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Experience the most dramatic section of Wainwright’s legendary Coast to Coast route on this self-guided walking holiday from the Irish Sea at St Bees to the market town of Kirkby Stephen. The western half of the trail showcases some of the most spectacular scenery in northern England, taking you across the rugged heart of the Lake District National Park and into the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.
If you're short on time, new to long-distance walking, or prefer to explore the route in manageable stages, this itinerary is an ideal way to sample the best-loved landscapes of the Coast to Coast. It’s also perfect for hikers who simply want the thrill of crossing the Lake District on foot, experiencing the quiet valleys, shimmering lakes, towering peaks and traditional fellside villages. You’ll start your journey by dipping your boots in the Irish Sea at St Bees, then head east with the prevailing wind at your back. The route leads through dramatic valleys such as Ennerdale, Borrowdale, and Patterdale, with the chance to take optional high-level detours to iconic Lakeland summits like Helvellyn. As the Lake District fells give way to the gentler landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales, your walk concludes in Kirkby Stephen, a charming town with rail links and a great place to relax after an inspiring week on the trail.
Looking to take things at a gentler pace? Our 9-day version of this trip (trip code WSK) breaks up the longer stage between Shap and Kirkby Stephen, offering a more relaxed alternative.
Scroll down to explore all our Coast to Coast walking options.
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13kg of CO2-e PP per day
(94kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)
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Day 1
Arrive St Bees
Make your own way to the starting point, the resort of St Bees on the edge of the Irish Sea where you'll have views across to the Isle of Man. In St Bees you should have time to visit the Abbey church, which has features on the local history and a display on a mummified knight that was discovered in a lead coffin from the graveyard. If you have booked with us an extra night here, you can follow the coastal path or quiet inland roads to the attractive town of Whitehaven, with its marina and great museum. Whitehaven is famous in the annals of the US navy as the site of an elaborate raid on the British mainland by one John Paul Jones during the American War of Independence. Accommodation: A family-run bed and breakfast in a large modernised Georgian farmhouse in the centre of St Bees.
Meals: Nil
Day 2
St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge 23.5 km/14.5 miles, 6 h
Take the first steps on this first half of the epic Coast to Coast walk when you climb from the beach at St Bees. Take a footpath along red sandstone coastal cliffs off St Bees Head with England’s only breeding colony of Black Guillimots (until July), then head inland over hilly ground to the edge of the Lake District National Park. Dent Hill is the first real fell that you cross and will give you some indication as to whether you are fit enough for the following days! Although short, there follows possibly the steepest descent of the whole tour down to Nannycatch Gate and Beck. A delightful stroll along which brings you to the final descent to leafy Ennerdale Bridge. // The day’s total ascent 780m / descent 665m. Accommodation: Overnight at a friendly pub. Enjoy a home cooked meal of local produce including fish and game in season. A traditional feel is retained by the hotel, with its open fire, and the fully licensed bar serves a range of beverages including locally produced ale. If we are unable to book you into Ennerdale then we will secure accommodation for you at Cleator with a return taxi transfer that we will put in place for you (own expense).
Meals: B
Day 3
Ennerdale Bridge to Borrowdale 26.5 km/16.5 miles, 7 h
Follow a quiet and scenic footpath along the shore of Ennerdale Water, with a bit of an easy scramble under Angler’s Crag at Robin Hood’s Seat. A long walk on a forest track then continues to Black Sail Hut, which is the smallest youth hostel and originally a shepherd’s hut. A steep climb follows up the Lowther Beck before traversing some of the Lakeland fells, perhaps with views down to Buttermere. Finally you reach the ‘drum house’, which marks the descent path to the Honister Slate Mine workings & cafe and Borrowdale. This is perhaps the most delightful valley in the Lakes with its crags and broadleaved trees. Borrowdale is a delightful ensemble of hamlets: Seatoller (close to the wettest place in England), Longthwaite, Rosthwaite and Stonethwaite. Delightful riverside paths connect these places and their pubs together - if you have sufficient energy left for the evening. You might be interested to know that ‘thwaite’ is old Norse for paddock. // The day’s total ascent 765m / descent 785m. Accommodation: Your hotel tonight is located in the Borrowdale Valley near the hamlet of Seatoller. It has striking views over the local fells.
Day 4
Borrowdale to Grasmere 13.5 km/8.5 miles, 5 h
Enjoy classic Lakeland scenery over Greenup Edge to Easedale and Grasmere. Its a stiff 500m climb up to the edge via Lining Crag where you may get great views back down into Borrowdale. The once boggy trail over the pass has been improved with the laying down of hundreds of Flagstones. After the pass the trail becomes rough and descends steeply into the flower meadows on the outskirts of Grasmere. There is also a good weather variant to Helm Crag which has good views directly over the town. Grasmere is one of Lakeland’s most celebrated villages and you might have time either this afternoon or tomorrow morning to visit the poet Wordsworth's home at Dove Cottage and drop into the famous Ginger bread shop! // The day’s total ascent 750m / descent 760m. Accommodation: We use a number of different accommodation in the busy village of Grasmere.
