Coast to Coast Path

Walk the Coast to Coast Path

The Coast to Coast Path crosses northern England for 187 miles from St Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea. Beginning in North West England, the route passes through the Lake District National Park, Yorkshire Dales National Park and North York Moors National Park before reaching the North Sea coast.

From St Bees, the trail begins beside the Irish Sea and follows the coast before turning inland towards Ennerdale. The route enters the Lake District, where mountain paths, valleys and high passes lead east through the national park towards Borrowdale and Grasmere.

Beyond Grasmere, the Coast to Coast Path continues through the eastern Lake District towards Patterdale before crossing the high ground around Kidsty Pike. The landscape gradually changes as the route leaves the mountains and continues towards Shap and the countryside east of the Lake District.

The trail then crosses towards Kirkby Stephen and enters the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Moorland, valleys, limestone landscapes and upland paths characterise the route as it continues through places including Keld and Reeth towards Richmond.

From Richmond, the route crosses lower farmland and the Vale of Mowbray towards Ingleby Cross. This section provides a transition between the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors National Park, where the trail climbs back onto open moorland.

Across the North York Moors, the path follows upland tracks, valleys and moorland towards the eastern edge of the national park. The route eventually reaches the North Sea coast before continuing to Robin Hood's Bay, where the village marks the end of the crossing from the Irish Sea.

Along the route, St Bees, Grasmere, Kirkby Stephen, Richmond and Robin Hood's Bay provide useful bases for individual stages, with accommodation available in towns and villages throughout much of the crossing.

Overview

Distance: 187 miles / 301 km
Typical duration: 12–16 walking days
Difficulty: Challenging
Start: St Bees, Cumbria
Finish: Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire
Terrain: Mountain paths, high passes, valleys, moorland, farmland, villages and coastal paths
Waymarking: National Trail waymarking along the route

WALK THE TRAIL IN SECTIONS

Explore the Coast to Coast Path in Sections

Walk shorter sections of the Coast to Coast Path, with individual route information, places to explore and places to stay along each part of the trail.

Coast to Coast Path Lake District Section

Follow the Coast to Coast Path for 79 miles from St Bees through the Lake District, mountain valleys and high passes to Kirkby Stephen.

Coast to Coast Path Yorkshire Dales Section

Follow the Coast to Coast Path for 33 miles from Kirkby Stephen through the Yorkshire Dales, Keld and Swaledale to Richmond.

Coast to Coast Path North York Moors Section

Follow the Coast to Coast Path for 76 miles from Richmond across the Vale of Mowbray and North York Moors to Robin Hood's Bay.