Coast to Coast: St Bees to Kirkby Stephen - 8 Days

BM-39941

3.0Based on

8 days

“

The walk amazing the navigation details very poor. Two of the nights accommodation very poor. Food in general poor.

Anonymous | Traveled in October

3 - Average

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8 daysDuration

Group TourJoin a group of travelers

20 peopleMaximum group size

18 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Starts

Ends

St Bees, England

Kirkby Stephen, England

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Highlights

Experience a taste of the Coast-to-Coast hike, a UK National Trail

Hike through the fells and dales of the English Lake District

Stay at cosy B&Bs, small hotels & traditional English pubs

Indulge with local Grasmere gingerbread and sticky toffee pudding

Walk the first half of Wainwright's epic trail, from St Bees to Kirkby Stephen

Soak up the spirit of the Coast to Coast in just one week

Itinerary

Follow the Coast to Coast Walk from St Bees towards the historic villages and beautiful landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales. Experience the most dramatic section of Wainwright’s legendary Coast to Coast route on this self-guided walking holiday from the Irish Sea at St Bees to the market town of Kirkby Stephen. The western half of the trail showcases some of the most spectacular scenery in northern England, taking you across the rugged heart of the Lake District National Park and into the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.
If you're short on time, new to long-distance walking, or prefer to explore the route in manageable stages, this itinerary is an ideal way to sample the best-loved landscapes of the Coast to Coast. It’s also perfect for hikers who simply want the thrill of crossing the Lake District on foot, experiencing the quiet valleys, shimmering lakes, towering peaks and traditional fellside villages. You’ll start your journey by dipping your boots in the Irish Sea at St Bees, then head east with the prevailing wind at your back. The route leads through dramatic valleys such as Ennerdale, Borrowdale, and Patterdale, with the chance to take optional high-level detours to iconic Lakeland summits like Helvellyn. As the Lake District fells give way to the gentler landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales, your walk concludes in Kirkby Stephen, a charming town with rail links and a great place to relax after an inspiring week on the trail.
Looking to take things at a gentler pace? Our 9-day version of this trip (trip code WSK) breaks up the longer stage between Shap and Kirkby Stephen, offering a more relaxed alternative.
Scroll down to explore all our Coast to Coast walking options.

day 1Arrive St Bees

Make your own way to the starting point, the resort of St Bees on the edge of the Irish Sea where you'll have views across to the Isle of Man. In St Bees you should have time to visit the Abbey church, which has features on the local history and a display on a mummified knight that was discovered in a lead coffin from the graveyard. If you have booked with us an extra night here, you can follow the coastal path or quiet inland roads to the attractive town of Whitehaven, with its marina and great museum. Whitehaven is famous in the annals of the US navy as the site of an elaborate raid on the British mainland by one John Paul Jones during the American War of Independence.
Accommodation: A family-run bed and breakfast in a large modernised Georgian farmhouse in the centre of St Bees.

day 2St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge 23.5 km/14.5 miles, 6 h

day 3Ennerdale Bridge to Borrowdale 26.5 km/16.5 miles, 7 h

day 4Borrowdale to Grasmere 13.5 km/8.5 miles, 5 h

day 5Grasmere to Glenridding 12 km/7.5 miles, 5.5 h standard route

day 6Glenridding to Shap 26 km/16 miles, 7-9 h

day 7Shap to Kirkby Stephen 33 km/20.5 miles, 8 h

day 8Arrangements end after breakfast

What's Included

Accommodation

7 nights B&B accommodation on a twin share basis usually with private facilities

Meals

7 breakfasts

Others

One piece of luggage per person transferred from Inn to Inn, not exceeding 20kgDigital information pack including Navigational App, maps and route notesEmergency hotline

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

3.0

based on 1 review

AnonymousVerified Traveler

3.0 | Average

Oct 8, 2024

The walk amazing the navigation details very poor. Two of the nights accommodation very poor. Food in general poor.

Oct 8, 2024

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Coast to Coast: St Bees to Kirkby Stephen - 8 Days

Highlights