Walking from Coast to Coast West

Expert Local Guides

Award Winning Adventures

Nature First Adventures

Support Local Communities

Walking & Trekking

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Activity Levels :

3 out of 7 - Moderate

Ages :

12+

Trip Code :

W09LY

Follow the Coast-to-Coast walking route from St Bees, on the shores of the Irish Sea, to Kirkby Stephen in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Travel across country, up fells and down dales experiencing some of the most spectacular scenery that the Lake District has to offer.

The world famous Coast-to-Coast is an exhilarating long-distance walking route originally described by the writer Alfred Wainwright in his book of the same name. First published in 1973, the book has grown in renown and today is as popular as ever, with the walk itself featuring on the bucket list of all keen walkers.

This 9 night tour follows the route from St Bees, on the shores of the Irish Sea, to Kirkby Stephen in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It takes you across country, up fells and down dales and features some of the most spectacular scenery that the Lake District has to offer.

The walking is challenging and only recommended for experienced fell walkers and confident map readers, but the sense of achievement and camaraderie when you encounter fellow coast to coasters makes it all worthwhile.

Your accommodation each night is in carefully picked B&Bs, with either ensuite or private facilities, where friendly smiles and warm welcomes to weary walkers are guaranteed!

Highlights

Exhilarating high fell walking through the Lakes District to the Yorkshire Dales National Park
Stay 2 nights in Grasmere, renowned home village of William Wordsworth
Outstanding sweeping views from the Lake District's remote fells

Key Information

9 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of 2 hotels
All breakfasts
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Route directions and maps
Luggage transfers between hotels
GPS tracks and maps
Guide book

Countries visited: United Kingdom

What's Included

9 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of 2 hotels
All breakfasts
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Route directions and maps
Luggage transfers between hotels
GPS tracks and maps
Guide book

What's Not Included

Hotel upgrades
Transfers to and from hotels
Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Visas & vaccinations

7 Days of Walking & Trekking

Terrain:

The walking is challenging and only recommended for experienced fell walkers and confident map readers. The route takes you across country, up fells and down dales.

Day 2

23 km / 14.3 miles

Day 3

15 km / 9.3 miles

Day 4

15 km / 9.3 miles

Day 6

17 km / 10.6 miles

Day 7

19 km / 11.8 miles

Day 8

21 km / 13 miles

Day 9

20 km / 12.4 miles

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

Itinerary

Check into your B&B, a convenient short walk from St Bees railway station.

Set off from St Bees' beach along the coast before turning inland towards the village of Sandwith. Once you've passed through the sleepy villages of Moor Row and Cleator, you reach the first climb of the trip - Dent Fell - before arriving at the small village of Ennerdale Bridge.

Meals Included: Breakfast

You're now in the Lake District National Park and the day starts with a walk along Ennerdale Water with superb views of the approaching fells. From here, you have a choice: either go high up to Red Pike and over High Stile onto the iconic Haystacks and past Inominate Tarn (where Wainwright’s ashes were scattered) or follow a gentler route up to Black Sail Youth Hostel and then up Loft Beck. Both routes take you to Honister Slate mine – the last working slate mine in England - before a descent into the village of Rosthwaite.

Meals Included: Breakfast

A shorter stage today, but the ascent to the day's only peak, Greenup Edge, is steep and demanding. The view from here is another iconic picture of the unique and beautiful landscape of the Lake District. Overnight in pretty Grasmere.

Meals Included: Breakfast

A day off from walking today and the chance to explore Grasmere, including the Wordsworth Museum and the poet's former residence, Dove Cottage.

Meals Included: Breakfast

All walkers climb up to Grisedale Hause with gorgeous views back towards Grasmere. From here, you have the option to go even higher and up the famous Helvellyn peak or onto St Sunday Crag - with far reaching views as far as Ullswater - before coming down Grisedale into Patterdale. Alternatively, take the direct route down Grisedale to the village.

Meals Included: Breakfast

The day starts with another climb and impressive panoramic views across to Fairfield, Helvellyn, Hartsop and Kirkstone Pass. You continue beside Angle Tarn, across the old Roman path of High St and onto Kidsty Pike - at 780m, the highest point on the Coast to Coast Walk, from where there are amazing views down to Haweswater and Riggindale. Descend to Haweswater - formed in the 1930's to provide water to the cities of the North West - for an undulating onward walk into the charming village of Bampton. From here, set off through fields to Shap Abbey, the ruins of a monastery founded in the 13th century. The monks abandoned it to Henry V111 in 1540 and since then it has served as a memory of a bygone era. Overnight in the small town of Shap.

Meals Included: Breakfast

There is less climbing today than the previous two days. The route crosses into the Westmorland Fells in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. From here, the vistas change from dramatic granite rocks to an open limestone landscape as you continue to the tiny village of Orton.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today's stage takes you through open countryside with occasional villages, remote houses and secluded farms - and a wide panorama towards the distinctive Howgills and the distant Pennines. Pass Smardale Bridge, a stunning piece of Victorian architecture from a long-gone railway. Then it's on into the small yet lively town of Kirkby Stephen, with its welcoming pubs, cafes and restaurants, in the heart of the lovely Eden Valley.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Depart Kirkby Stephen after breakfast.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

United Kingdom

Travellers from the US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Vaccination

United Kingdom

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for polio, tetanus and rabies (bat lyssavirus). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

Enjoy the local cuisine in quintessentially British pubs, cafes and delicatessens - The Lake District is home to many regional specialities including Cumberland Sausage, Kendal Mint Cake and Grasmere Gingerbread. However, there are also newer twists on traditional flavours to enjoy, with Kendal Mint Cake Liqueur and damson ketchup to name but a few.

Weather

Summers here tend to be slightly cooler and winters milder to what one might expect. The warmest months to visit are from June through to August, temperatures start to warm up around April and remain pleasant until October time. We advise you take waterproofs as showers can occur anytime of year.

Is this trip for you?

Walking Conditions
Classification: Self-Guided
Activity Level: 3 (Moderate)
Average daily distance: 20km
No. of days walking: 7
Terrain and route: The walking is challenging and only recommended for experienced fell walkers and confident map readers, but the sense of achievement and camaraderie when you encounter fellow coast to coasters makes it all worthwhile.

Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to walk independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodation, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can walk at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotels are normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.

Walking from Coast to Coast West

Follow the Coast-to-Coast walking route from St Bees, on the shores of the Irish Sea, to Kirkby Stephen in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Travel across country, up fells and down dales experiencing some of the most spectacular scenery that the Lake District has to offer.

7 Days of Walking & Trekking

Responsible Travel

Itinerary

Essential Info

Visa

United Kingdom

Vaccination

United Kingdom

Eating and Drinking

Weather

Is this trip for you?

Hotels

Would you like to include flights with your booking?

Looking to set your own pace on your next adventure?

You may also like

The Cotswold Way Walk

Walking Cornwall's North Coast Padstow to Perranporth

Walking The Lizard Peninsula

The Adventure Begins Here

Walking from Coast to Coast West