Day 5
Grasmere to Glenridding 12 km/7.5 miles, 5.5 h standard route
A great walk over Grisedale Pass (609m/2000ft) and around the small mountain lake of Grisedale Tarn to Patterdale. In good weather and if you are a reasonably strong walker, we recommend that you take the detour route up St Sunday Crag (add 1½ hours). It will give some exceptional views down across Ullswater on the descend to Patterdale, possibly the most breathtaking of the entire Coast to Coast walk. Another detour option is via the summit of Helvellyn, for this add 2 miles and 2 hours. // The day’s total ascent: 900m / descent 805m (via the optional route over St Sunday Crag, less if you avoid this). Accommodation: Tonight’s accommodation is a family-run guesthouse. It is located in the centre of Glenridding alongside Glenridding Beck, situated at the southern top of Ullswater - the second largest lake in the Lake District.
Day 6
Glenridding to Shap 26 km/16 miles, 7-9 h
After completing today's walk, some would say this was the most difficult stage on the Coast to Coast walk. The day starts with a steep climb up past pretty Angle Tarn. You'll then hike up and onwards to a critical cairn where you turn off the route avoiding High Street fell. It will take you up and over Kidsty Pike (780m / 2560ft), the highest point on the Coast to Coast, and then descend steeply to walk along Haweswater. This is a huge body of water that was conceived in 1929 to supply Manchester with drinking water, drowning a couple of villages in the process. You then undulate through fields to Shap Abbey, the most easterly point of the Lake District National Park. This was the last abbey to be founded in England (1199) and the last to be destroyed (1540). It nevertheless is a pretty place to take a break with some new interpretation signs. After this, you continue into Shap, the old granite mining town with several pubs and shops. The village offers an interesting insight to the history of the area. // The day’s total ascent 1174m / descent 1009m. Accommodation: We use a range of accommodation in the village from B&B's, Guesthouses and Pubs.
Day 7
Shap to Kirkby Stephen 33 km/20.5 miles, 8 h
From Shap there follows a hilly section across limestone moors with limestone pavements in places strewn with ‘erratic’ boulders moved there by glaciers. Finally you drop into the gentler climes around Orton, a diversion of about a mile can be made to this quaint picturesque village - with Kennedy’s Chocolate Factory & Shop to lead you into temptation. Walking now between Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales, there is a lot of attractive farmland to cross with a section of moors around Sunbiggin Tarn, which is an important site for birds. A steep descent to the Scandal Beck at Smardale Bridge makes for a nice late lunch stop. Then ascend over Smardale Fell for the pretty descent into Kirkby Stephen. It is an attractive market town, with St. Hedda’s Church, containing the 8th Century Loki stone relating to Norse Mythology. // The day’s total ascent 808m / descent 950m. Accommodation: This is a fine looking guesthouse and the interior retains many of the delightful and original features. It has a friendly relaxed atmosphere.
Day 8
Arrangements end after breakfast
Your Coast to Coast walking experience concludes after breakfast.
What's included
What's not included
The hotels described are our usual accommodation, however if these are not available then alternatives are used. Rooms generally do not have baths. The main reason being that they take up a lot of space, some hotels/guesthouses may have a separate room in the house where a bath is available to guests, but in the main it is showers. Note that the sheer popularity of this tour may mean that we cannot get you into the accommodation described below for the dates of your tour. We will endeavor to get you into a similar standard of accommodation nearby, but please appreciate that there is limited accommodation. Also, although we aim to get you into accommodations with ensuite rooms this is not always possible, at a couple of places on your tour you may be sharing bathrooms, particularly if you are in a single room.
Suggested rest stops: Must be requested at the time of booking.
GRASMERE: In the heart of the Lake District National Park. Once the home to William Wordsworth. The village has narrow streets with cafes, shops and pubs. Bus service connects Grasmere with Keswick and Ambleside.
KIRKBY STEPHEN: Traditional market town of historic buildings, cobbled yards and interesting shops.
The trails in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales are a mix of mountain footpaths, woodland trails and farm tracks. You will follow a variety of natural trails, some very narrow and rocky and with uneven surfaces. Trails that are stone, gravel and slate can become slippery when wet, and some of the terrain is across boggy landscape and it can be muddy after lots of rain. A good level of fitness and ability on rocky and muddy trails is required. Good boots are essential. Carry plenty of drinking water and adequate protection against the sun, wind and rain.
Moderate to Challenging. Some long days in mountainous and moorland terrain with steep climbs and descents. An average of 20km/12.5 miles is covered each day with four long days of over 20km/12.4 miles and one of those over 30km/18.5miles. You will be walking between 6 to 9 hours per day at a steady pace throughout the day covering 4-5 km per hour. This multiday walk has long days with back to back steep climbs and descents as well as some flatter sections. You must be comfortable climbing up over stiles, walking on steep rocky and coastal terrain. Mixed weather can be expected. We would not recommend the route for first time walkers. It is essential to undertake some training in hill country prior to the trip. When walking early or late in the season, you need to be mindful of shorter daylight hours and be prepared for changeable weather conditions which may include snow.
