16 day UK Coast to Coast Trek
Walk with Emma, a UIMLA-certified mountain leader, through the picturesque countryside and quaint villages of England during this 16 day long distance trek between the Western and Eastern coasts of Great Britain!
16 Days
Apr - Sep
High
Intermediate
Description
During this 16 day program, we will enjoy one of the best long distance walks in the world, passing though charming English villages and the picturesque countryside of the region, as we cover more than 300 km on foot, from one coast of England to the other!
We will follow the 190 mile (approx. 305 km) route first mapped by Alfred Wainwright, a legendary British fell-walker, and published in his 1973 guidebook. After starting in St. Bees Head, a coastal village in Cumbria, Northwest England, we will spend the following two weeks walking eastward, until we finish in Robin Hood’s Bay, located in North Yorkshire.
We will walk along a wide variety of different trails and terrain, even passing through some remote areas with no trail at all. We will follow the route through fields, villages, woods, and countryside, and over steep rocky mountain paths and rolling hills. Along the way, we will explore the beautiful landscapes of Lake District National Park, Yorkshire Dales National Park, and North York Moors National Park, along with the many picturesque villages and hamlets of the region.
Each day, we will cover 13 km-34 km. Given the length and duration of this trip, so a good level of physical fitness is required.. We will rest each night at inns, guest houses, hotels, and traditional B&Bs. Whenever possible, we opt for charming, local accommodation with lots of character. Note that we arrange accommodation on a twin-share basis. Because we will have luggage support throughout this journey, at the end of each day your bags will be waiting for you. This also means that while walking, you will only need to carry a daypack.
While our standard program includes 14 days of trekking and lasts 16 days total (including days for arrival and departure), we can also arrange the program to so that the trekking portion is complete in 13 days. Alternately, for those who wish to move a little slower, we can plan the route so we trek for 15, 16, 17, or even 18 days. Lastly, we can also organize this trip in two halves, each one lasting a week. A day-by-day itinerary for the standard, 16 day (14 days of trekking) program is outlined below.
Book now and join me know for an incredible long distance trek through the lovely countryside and tranquil villages of England! This is a long distance trek you won’t soon forget!
If you love long distance walks be sure to check out my other trips: 1 week Alta Via 1 trek in the Dolomites, 8-day trek along the French Pyrenees GR10 (Stage 1), or my 10-Day Trek of Serra de Tramuntana on Mallorca!
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Luggage transfer
Price details
- Price includes: Guiding services, accommodation (twin share basis), breakfast, luggage deliver. Does not include: Insurance (mandatory for every participant), lunch and evening meals, transportation to and from starting points of trek, travel insurance, personal drinks and snacks, tips.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival: St Bees Head
Arrive in St. Bees Head. We will discuss the upcoming program, then enjoy a group dinner at a local pub.
Accommodation: B&B
Day 2: St Bees Head to Ennerdale Bridge
We will depart from the Beach in St Bees Head at the sign marking the beginning of the Coast to Coast route. We then follow the shore to sandstone cliffs. Next, we head inland and climb Dent, the first fell top of the trek.
Distance: 22.5 km
Accommodation:Hotel
Day 3: Ennerdale Bridge to Borrowdale
We walk along Ennerdale Water, ascend 300 m, then descend Honnister Pass and into the Borrowdale Valley. We stop for the night in the hamlet of Stonethwaite.
Distance: 24 km
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 4: Borrowdale to Grasmere
We walk through the more remote area of Greenup Edge, where there is not always a clear trail. Depending on the weather conditions, there are several potential routes we can take, but we ultimately will finish in the town of Grasmere, where we can explore the town that Wordsworth once called home.
Distance: 14.5 km
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 5: Grasmere to Patterdale
We have two different options depending on the weather and desires of the group: one is to take a shorter more direct route to the valley, and the other is to head up St. Sunday Crags, site of some of the best views of the trek.
Distance: 13.5 km
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 6: Patterdale to Shap
During our last day in the Lake District, we ascend to the highest point on the Coast to Coast trail: Kidsty Pike. We then walk along Haweswater, passing Shap Abbey on our way to the village of Shap.
Distance: 25 km
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 7: Shap to Kirkby Stephen
While we will cover a lot of distance today, the route is less strenuous. We cross limestone plateau to heather-filled moorland. We have the option to pass Robin Hood’s grave before we reach our destination, the town of Kirkby Stephen.
Distance: 33 km
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 8: Kirkby Stephen to Keld
Now in the Yorkshire Dales, we ascend to Nine Standards Rigg. From here, our route depends on the season due to potentially boggy conditions and erosion. We eventually reach the river Swale and the village of Keld, where we stop for the night.
