English Lake District, Pennines and North York Moors
Coast to Coast
in 8 Days
If you have limited time
available we can organise a one week tour on the Coast to Coast
Trail for you, eg. St Bees to Kirkby Stephen. Your Sherpa agent
will provide details on request.
Across England on Wainwright's Walk
This classic route was originated and described by A. Wainwright, author
of a well-known series of mountain-walking guide books on the Lake
District. The walk starts on the Irish Sea coast of Cumbria near the huge
red sandstone cliffs of St. Bees Head. You cross three National Parks
before reaching the North Sea at the pretty fishing village of Robin Hood’s
Bay on the rocky coastline of the North York Moors.
Tradition has it
that you dip your boots in the Irish Sea and take a pebble to deposit in
the North Sea at the end of your walk. That should confuse geologists a
few thousand years hence. The first few days take you over some of the
most rugged and beautiful terrain of the Lake District by way of the
idyllic lakeland valleys of Borrowdale, Grasmere (Wordsworth lived here)
and Patterdale, close to Ullswater Lake. You pass Helvellyn, England’s
most popular mountain, and the mountain oddly named High Street, along
which the Roman Legions marched on their way to Hadrian’s Wall.
After leaving the
Lake District you cross a gentler landscape round Shap and Orton. Beyond
the quaint market town of Kirkby Stephen you enter the Yorkshire Dales
National Park. Two days are then spent walking through the long valley of
Swaledale, with its dry stone walls and unspoilt villages. You reach the
historic town of Richmond with cobbled streets, sloping market square and
famous castle perched above the River Swale. Beyond the arable farmland of
the Vale of York, you ascend onto the heather moorlands of the North York
Moors, a region of long vistas and easy walking. After crossing the wooded
valley of Eskdale you reach the dramatic cliffs of the North Sea Coast.
The last few miles follow the scenic clifftop path to the red-roofed
village of Robin Hood’s Bay. With an extra night here, you can relax on
the beach or visit nearby Whitby with its ruined abbey (associated with
the Dracula legend) and its Captain Cook Museum.
14
nights/15 days - On such a long walk, with 14 nights each
spent in a different location, we necessarily make use of a wide
variety of accommodation, varying from small B&Bs to substantial
hotels. Many, indeed most, are historic buildings in their own
right. Particular highlights include the fine home cooking on offer
at Ennerdale Bridge, Thwaite and several other stops; the
open log fireplaces at Borrowdale, Blakey and elsewhere; the
warm welcomes you will receive throughout the trip, but most notably
at the smaller accommodation in Borrowdale, Shap and Osmotherley;
and the magnificent settings with views of National Park scenery at Grasmere,
(Lake District), Keld (Yorkshire Dales ), Blakey
(North York Moors) and finally Robin Hoods Bay. And we still haven’t mentioned our own favourite hotel on the
banks of the River Esk in the North York Moors, a building mentioned
in the 11th century Domesday book.
Sherpa
Notes
Waymarks
The route is limited in waymarking, but is one of Britain’s most
popular long distance trails and is easy to follow. Our route varies
slightly from Wainwright’s original route.
Accommodation
and Meals Bed and breakfast basis throughout. Most provide ensuite
facilities. Extremely varied: at many nightstops there are few
choices of accommodation. We use a mix of farms, inns, guesthouses
and bed & breakfasts.
Start
and End of Tour
Most convenient major city and international airport is Manchester,
4 hours by rail via Carlisle to St Bees. The first hotel is 5
minutes walk from the station. From London take the train from
London Euston via Carlisle.
In Robin Hood’s Bay after breakfast on day 15. Take a bus/taxi to
Scarborough where trains are available for Manchester and (changing
at York) London.
This classic route was originated and described by A. Wainwright, author
of a well-known series of mountain-walking guide books on the Lake
District. The walk starts on the Irish Sea coast of Cumbria near the huge
red sandstone cliffs of St. Bees Head. You cross three National Parks
before reaching the North Sea at the pretty fishing village of Robin Hood’s
Bay on the rocky coastline of the North York Moors.