Self-guided walking
11 nights,
hotel-to-hotel
Level: 2+ & 3
12.0Kg CO2e
The world famous Coast-to-Coast is an exhilarating long-distance walking route originally described by the writer Alfred Wainwright in his book of the same name. First published in 1973, the book has grown in renown and today is as popular as ever, with the walk itself featuring on the bucket list of all keen walkers.
This 11 night trip follows the route from the lively market town of Kirkby Stephen in the Yorkshire Dales to the pretty fishing village of Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea coast. Inbetween you head up hill and down dale, over the Pennines and heather covered moorland, passing through lush meadows and quintessential pastoral landscapes, dotted with ancient stone barns and sleepy hamlets.
The walking is recommended for experienced walkers, as the route will take you over remote moorland which can at times be boggy, but the sense of achievement when you arrive in Robin Hood's Bay makes it all worth while.
Your accommodation each night is in carefully picked B&Bs, with either ensuite or private facilities, where friendly smiles and warm welcomes to weary walkers are guaranteed!
Please note that GPX tracks and a routes and maps guide are provided on this trip, along with our usual maps. This replaces our usual turn by turn route directions
The walking is on a mixture of tracks, paths and country roads, with sections through open moorland which can become boggy. There are some long ascents and descents and a head for heights is necessary on the final coastal section.
There's time to explore this pretty market town before your briefing.
Leave Kirkby Stephen via the picture postcard village of Hartley, then the route gets hillier once again as you climb up and over the Nine Standards - a very distinctive feature on the fell, where Cumbria crosses into Yorkshire and the watershed between the Irish Sea and the North Sea meets. End the day in peaceful Keld, a former lead-mining village.
Today you have the choice between a route over the high fell or the lower route along the valley. The former crosses a remote landscape of grouse moors, dotted with ruins from the lead-mining era; the latter takes you via Swaledale, with its traditional stone barns and drystone walls. Whatever you choose, you arrive in Reeth, another quintessential Dales village with cosy pubs.
Today's more leisurely stage takes you across verdant meadows and through pretty villages. Take time to explore Marrick Priory, a 12th century Benedictine nuns' monastery, abandoned during the 16th-century religious wars. Overnight in the pretty market town of Richmond.
A day off from walking today so there's plenty of time to explore Richmond with its quaint cobbled market place, historic winding alleyways, 12th century abbey and imposing Norman Castle - which will celebrate its 950th birthday in 2021!
An easier, flatter walk again today, taking you across the Vale of Mowbray, through fertile farmland and along quiet country lanes, via Bolton-on-Swale and its 14th century St. Mary's Church. Your final destination is Danby Wiske, a cluster of pretty houses huddled around the village green.
Continue your approach towards the North York Moors National Park - and its hills! - along flat footpaths and farm tracks, passing brightly coloured rapeseed fields and sleepy livestock. Depending on accommodation availability, you overnight in either Ingleby Cross or Osmotherley.
Walk through woodland then head uphill for superb views back to Richmond and ahead towards the North Sea. You are finally in the North York Moors National Park with its wide expanses of heather covered moorland, contrasting with the distinctive rocky crags of the Wain Stones. There is a short transfer at the end of today's walk to your accommodation for the night.
After you are dropped off back at Clay Bank Top, it feels like you are on a high mountain, but the North York Moors is only 4-500m above sea level. Today's stretch brings you across the plateau, along the route of an abandoned mine railway to The Lion Inn pub. Originally a 16th-century hunting lodge, it's the third highest pub in England and the only building for miles around.
Today's route is mainly flat and downhill beside Great Fryup Dale and into Glaisdale. There's one sting in the tail to get up and down into Egton Bridge before you end the day in peaceful Grosmont (pronounced 'Growmont'), one of the stops on the famous North York Moors steam railway.
Start the day with a steep road climb up onto the moor before descending into beautiful Littlebeck - but not before catching a glimpse of the sea and the breathtaking Whitby Abbey! Through Falling Foss woods with its hidden follies, walk over the last section of the Moors. The final stretch takes you from High Hawsker along the top of the Jurassic cliffs - with stunning coastal scenery and the sight of a dolphin if you're lucky. There are gorgeous vistas of Robin Hood's Bay as you descend to this beautiful old fishing village.
You stay at Inns and bed and breakfasts.
Inns and bed and breakfasts, Coast to Coast
We use well selected bed and breakfasts or traditional village inns, that are HH or HHH rated and which are generally family owned and with lovely views over the surrounding fells and dales.
Many come with their own restaurant, cafe or pub; otherwise options for refreshments and dinner are available locally.
All are comfortable, with ensuite or occasionally private facilities, with your hosts well accustomed to welcoming weary coast to coast walkers! Hearty English breakfasts are included as standard.
We do not currently have departure dates and prices available on-line. The season may have ended for this tour, or we are still in the process of adding these details to our website.
Please contact our sales team on 01606 720199 to for further details or to discuss alternavie trip options.
Self-guided walking
11 nights,
hotel-to-hotel
Level: 2+ & 3
12.0Kg CO2e