Distance: 21 km
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 9: Keld to Reeth
Today, we can decide whether we wish to pass through old lead mines, which is not the most scenic section but provides an interesting glimpse into Britain’s industrial history. Alternately, we can follow the river Swale, which takes us through beautiful Swaledale.
Distance: 18 km
Accommodation: B&B
Day 10: Reeth to Richmond
We walk through the Benedictine ruins of Marrick Priory, then head through farmland until we reach Richmond. We will arrive in time for a late lunch, so that you have the afternoon to explore the sites of this historical city, including its castle.
Distance: 17 km
Accommodation: Guest house
Day 11: Richmond to Danby Wiske
We pass from the Yorkshire Dales into the Vale of Mowbray, which we cross over the next two days. We will explore various footpaths and bridleways along the way to avoid walking along a road, which is the less scenic option.
Distance: 22 km
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 12: Danby Wiske to Ingleby Cross
We stick to the footpaths and bridleways as much as possible as we finish crossing the Vale of Mowbray. We reach Ingleby Cross, where we have a chance to relax in the woods and explore the Mount Grace Priory.
Distance: 18 km
Accommodation: B&B
Day 13: Ingleby Cross to Blakey Ridge
We will get going early today. We will enjoy the changing landscape as we enter the North York Moors. We walk in the Cleveland Hills and follow an old railway track until we reach the Lion Inn.
Distance: 34 km
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 14: Blakey Ridge to Egton Bridge
Today we pass the legendary Fat Betty Post, a landmark of the Cross to Cross route. We continue walking across the moors, following the trail along a river and through the woods to our resting place.
Distance: 23 km
Accommodation: B&B/Hotel
Day 15: Egton Bridge to Robin Hood's Bay
We walk on an old toll road, reaching the old village of Grosmont. We then take a final ascent and, if the weather is clear, will have views of the coast. Once we finish our ascent, we walk along the cliffs to Robin Hood’s Bay, ending our trek the same way we started – at the sea. We can then enjoy a well-deserved pint in town.
Day 16: Robin Hood's Bay: Departure
After breakfast, we say goodbye and depart for our homes.
Details
More info
Insurance
It is compulsory that you take out adequate travel insurance, and it is a condition of booking with us that your insurance covers the following as a minimum: medical expenses, injury, illness, death, repatriation, personal accident, mountain rescue including helicopter evacuation, along with cancellation and curtailment. Your insurance must be valid for the duration of your tour.
Meeting point
About the guide
-Emma & Guides' team
4.8
(17)
Mountain Leader
I'm a qualified International Mountain Leader (IML) and I have been leading expeditions for the last 15 years. I have led the Tour du Mont Blanc over 40 times, the Everest Base Camp trek 27 times, Kilimanjaro 10 times, and I have also led trips in Nepal, Peru, Cuba, India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Thailand, the Alps, the Pyrenees, Russia, Uzbekistan and Madagascar, amongst others. I work together with qualified mountain leaders like me, If I'm not available to guide you, one of my colleagues will take care of you.
I'm a passionate skier, in 2009 I made the first ski descent of Manaslu, the 8th highest mountain in the world (8156m).
Fluent in French, Russian and Spanish, I also work as an interpreter and love to chat.
Languages
Russian | French | English
Certificates
UIMLA
What people are saying about -Emma & Guides' team
The service Emma provided us was outstanding. Everything went well and as planned. Trip descriptions, route informations and Emma's recommendations was all provided in the App and hard copy. All we had to do was show up and hike. No worries about booking hotels and transportations. Hotels booked for us were all clean, comfortable with full breakfast. The dinners that some hotels provided was very delicious. I highly recommend Cloud 9 Adventure to anybody. Thank you Emma for an unforgettable trip!
We had an amazing day hiking with Jason admiring views of Mont Blanc, the Bionnassay glacier and waterfalls. Jason was knowledgeable about the history and geology of the area, and tailored the hike according to what we wanted to see as well as our physical capacity. We are grateful he brought us on a trail we wouldn’t have known about otherwise! Emma was also a great help with coordination and brainstorming ideas with us in the lead-up to the hike. Highly recommend!
Emma Jack- You are incredible. Nothing I can say here would justify the experience you gave us. I will just say thank you and we’ll be reaching out to you again to plan our future adventures.
Cloud 9 fit everything we were searching for. You can not find a better team with experience and care for service than Cloud 9. If you are looking for the hiking trip of lifetime, I urge you to look at the web site and send an email to Cloud 9 to learn more about their services for The Tour du Mont Blanc.
I had the time of my life on a Tour du Mont Blanc Trip organized by Cloud 9. I took the trip with my sisters and we were guided by Ronan, an experienced French guide. I could not have asked for a better experience. All of the accommodations were lovely, and Ronan helped ensure each day was magical regardless of the weather. I would highly recommend this tour company to anyone considering the TMB.
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