An eighteen centre inn-to-inn, self-guided walking tour of England on Wainwrights coast-to-coast trail though the lakes district and Yorkshire in England. St. Bees on the west coast to Robin Hoods Bay on the east coast. 18 nights bed and breakfast, 1 dinner, 17 days walking, luggage transfer, guide book and maps. Due to problems of obtaining one night stays over weekends in the Lake District, we suggest starting on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night. This hiking tour should be booked at least 6 months or more ahead.
This tour, based around Wainwrights Coast to Coast walk and links together three of Englands finest National Parks; The Lake District National Park, The Yorkshire Dales National Park and The North York Moors National Parks. You start this 190 mile walk at St Bees by dipping your toes in the Irish Sea before heading for the mountains of the Lake District. We have designed this walk to go coast to coast, using the easiest paths associated with Wainwright and the shortest distances possible between accommodation. You start by working your way through the Lake District national Park on the west coast - your toughest days. Then its over the Roman Road on High Street and down to Shap with its isolated ruined Abbey. Now you cross a wide plain and take the "leap" up onto the Pennine hills, the backbone of England. You meander through The Yorkshire Dales and the market town of Richmond. Now across the Vale of York and into the North York Moors National Park. A high plateau area mainly covered with heather moors. Tucked in there are the delightful sandstone villages of Glaisdale and Grosmont and the walk is completed on the Yorkshire Coast at Robin Hoods Bay. Here you can savour the achievement of having walked all 195 miles across the country. Catch the myriad of wild flowers in May and June or hillsides purple with heather in August or September. Moving on from inn to inn, each with its own character, gives you the chance to experience the varied gastronomic delights available in the different areas, from Whitby cod to Yorkshire lamb to Cumberland sausage.
Your luggage is transported between accommodation so it is only necessary to carry a small rucksack, but this is still a strenuous tour so you must be fit.

You stop in country hotels, guesthouses, farmhouses and inns along the way, where accommodation is available in twin, double or single rooms, most but not all with private facilities. 18 nights B&B, 1 dinner and luggage transfer between the overnight stays is included in the tour price. You will be issued with Wainwrights guide book and high scale Ordnance Survey maps (topo maps) suitable for remote travel.

This tour is operated by Explore Britain Walking based in County Durham in England.

START: St Bees on the western side of northern Britain (near Carlisle).
FINISH: Robin Hoods Bay on the eastern side of Britain (near Scarborough).

DAY ONE: Arrival at St Bees in Cumbria. You should arrive to find time to "dip" in the Irish Sea. Dinner is usually served in hotels and pubs between 7pm - 9pm (not included in tour price). Overnight at St Bees, Cumbria, England.

DAY TWO: Walk from St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge. 14.25 miles (23km) and 1,200 feet of ascent. You walk across small hills from the Irish sea at St Bees to Ennerdale which nestles before the big hills of the Lake District. Dinner can be taken at either of the pubs in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight at Ennerdale Bridge, Cumbria, England.

DAY THREE: Walk from Ennerdale Bridge to Borrowdale. 14.5 miles (23km) and 2,000 feet of ascent. You start along the shores of Ennerdale Water before ascending steeply to Black Sail Pass and descend to the Borrowdale valley. Dinner can be taken at either of the pubs in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight at Rosthwaite, Cumbria, England.

DAY FOUR: Walk from Borrowdale to Grasmere. 9.25 miles (15km) and 1,800 feet of ascent. Not a long day, but does involve a few steep ascents as you cross from the remote Borrowdale to the Mecca of the Lake District. Dinner can be taken at any of the pubs in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight at Grasmere, Cumbria, England.

DAY FIVE: Walk from Grasmere to Glenridding. 8.5 miles (15km) and 2,000 feet of ascent. The big mountain day. You ascend Helvellyn, one of the highest peaks of England, and descend to Patterdale by the famous striding edge. Glenridding is on the lakeside of Ullswater. Dinner can be taken at any of the pubs in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight at Glenridding, Cumbria, England.

DAY SIX: Walk from Glenridding to Bampton. 16 miles (26km) and 3,000 feet of ascent. The last of the Lake District hills today. You ascend High street and then down to the Shores of Haweswater, at the end of which is the small village of Bampton. Dinner can be taken at the inn in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight at Bampton, Cumbria, England.

DAY SEVEN: Walk from Bampton to Raisbeck. 12.5 miles (11km) and 700 feet of ascent. An easier relaxing day with very little ascent. You continue into the village of Shap and then work your way through the Eden Valley, a delight to the eye. Descend to the small village of Orton with its home-made chocolate factory. Dinner is best taken during the day either at Shap or Orton. Overnight at Raisbeck, Cumbria, England.

