Coast to Coast Walk
Description
- Name Coast to Coast Walk (C2C)
- Length of trail 306 km, 190 miles
- Length in days 15 days
- Traildino grading MW, Moderate walk, backpacking trail
- Hut tour grading T1, Walk
190 miles, 304 km, 15 days
The immensely popular Coast to Coast Walk is not officially a trail, but the creation of one man, the legendary Alfred Wainwright. The first edition of his guide book dates from 1973.
Why is this path so popular among hikers? Hiking the 190 miles, 304 km, you are treated to some of the most beautiful English landscapes: the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales (part of the Pennines) and the North York Moors. It is by no means an easy walk, especially when you choose the alternative paths higher up, which is stimulating too. In addition, while walking you connect one sea to the next. In the end what really counts are symbolism and myth, though Wainwright must have foreseen it all: "Surely there can not be a finer itinerary for a long distance walk", he wrote.
As mentioned, you are free to choose your own path, which is what Wainwright suggested in the first place. Over time some sections of the trail have been moved.
The crowds of hikers have resulted in many local people offering B & B, and travel companies ready to transport your luggage and arrange accommodation. If all this is too modern for you, just carry along your tent and a copy of Wordsworth's poems.
Opinions
- Amy Lam August 2013
- Rate 8
- Positive A bed waiting for me every night.
- Negative Unclear trail markings
- pc22 March 2007
- Rate 8
- Positive A great walk that has three differnt flavours....the start in the lakes is amazing....the pull over the Pennines is a tough slog and then into the north york moors and the yorkshire coast....Robin hoods bay (the finish) is a great little spot, full of old world charm
- Negative I did it at the wrong time of year...hoping spring had sprung i went too early and got hit by feirce storms and some snow over the Pennine section.....BUt that only made the finish feel more rewarding
Map
Hike Reports
Links
Facts
- The Coast to Coast Walk - the complete resource centre for the Coast to Coast route
Home page of the trail.
- The Coast to Coast Walk on Walking Places
C2C Homepage on Walkingplaces.
- A Coast to Coast Walk - Alfred Wainwright
The Wainwright Society's aim is to keep alive the things which AW promoted.
- Coast to Coast Walk - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Coast to Coast Walk on AboutBritain.com
Sectionwise description
Reports
- A blog of my travels » Coast to Coast – booked
Fine blog for you.
- Coast to Coast Walk
Generations of hikers enjoyed Wrainwrights walk. Take this website: John walked the trail in 2004 and 2009 (east-west), after his father took the challenge in 1980 and his son in 2002. You'll find all their stories and more!
- Coast to Coast Walk Journals
List of reports
- coast to coast walk, walk, Coast to Coast, wainwright, C2C, photo diary, Brian Downing and Gail Downing
Excellent photo diary.
- Far 2 Go Family on Walking Places
The family walked the C2C in 2009.
- John's Coast to Coast Walk, July 2008
This is John Gillatt's report of the hike.
- Lonewalker's Coast to Coast Journal 2006
Walking from St. Bees to Robin Hood Bay along the C2C in twelve days. Lots of maps and pictures.
- The Coast to Coast Walk on Walking Places
List of reports
- The Lost Walker on Walking Places
Coast to Coast September 2009. Journal, slide shows and fundraising for St Andrews.
- Tough As Young Boots Tour 2005
Catherine and Kate report of their crossing in 2005.
- Trail Journals, Backpacking and Hiking Journals
All trail journals from the popular www.trailjournals.com regarding the Coast to Coast Walk.
- Walking Bass on Walking Places
The Coast to Coast journal of these two people is a must see, because the photographs are beautiful indeed.
- Ashley Heeley's Coast to Coast Diary
Ashley doesn't use too many words, so you might start reading his account of the C2C trail.
- Coast to Coast Footpath
Report by Janice and Alastair Lightlys, who did the hike together with their dog.
- Coast to Coast Walk
day to day report (menu upper-left) and facts, by Ian Fisk.
- Deborah & Gwen's Coast to Coast Diary
Fine day to day account of this grand walk, by mother and daughter: "My name is Deborah (to my Mum) Debbie, Debs or Deb (to my friends). My Mum, Gwen, is 75 (she won’t mind me telling)".
