Coast to Coast

St Bees

This small town on the Cumbrian coast is the official starting point of the Coast to Coast walk. Tradition dictates that walkers start the route on St Bees beach by getting their feet wet and collecting a pebble. You do the same on the other side at the North Sea in Robin Hood’s Bay.

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Ennerdale Bridge

At Ennerdale Bridge you will catch your first glimpse of the beautiful and breathtaking Lake District National Park, which features 16 major lakes and numerous fells. The landscape is spellbinding!

Rosthwaite

The charming village of Rosthwaite is known for its picturesque landscapes, including the Borrowdale Valley, which is considered one of the most beautiful valleys in the Lake District. The village is also home to the River Derwent.

Grasmere

Grasmere is one of England’s prettiest and most-loved villages. Home to poet William Wordsworth whose gravesite lies at the local church ground, and the famous Sarah Nelson gingerbread, spend your rest day exploring all its delights. There are plenty of tea shops where you can tuck into home-made cake and scones, or visit one of the many adventure stores for any last minute hiking supplies. If you have time take a tour of Dove Cottage and Wordsworth museum on the town’s outskirts where you can immerse yourself a little in his day-to-day life.

Patterdale

Patterdale is a lovely village with a serene location at the head of Ullswater Lake; it’s well worth a stroll out in the evening before you call in at one of the local pubs or hotels for dinner. The local shop here is a mine of information and supplies for Coast to Coast walkers so it’s worth sticking your head in.

Kidsty Pike

Kidsty Pike (780m) is the highest point of the Coast to Coast Path. After you’ve reached the summit, you descend to quiet Haweswater Lake in the valley below. Haweswater is the most remote of the lakes and has a markedly different feel to the central lakes.

Orton

The pretty village of Orton has amongst its attractions Kennedy’s chocolate factory – a wonderful treat for those inclined to sweet tastes after your walk; they even have a Coast to Coast chocolate bar!

Kirkby Stephen

Kirkby Stephen is a lively market town. It’s well worth exploring if you have time. When you eave the sheltered valley of Kirkby Stephen the Coast to Coast path takes you into the wild moors of the Pennine mountain range – the spine of northern England.

Keld

The tiny hamlet of Keld sits at the head of the Swaledale Valley and has many waterfalls and old stone barns. In the mid-19th century it was the heart of a thriving lead mining industry. You’ll reach it after you’ve passed the Nine Standards Rigg – an arrangement of dry stone obelisks whose purpose remains a mystery.

Reeth

Reeth has a variety of pubs and tea shops to recuperate after your day’s walk, plus a fine village green to sit in if the weather is fine.

Richmond

Richmond is an attractive market town and one of the Coast to Coast’s busiest towns. It has its own Norman castle dating back to the 11th century, a wonderful Georgian theatre, and cobbled market square from which lead many winding alleys known locally as ‘wynds’.

Danby Wiske

The tiny village of Danby Wiske has a Norman church, village green and single pub.

Ingleby Arncliffe

Treat yourself to coffee and cake at the Joiners Shop Cafe in the idyllic village of Ingleby Arncliffe. It has delicious coffee specialties from all over the world and is a haven on the Coast to Coast.

North York Moors

The beautiful North York Moors are famed for the heather-clad moorland, most spectacular in the late summer when it magically lights up the landscape in a fiery blanket of bright pinks and purples.

Blakey Ridge

High on remote Blakey Ridge you can take in the surrounding expanses as you meander into the Esk Valley and pass the medieval stone markers of Young Ralph and Fat Betty. The Lion Inn, a 16th-century freehouse, is located at the highest point of the North York Moors National Park and offers breathtaking views over the valleys of Rosedale and Farndale.

Egton Bridge

Egton Bridge is a favourite on the Coast to Coast. This is the area where the TV series ‘Heartbeat’ was filmed and it corresponds to most people’s expectations of timeless English rural life.

Robin Hood’s Bay

Robin Hood’s Bay is a charming village of red roofed houses and narrow alleyways clustered around a fine harbour. You can celebrate the end of your crossing of England with a drink at Wainwright’s Bar and, as tradition dictates, dip your toes into the North Sea and throw away the pebble you’ve carried from St Bees!