wainwright's book, which included lengthy sections along roads now much busier than in 1973, and some sections where rights of way were in dispute. The popularity of the route has also contributed to erosion problems at certain vulnerable sites. Subsequently other authors have published guidebooks with details of alternative routes that attempt to address these problems, and more recent editions of Wainwright's own guidebook now include revisions to the original route. Some completely different routes between the two coasts have been described to help relieve pressure on Wainwright's (see below). In fact, Wainwright himself did not intend to establish a fixed, definitive route: he pointed out that his was only one of an infinite number of alternatives, and encouraged people to devise their own variations. Walkers are advised to ensure they think carefully about the various alternatives, that they always use the most up-to-date editions of guidebooks and maps, and proceed with caution and in accordance with the Country Code. Accommodation and practical information Accommodation is never plentiful, especially towards the eastern end (from Richmond to Glaisdale), and in summer you should book well in advance, even for youth hostels. You can search for B&B accommodation along the route in our database using the link below. Additional listings are available in the accommodation guide listed under maps, guides and contacts below. The St Bees website (see Contacts below) has a list of accommodation in the village at the start of the route.
There are 13 YHA youth hostels on or near the route, and YHA camping barns at the eastern end where the hostels are less numerous. There are a number of good campsites particularly in the Lake District, but elsewhere sites become more scarce. Remember to seek the landowner's permission before camping on private land. A useful guide to camping facilities on the route is listed below. Accommodation Booking and Luggage Carriers
Tourist Information Centres
Holiday Providers include Avalon, Contours, Countrywide, Discovery, Explore Britain, Footpath, Freedom, HF, Mickledore, Northwestwalks, Sherpa, UK Exploratory, Wayfarers, YHA Transport St Bees is served by First North Western rail services from Carlisle (on the West Coast Main Line from London to Scotland) or Barrow-in-Furness. Although there is no station at Robin Hood's Bay, there is a fairly frequent bus service to Whitby and Scarborough, which has rail services to York (on the East Coast Main Line). For more on finding out about public transport, see Public Transport for Walkers.
Explorer maps
OL4,
OL5,
OL19,
OL26,
OL27,
OL30,
302,
303,
304 Publications
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