- Famous Five Grannies on Walking Places
The Five famous Grannies might be 63 years old on average, they finished the C2C in just 13 days.
- Footloose Librarians' Homepage on Walking Places
The journal of two Texans ("unrepentant about it"). Their final thoughts: ""Great satisfaction, of course. A sense of accomplishment that will likely never be erased. But also a sadness that the adventure has come to an end".
- Gregg Neilson's Coast to Coast Diary
Report of part of the trail, 2004.
- Gregg Neilson's Coast to Coast Diary 2009
This is Gregg's second time on the C2C, and he concludes the walk was unforgettible. His pictures bear witness!!
- Journeyman's C2C 2008 Journal
Journeyman returned to the Coast to Coast Walk. Here is his trip diary.
- Journeyman's C2C Journal
Including a section on geocaching.
- Kev and Liz's Coast to Coast Diary
Links, photo gallery, day to day descriptions, and a C2C equipment list.
- Lonewalker's Coast to Coast Journal 2009
Also Lonewalker returned to the Coast to Coast Walk. Here is the full account of his second journey.
- M.A.D. on the C2C - A Walking Places Journal
Two middle aged teeners hiking the Coast to Coast Walk back in 2009.
- Nathalie Penders'Hiking Page
Nathalie Penders put her story of several long distance hikes - GR5, GR10, GR20, C2C - online.
- Pete's Coast to Coast walk - July 2011
Trip report and pictures from Pete Lockey's solo C2C walk in July 2011
- Stottie Walks on Walking Places
Day to day description from Pete Stott, 2007.
- The Coast to Coast Walk - online journals of Coast to Coast walks
List of journals
- The Savage's Homepage on Walking Places
Journal of the C2C in mid August. "The Dad and the Teen hit the trails", to conclude: "Good luck with your C2C adventure, I hope you enjoy as much as we did".
- The Savage's Other Homepage on Walking Places
Another account of the Coast to Coast Walk by the Savages family, noting "Never go back. It’s a golden rule that’s served me pretty well down the years. But here I am doing the C2C again; just a year after it had been ticked off the must do list".
- Walk & Bike on Walking Places
Diary from 1991, every episode starting with picture of the day.
- Wally Trimble on the Coast to Coast Walk
Day to day short description and pictures.
Guides and maps
- A Wainwright's A Coast to Coast Walk - Striding Edge
The BBC broadcasted the walk in six episodes, with historic material of Wainwright himself.
Lodging
Organisations
Tour operators
GPS
Other
- A Coast to Coast Walk - Online Petition
The Missing National Trail! Yes, Wainwrights followers are getting serious.
Books
United Kingdom
- Mission Afoot Volume 1
- A Journey of Discovery about Life Itself Inspired by the 200 Mile Coast to Coast Walk Across Britain Read more
United Kingdom
2018
- The Andalucian Coast to Coast Walk
- From the Mediterranean to the Atlantic through the Baetic Mountains Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
Netherlands
2018
- Wandelgids The Andalucian Coast to Coast Walk - Andalusie | Cicerone
- Guidebook to the Andalucian Coast to Coast Walk, a 440km, 21-day route from Maro on the Mediterranean coast to Bolonia, on the Atlantic. The route, which passes through 7 Natural Parks, links some of Andalucía's most beautiful villages and passes historical sites of both Roman and Moorish origins, including Ronda and Tarifa. Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
Netherlands
2018
- Wandelgids Coast to Coast the Wainwright Route | Rucksack Readers
- St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay Read more
United Kingdom
2018
- The Southern Upland Way
- Scotland's Coast to Coast trail Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
United Kingdom
2018
- Southern Upland Way
- The Southern Upland Way is Scotland`s coast-to-coast walk and the longest of the nation`s Great Trails. 215 miles long, it links the pretty harbour village of Portpatrick on the west coast with Cockburnspath, a little south of Dunbar, in the east. The walk is at times a strenuous one, crossing the remote high moorland of the Galloway Hills,... Read more
Netherlands
2018
- Wandelgids The Southern Upland Way | Cicerone
- Guidebook to the Southern Upland Way, a coast to coast walk through Galloway and the Scottish Borders. One of Scotland's Great Trails, the 347km (215 mile) route links Portpatrick on the west coast to Cockburnspath on the east, through diverse landscapes and rich natural and historical interest. It can be completed in around a fortnight. Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
United Kingdom
- North York Moors Harvey British Mountain Map XT40
