The Coast to Coast Hike

Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk crosses 192 miles of northern England from St Bees Head on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea, taking in three National Parks along the way: the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the North York Moors. It's not an official National Trail, but it's been one of Britain's most-loved long-distance walks since Wainwright published the guide in 1973.

What to expect

Most walkers take 12-14 days. The Lakeland section in the first third is the toughest — high passes, ridge walks, and the daily possibility of bad weather above 600m. The Dales middle section is gentler limestone country with stone-walled fields and pubs at the end of each day. The North York Moors finale is rolling heather moor and old railway paths down to the coast. Total ascent is around 8,000m.

Practical notes

Walked west to east, as Wainwright intended, so the prevailing weather is at your back. Best months May through September. The 2025 redesignation made the central section an official National Trail; the rest still relies on a network of public rights of way. Bag-transfer and accommodation booking services run the full route, which is the easiest way to handle the logistics.