The Alfred Wainwright Coast to Coast Walk

  Tens of thousands of keen walkers complete the 192 mile crossing of (although 192 miles is open to debate) the Coast to Coast route each year. It’s brought an economic revival to many small communities along the way. It was recently voted number two in the international league table of long distance walks. Only one long walk in New Zealand outdid it.

The brainchild of Alfred Wainwright, hill walker and writer, the Coast to Coast Walk crosses three constrasting National Parks. Undoubtedly some of Englands best scenery, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors National Parks. Wainwright recommended that walkers dipped their booted feet in the Irish Sea at St Bees and then at the other end of the walk, dip their naked feet in the North Sea at Robin Hood's Bay.

People also often pick up a pebble from the Irish Sea and carry it  the entire walk before throwing it into the North Sea.

The walk attracts people from all over the world and there is a growing feeling that the walk should be  Nationally Recognised.

Recently the walk was re-traced by Julia Bradbury and was filmed by the Skyworks crew for the BBC who stopped with us at Somerset House Farm.

Somerset House Farm is at the approximate 140 mile, (only 50 to go) Ingleby Arncliffe / Ingleby Cross stage. Both the Sherpa Van Accomodation Service and Packhorse specialise in luggage transfers throughout the walking season with us.

If planning the walk you should always take sensible precautions before setting out on the route, ensure you are properly equipped and in possession of reliable weather forecasts. Good maps and a compass are essential. While the trail is reasonably well marked most of the time, some of the sections are not. The walk is best attempted from west - east as you then have the prevailing weather at your back and don't have the late afternoon sun in your eyes.

A strenuous itinerary splits the route into the following 12 sections, although a more leisurely walk taking upto 18 days to complete allows plenty of time for siteseeing. 
Wainwrights Coast to Coast Walk Route 12 Stages;

Stage 1 St. Bees to Ennerdale Bridge - 14 miles

Commencing on the shores of the Irish Sea, at St. Bees with its impressive sandstone cliffs. The first climb of the walk starts shortly after leaving St. Bees, at Dent Fell, which offers magnificent views of the Cumbrian coast and the panoramic Lake District fells. Descending into the Nannycatch Valley takes the walker down to into the village of Ennerdale Bridge and into the Lake District National Park.

Stage 2 Ennerdale Bridge- Rosthwaite -  14 miles

The second stage of the walk starts by skirting Ennerdale Water  beneath the towering Pillar Rock. After crossing the River Liza, there is a choice of routes. The first traverses Red Pike, a fairly strenuous climb but one which offers excellent views. The second is the low level route along the valley floor. After passing through Honister this section ends at the village of Rosthwaite in Borrowdale.

Stage 3 Rosthwaite - Patterdale - 17 miles

The third most strenuous section of the walk which involves a great deal of climbing, which is rewarded by superb Lakeland views from the fells. The climbing commences early on with the ascent of Lining Crag, skirting past Eagle Crag on the way.From here there is a choice of descents towards Grasmere- the first option runs down Far Easdale Gill, but the alternative, via Helm Crag affords better views. The route branches off towards Grisedale Tarn rather than going into Grasmere. The route again divides into two, offering the higher option running up over Deepdale Hause and St Sunday Crag, the lower option making its way down the very picturesque valley of Grisedale Beck and into Patterdale, on the shores of Ullswater, where both routes again connect.

Stage 4 Patterdale - Shap - 16 miles

This fourth section commences with an ascent of Boredale Hause before heading for Angle Tarn, then heading down Riggendale and on towards Kidsty Pike, at 780 m (2,559 ft) this is the highest point on the entire route which offers superb views of the Lakeland fells. After crossing that summit, the route drops steeply to follow shore of remote Haweswater Reservoir and heads towards historic Shap Abbey, disolved in the reign of Henrry VIII, at which point the route leaves the Lake District National Park. The section terminates at the village of Shap.

Stage 5 Shap - Kirkby Stephen -  21 miles

This section presents a more easy going part of the Coast to Coast walk passing through Oddendale to the lovely Cumbrian village of Orton (the trail does not enter the village). The trail continues to Newbiggin on Lune, passing Sunbiggin Tarn, the route climbs Smardale Fell heading for Lime Kiln Hill before reaching the Cumbrian market town of Kirkby Stephen.

Stage 6 Kirkby Stephen - Keld - 13 miles

Passing over Hartley Fell before entering the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the route continues to ascend Nine Standards Rigg, over moorland, high above the Eden valley, an alternative lower route goes by Lamps Moss rejoining the route at Ney Gill. This section heads toward Ravenseat and then onward to Keld, the halfway point .

Stage 7 Keld - Reeth - 11 miles

The shortest section on the walk, passing through old lead mining country via the upper reaches of the Swaledale valley, through to the attractive small Yorkshire town of Reeth.

Stage 8 Reeth - Richmond - 11 miles

Traversing through Marrick Village, the route heads for Marske and on towards Applegarth Scar, before arriving at the attractive market town of Richmond, with the dramatic ruin of Richmond Castle, which dates to the eleventh century and its bustling cobbled market place.

Stage 9 Richmond - Ingleby Cross - 23 miles

A longer flatter section of the walk passing through Danby Wiske, ( some stop over here and split this section into two ), the route enters the North York Moors National Park. Ingleby Arncliffe merges into its smaller neighbour Ingleby Cross where you can get a pint & a spot of lunch at the Bluebell Inn. Your overnight stay would obviously be at Somerset House Farm.

Stage 10 Ingleby Cross - Clay Bank Top - 12 miles

After crossing the A172 the path starts to climb past Arncliffe Hall and uphill into Arncliffe Woods,mixed deciduous species rather than the usual regimented lines of conifers. Halfway up the C2C joins the Cleveland Way and stays with it all of the day and part of the next. This section takes you along the tops of the Cleveland Hills with fantastic views right across to the north sea.

Stage 11 Clay Bank Top - Glaisdale - 18 miles

This section commences with a climb onto Urra Moor, much of the section follows the disused Rosedale Ironstone Railway. The Lion pub at Blakey is one of the highest inns in the country. Glaisdale, said to be one of the prettiest villages on the entire route, marks the end of this section.

Stage 12 Glaisdale - Robin Hood's Bay - 20 miles

The final section of the Coast to Coast Walk offers varied scenery. There's much to see on this section , including the North York Moors Railway station at Grosmont and the Falling Foss Waterfall. Following the May Beck River after Littlebeck, and its accompanying woodland and entering Norcliffe, which offers the first views of the east coast, the walk then follows the clifftop before arriving at panoramic Robin Hood's Bay.