- North Yorkshire Moors National Park at 1:40,000 on a GPS compatible, contoured map from Harvey Map Services printed on light, waterproof and tear-resistant synthetic paper, with a geological map of the region on the reverse, advice on safety and first aid, etc.The map covers most of the area on one side, but with the northernmost and... Read more
Netherlands
- Lonely Planet England
- Sleep inside the prehistoric stone circle at AveburyTest your stamina with a night out on the town in NewcastleLearn to tell your Greene King from your Black Sheep as you develop a love of real aleBreak in your new hiking boots on the Coast to Coast walk across northern EnglandIn This Guide:Eight authors, over 180 days of in-country research,... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Belgium
- Lonely Planet England
- Sleep inside the prehistoric stone circle at AveburyTest your stamina with a night out on the town in NewcastleLearn to tell your Greene King from your Black Sheep as you develop a love of real aleBreak in your new hiking boots on the Coast to Coast walk across northern EnglandIn This Guide:Eight authors, over 180 days of in-country research,... Read more
United Kingdom
2020
- Coast to Coast Path (Trailblazer British Walking Guide): 109 Large-Scale Walking Maps & Guides to 33 Towns & Villages - Planning, Places to Stay, Places to Eat - St Bees to Robin Hood`s Bay
- All-in-one, practical guide to walking the Coast to Coast Path across northern England inspired by Alfred Wainwright, the most popular of the 18 long-distance UK paths. Fully revised 9th edition of this classic 191-mile walk from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. Crossing three national parks - the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the... Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
Netherlands
2020
- Wandelgids Coast to Coast Path: St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay | Trailblazer
- All-in-one, practical guide to walking the Coast to Coast Path across northern England inspired by Alfred Wainwright, the most popular of the 18 long-distance UK paths. Fully revised 9th edition of this classic 191-mile walk from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. Crossing three national parks - the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the... Read more
United Kingdom
2010
- The Big Walks of the North
- From the Great Glen Way to the Coast to Coast Path, there is no better way to discover the spectacular diversity of northern Britain's landscape than on foot. Whether you enjoy exploring green and gently rolling dales or tackling rugged mountain paths, there are walks here to keep you rambling all year round. An indefatigable walker, David... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- Bol.com, Netherlands
- Bol.com, Belgium
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
United Kingdom
2010
- The Big Walks of the North
- From the Great Glen Way to the Coast to Coast Path, there is no better way to discover the spectacular diversity of northern Britain`s landscape than on foot. Whether you enjoy exploring green and gently rolling dales or tackling rugged mountain paths, there are walks here to keep you rambling all year round. An indefatigable walker, David... Read more
Netherlands
2010
- The Big Walks of the North
- From the Great Glen Way to the Coast to Coast Path, there is no better way to discover the spectacular diversity of northern Britain's landscape than on foot. Whether you enjoy exploring green and gently rolling dales or tackling rugged mountain paths, there are walks here to keep you rambling all year round.An indefatigable walker, David... Read more
Belgium
2010
- The Big Walks of the North
- From the Great Glen Way to the Coast to Coast Path, there is no better way to discover the spectacular diversity of northern Britain's landscape than on foot. Whether you enjoy exploring green and gently rolling dales or tackling rugged mountain paths, there are walks here to keep you rambling all year round.An indefatigable walker, David... Read more
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Netherlands
2010
- Wandelgids Big Walks of the North | Summersdale
- From the Great Glen Way to the Coast to Coast Path, there is no better way to discover the spectacular diversity of northern Britain's landscape than on foot. Whether you enjoy exploring green and gently rolling dales or tackling rugged mountain paths, there are walks here to keep you rambling all year round. An indefatigable walker, David... Read more
Netherlands
- Retirement Blues Goodbye!