DAY EIGHT: Walk from Raisbeck to Kirkby Stephen. 13 miles (20km) and 1,200 feet of ascent. Another pleasant day through the Eden Valley across farmland and alongside pretty streams. Dinner can be taken at any of the pubs in the town (not included in tour price). If you were thinking of having a rest day, this might be a good choice. Overnight at Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, England.

DAY NINE: Walk from Kirkby Stephen to Thwaite. 12.75 miles (21km) and 2,000 feet of ascent. A steep ascent onto Nine Standards Rigg on the Pennine Hills. Then a gradual descent into the remote section of the Yorkshire Dales National Park at Keld. Dinner is taken at the guesthouse (included in tour price). Overnight at Thwaite, North Yorkshire, England.

DAY TEN: Walk from Thwaite to Reeth. 11.25 miles (18km) and 1,000 feet of ascent. Across a landscape shaped by lead-mining and sheep farming. Remote from human habitation, nowadays there are just the remains of ghost industries. You finish at the old market town of Reeth. Dinner can be taken at any of the pubs in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight at Reeth, North Yorkshire, England.

DAY ELEVEN: Walk from Reeth to Richmond. 10.5 miles (17km) and 1,000 feet of ascent. Following the River Swale out of the National Park you arrive at the bustling Norman market town of Richmond. Much to pass the time of day here from the Castle to the Georgian Theatre. Dinner can be taken at any of the pubs or restaurants in the town (not included in tour price). If you were thinking of having a rest day, this might be a good choice. Overnight at Richmond, North Yorkshire, England.

DAY TWELVE: Walk from Richmond to Danby Wiske. 14 miles (22km) and 100 feet of ascent. A valley walk today across the Vale of York, to finish at this isolated village, but well known by Coast to Coasters. Dinner can be taken at the pub in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight at Danby Wiske, North Yorkshire, England.

DAY THIRTEEN: Walk from Danby Wiske to Osmotherley. 11 miles (17km) and 1,000 feet of ascent. Out of the Vale of York and onto the North York Moors National Park. Dinner can be taken at any of the pubs in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight at Osmotherley, North Yorkshire, England.

DAY FOURTEEN: Walk from Osmotherley to Great Broughton. 10 miles (16km) and 2,000 feet of ascent. A short day, but not without its ascent and descents. This is the last stop before the big crossing of the isolated moors. Dinner can be taken at any of the pubs in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight at Great Broughton, North Yorkshire, England.

DAY FIFTEEN: Walk from Great Broughton to Farndale. 10 miles (16km) and 500 feet of ascent. Back onto the moors and across the plateau on an old railway line bed. The evening is spent at an isolated moorland farmhouse. Dinner can be taken at the pub (not included in tour price). Overnight at Farndale, North Yorkshire, England.

DAY SIXTEEN: Walk from Farndale to Glaisdale. 10 miles (16km) and 0 feet of ascent. A short day, but through some grand scenery to finish at the delightful village of Glaisdale. Dinner can be taken at one of the pubs in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight at Glaisdale, North Yorkshire, England.

DAY SEVENTEEN: Walk from Glaisdale to Sleights. 8 miles (12km) and 600 feet of ascent. This stretch meanders towards the sea through some pretty moorland villages. Dinner can be taken at one of the pubs in the village (not included in tour price). Overnight at Sleights, North Yorkshire, England.

DAY EIGHTEEN: Walk from Sleights to Robin Hoods Bay. 8 miles (12km) and 300 feet of ascent. This last stretch as it meanders to the high cliffs on the coast and then drops down to the enchanting Robin Hoods Bay. Dinner can be taken at any of the pubs in the village (not included in tour price). If you were thinking of having a rest day, this might be a good choice, as there is much to appreciate both here at Robin Hoods Bay or at nearby Whitby. Overnight at Robin Hoods Bay, North Yorkshire, England.

DAY NINETEEN: Departure. The tour finishes after breakfast from Robin Hoods Bay.
Book a hotel near your departure airport.

The tour highlighted here is an 18 night tour Grade C which is between 6 - 14 miles (10 - 22 kms) a day. Strong waterproof walking boots are desirable. You will start walking about 9:30am and finish at approx. 5pm. This tour goes through some areas of remote habitation, and high mountains. You MUST be fit to achieve your goal to go Coast to Coast, though this tour can be taken at a more leisurely pace than the other coast to coast tours. You MUST also have good map reading skills because the route is not waymarked or, at times, very visible on the ground. The mountains can be shrouded in mist or rain, and you MUST be prepared for this.
For safety reasons, you must be extremely proficient if you intend to walk alone. We strongly suggest against this. Ask yourself can you walk for hours, in driving rain and low visibility, confident in your map reading skills and morale boosting abilities? A friend in need is almost essential.

The grades are for guidance only. For any grade, depending on weather conditions, it may at times be damp underfoot, so waterproof boots are preferable.