From Irish Sea to North Sea — coast to coast through mountains, moors, and timeless countryside.
The Coast to Coast Path is one of England’s most beloved long-distance walking routes — created by Alfred Wainwright in 1973 and now officially recognized as a National Trail. It stretches nearly 200 miles (approx. 315 km) from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire, linking three National Parks: the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the North York Moors.
This is more than a walk — it’s a cross-country pilgrimage through changing landscapes, from rugged fell tops to lush valleys, moorland ridges to storybook villages. It’s ideal for self-guided holidays that span the spectrum of English scenery and walking heritage.
Begin on the Irish Sea at St Bees, with red sandstone cliffs and sea views. From there, enter the Lake District, crossing Ennerdale, Borrowdale, Grasmere, and Patterdale before climbing over the Helvellyn range and descending to Shap.
In the Yorkshire Dales, pass through quiet limestone valleys, over Nine Standards Rigg, and into Swaledale and Wensleydale — with stops in villages like Keld and Reeth.
Cross the remote Vale of Mowbray before rising into the North York Moors, where heather ridges and sea breezes guide you toward the dramatic coast. Finish with a clifftop descent into Robin Hood’s Bay, dipping your boots into the North Sea.
The Coast to Coast is ideal for self-guided walking holidays. There’s a well-established network of accommodation — from country inns and village B&Bs to bunkhouses and boutique stays.
Many walkers book through tour operators offering luggage transfers, navigation support, and flexible itineraries.
Make time to explore off-trail highlights: Grasmere’s Wordsworth connections, Richmond Castle, Whitby Abbey, and the fossil beaches of the Yorkshire coast.
Trusted tour companies offer full-service Coast to Coast walking holidays — including accommodation, luggage transport, maps, and route notes.