Per Person, Twin Share
This is the first half (western section) of the itinerary that we have been running for almost 45 years, our original Coast to Coast trip following the National Trail routing laid out by Alfred Wainwright. When Wainwright researched the route, he actually walked the Borrowdale to Grasmere and Grasmere to Patterdale (Glenridding) sections as one long day.
We’ve been operating guided hikes along the Coast to Coast for over 45 years, and no one knows this iconic route better. Our unmatched experience is built on decades of walking the trail, cultivating strong relationships with the people who live and work along it, and delivering exceptional service to thousands of walkers. Our head guide and local logistics expert, Jon Millen, has completed the route an impressive 27 times, and one of our team members lives a stone’s throw from Ennerdale. We’ve worked closely with local hoteliers, B&B hosts, taxi drivers, publicans and baggage transporters for nearly half a century, giving us the ability to swiftly resolve issues and offer outstanding support on the ground. This depth of connection and heritage means you’ll benefit from the most knowledgeable guides, the warmest welcomes, and a level of service that only comes from decades of experience. Travel with us and you’ll enjoy not only a beautifully guided walk, but a truly immersive and hassle-free Coast to Coast experience.
Yes, you’re likely to meet fellow walkers along the Coast to Coast, especially during peak season from late spring through early autumn. While the route has a wonderfully remote and peaceful feel in places, it’s one of the UK’s most iconic long-distance walks and attracts walkers from around the world. Some days you may pass several others heading in the same direction or crossing paths, particularly near popular stops or in the Lake District. That said, there are also long stretches where you might walk for hours without seeing anyone, especially in the higher or more rugged sections – perfect if you enjoy a mix of friendly encounters and time to yourself.
Since becoming a National Trail, signage along the Coast to Coast has improved in lower, populated areas, but it’s important to know that waymark signs are not permitted within UK National Parks, which means key sections through the Lake District and the North York Moors can still be difficult to navigate, especially in poor weather. To help you stay on track, we provide the Walkers' Britain & Europe Navigation App, which gives you offline access to daily GPX routes, trail notes, and off-route alerts – no mobile signal required. While the app offers reliable, real-time guidance, we strongly recommend carrying paper maps and having basic navigation skills as a backup, particularly in remote or upland terrain.
If the weather is good, for fit walkers the high level variants of the Coast to Coast are worth doing. You should be aware that the Red Pike option above Ennerdale often takes walkers an extra 2 hours over the standard route. The Helm Crag option adds and extra hour, the St. Sunday Crag option above Grisedale takes about 1.5 hours more than the standard route, and the Striding Edge option about 2 hours more than the standard route. We advise to always bear this in mind in terms of evening meals as well as take into account things like the weather forecast..
While GPS is a valuable tool and the Walkers' Britain & Europe Navigation App provides reliable, offline GPX tracks with real-time route guidance, we strongly advise against relying on GPS alone. Batteries can run out, devices can fail, and in bad weather or remote areas, even the best technology can fall short. Some sections of the Coast to Coast – especially in the Lake District and the Pennines – are unmarked due to National Park restrictions and can be hard to follow in low visibility. Always carry paper maps as a backup and ensure you’re confident using them. Combining GPS with traditional navigation is the safest and most responsible way to enjoy the trail.
Yes, the Coast to Coast was officially designated as a UK National Trail in 2022 and will become one in 2026. This recognition has led to ongoing improvements in access, maintenance and waymarking, particularly in more accessible areas. However, due to restrictions within UK National Parks, you’ll find little or no signage in sections that pass through the Lake District. So while the National Trail status brings more support and recognition to the route, confident navigation remains essential – especially in remote or upland areas.
It depends what you like to do! Grasmere is a great place to stay and would enable visits to Keswick or Ambleside, or a visit to Dove Cottage, home of William and Dorothy Wordsworth. You could also extend your stay in Kirby Stephen
Please have your bags ready for collection by 8:30am each morning. This doesn’t mean they will be picked up exactly at that time, but your accommodation may be one of the first stops depending on the day’s schedule. Having your bags ready ensures a smooth transfer, even if the driver arrives earlier than expected.
While many accommodations offer the convenience of a packed lunch, we encourage you to support local bakeries, cafés and village shops along the route where possible. Not only does this give you the chance to enjoy freshly made, regional specialities – like a warm pasty, handcrafted sandwich, or local cheese – but it also helps support small businesses in the communities you’re walking through. It’s a great way to vary your lunch each day, discover local flavours, and reduce food waste. Some rural sections have limited options, so a mix of pre-ordered packed lunches and spontaneous local stops is often the best approach. Your route notes and app will highlight where you can find food along the way.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
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