- The book is an account of the day to day exploits of an expatriate Manxman and an Australian chum who seek to shake off the retirement blues by walking Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast path. It took 18 days to walk the 191 miles from the priory village of St Bees on the Irish Sea to arrive at the former smuggler's stronghold of Robin Hood's... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Belgium
- Retirement Blues Goodbye!
- The book is an account of the day to day exploits of an expatriate Manxman and an Australian chum who seek to shake off the retirement blues by walking Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast path. It took 18 days to walk the 191 miles from the priory village of St Bees on the Irish Sea to arrive at the former smuggler's stronghold of Robin Hood's... Read more
United Kingdom
- Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk (Walkers Edition)
- From St Bees Head to Robin Hood's Bay Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Netherlands
- Bol.com, Belgium
Netherlands
- Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk
- The first fully revised and updated edition of A. Wainwright's pocket-sized guide to the classic Coast to Coast Walk. From St Bees Head on the Irish Sea by way of the Lake District, the Pennines, Swaledale and the North York Moors and ending at Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea, this 190-mile walk has over the years become one of the best-loved... Read more
Belgium
- Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk
- The first fully revised and updated edition of A. Wainwright's pocket-sized guide to the classic Coast to Coast Walk. From St Bees Head on the Irish Sea by way of the Lake District, the Pennines, Swaledale and the North York Moors and ending at Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea, this 190-mile walk has over the years become one of the best-loved... Read more
Netherlands
- From Pub to Pub on the Coast to Coast
- "From Pub to Pub" is a personal account of England's renowned 200 mile Coast to Coast Walk, which extends from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. The trek embraces, among other things, three national parks. Cummins examines the Coast to Coast as a form of eco-tourism and as a "pilgrimage." What compels a person to spend two or three weeks trekking... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Belgium
- From Pub to Pub on the Coast to Coast
- "From Pub to Pub" is a personal account of England's renowned 200 mile Coast to Coast Walk, which extends from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. The trek embraces, among other things, three national parks. Cummins examines the Coast to Coast as a form of eco-tourism and as a "pilgrimage." What compels a person to spend two or three weeks trekking... Read more
Maps
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
United Kingdom
- Coast to Coast West - St Bees to Keld Harvey National Trail XT40
- The western part of the Coast to Coast hiking route between St Bees and Keld presented at 1:40,000 on a light, waterproof and tear-resistant map from Harvey Map Services. The map shows this section of the route on six overlapping panels from the Irish Sea coast of Cumbria to Keld and the intersection of the Coast to Coast Walk and the Pennine... Read more
Netherlands
- Wandelkaart Coast to Coast west | Harvey Maps
- The western part of the Coast to Coast hiking route between St Bees and Keld presented at 1:40,000 on a light, waterproof and tear-resistant map from Harvey Map Services. The map shows this section of the route on six overlapping panels from the Irish Sea coast of Cumbria to Keld and the intersection of the Coast to Coast Walk and the Pennine... Read more
United Kingdom
- Yorkshire Dales Harvey Touring & Planning Map
- Yorkshire Dales on a road map at 1:100,000 from Harvey Map Services with several enlargements showing main roads across local towns, plus descriptions of interesting locations, advice on public transport, etc. The map shows the Dales region with altitude colouring to indicate the region’s topography. Long-distance trails such as the Dales Way,... Read more
Netherlands
Netherlands
United Kingdom
- Coast to Coast East - Keld to Robin Hood`s Bay Harvey National Trail XT40
- The eastern part of the Coast to Coast hiking route between Keld and Robin Hood`s Bay presented at 1:40,000 on a light, waterproof and tear-resistant map from Harvey Map Services. The map shows this section of the route on six overlapping panels, starting at the intersection of the Coast to Coast Walk and the Pennine Way, and leading across the... Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
Netherlands
- Wandelkaart Coast to Coast East | Harvey Maps
- The eastern part of the Coast to Coast hiking route between Keld and Robin Hood's Bay presented at 1:40,000 on a light, waterproof and tear-resistant map from Harvey Map Services. The map shows this section of the route on six overlapping panels, starting at the intersection of the Coast to Coast Walk and the Pennine Way, and leading across the... Read more
