England Coast-to-Coast
Hiking Trip Details
- Location: Northern England
- Length: 16 days
- Grade: Strenuous and Moderate
- Accommodations: Hotels, Inns and B&B’s
- Group size: 5 – 12
- Dates: June 24 – July 9, 2010
- Land Cost (US$): $4,295
Trip Summary
First devised in 1973 by Alfred Wainwright, the Coast-to-Coast walk across northern England has become one of Britain’s most inspiring long-distance walks. Running the breadth of England from the Yorkshire coast to the coast of Cumbria, this route crosses a great variety of landscapes and reveals the richness of England’s incredibly long and intriguing history.
With the North Sea at our backs, we begin our walk west with the rise of 30 miles of high moorlands. Descending to the flat plain of the Vale of Mowbray, in twenty miles we arrive at the edge of the Pennines and begin our two-day crossing of this great watershed. The low limestone hills that stretch to the edge of the Lake District provide another flattish interlude before we cross the Cumbria mountains that reach almost as far as the Irish Sea
In 12 days of hiking, we will walk 130 miles. We’ll pass through the National Parks of the North Yorkshire Moors, the Yorkshire Dales, and the Lake District. We’ll hike by Bronze Age stone circles, travel old Roman highways, view medieval way marks, cross 12th century bridges, rest in the shade of imposing castles, and traverse a landscape littered with old relics of various mining industries that thrived at the turn of the century. Words such as fell, beck, dale, force (meaning hill stream, valley, and waterfall) will dot our maps and punctuate our itinerary, echoing a legacy of two hundred and fifty years of Norwegian and Danish occupation.
This is one of the best ways to experience northern England, on foot through a changing landscape, stopping in the evenings in villages or small hamlets, staying at old inns and bed and breakfasts, pausing for tea in the afternoon, enjoying a pint at the end of the day at a local pub. An outstanding route, this Coast-to-Coast walk holds all the promise and rewards of a spirited adventure.
Itinerary
Day 1: Rendezvous at the Manchester, England Airport at 11:00 am. Group transfer to our hotel in Goathland, 10 miles inland from Whitby and the North Sea. Goathland is considered to be one of the most picturesque towns in the North Yorkshire moors with its wonderful stone houses bordered by a broad grassy commons. Welcome dinner.
Day 2: We begin our hike in Whitby, a wonderful old seaside resort. After dipping our boots in the sea we will head west following the Eskdale Way as it parallels the River Esk. Once an old monk’s way between the Abbey at Whitby and the Chapel in Grosmont, the route still bears the flagstones laid to protect the monks’ habits from the mud. We will end our day back in the village of Goathland.
Day 3: From Goathland, we begin the day hiking a short section of the Wheeldale Roman Road, one of the best-preserved Roman roads in England. Heading out across the heather covered expanses of Wheeldale Moor, White Moor and Shunner Howe, we’ll pass the standing stone of Blue Man-i-th-Moss ending our day in the old mining town of Rosedale Abbey.
Day 4: Today we cross the High Blakey, Farndale, and Urra moors. Here we encounter the Cleveland Hills where our route parallels two other well know British walks, the Cleveland Way and the Lyke Wake Walk. After crossing Clay Bank Top, also known as Hagg’s Gate, we’ll reach the curious stone outcroppings of The Wainstones, before descending into Great Broughton.
Day 5: Hiking along the impressive Broughton and Kirby banks, we’ll rise to the crest Cringle Moor with its views of the surrounding Cleveland hills. Continuing along an undulating escarpment, we cross Carlton Moor, a popular area for the sport of gliding, and then Live Moor before descending through the Clain and Arncliffe Woods ending our day in the village of Osmotherly.
Day 6: We begin the day with a transfer by van across the Vale of Mowbray to Richmond. Still possessing an air of quaint antiquity, Richmond is dominated by an 11th century Norman cliff-top castle, and boasts a large cobbled market place with the ancient church of Holy Trinity as its centerpiece. A mixture of stone and brick buildings spreads down the hillside in a maze of narrow streets. We will have a chance to look around this lovely town before beginning our walk.
Three miles after leaving Richmond, we enter the Yorkshire Dales National Park. From here the walk to Reeth is one of variety. The landscape of limestone escarpments, rich meadows, and “leafy becks” serves as a backdrop for the two lovely villages and priory we will pass along the way. We will end our day in Reeth, once the center of extensive mining activity and now a pleasant thriving village.
Day 7: Today we’ll have a wonderful riverside walk along the River Swale. Meandering beside the river’s edge and then turning up through rich green pastures, our route will take us to the village of Gunnerside, and then on to the village of Thwaite where we will spend the night.
Day 8: Today we depart from the classic Wainwright route to take a more southerly route to the beautiful valley of Wensleydale. Leaving Thwaite we join the another well-known long distance footpath, “The Pennine Way”, and begin our climb up the north side of Great Shunner Fell. After reaching the summit at 2,363 feet, we’ll have a long gradual descent into Wensleydale. Here we will be staying at the Stone House Hotel, a fine Edwardian country house set amidst old English gardens offering expansive views of the Valley.
Day 9: Rest day. The day can be spent exploring the nearby market town of Hawes or relaxing in this wonderful Edwardian hotel.
Day 10: From the Stone Manor House, we will transfer to the town of Orton for our hike to Haweswater Reservoir. Leaving Orton, we join the course of an ancient Roman road following it over open rolling terrain and past remains of mysterious stone circles. Hiking through the village of Shap we will continue on through a well-preserved and protected countryside of lakes and high fells. We will stop to visit the remains of Shap Abbey before continuing on to the Haweswater Reservoir and our hotel.
Day 11: We are now entering what some consider the finest section of the Coast-to-Coast route, the Lake District. Leaving the Haweswater Hotel our hike continues along the reservoir, passing several falling “becks” or streams, before beginning our climb up Kidsty Peak (2,600′), the highest point of the route. The downhill path leads easily along a four-mile stretch. We’ll skirt the high lake of Angle Tarn on our way to the pass at Boredale Hause, and then descend to Glenridding our stopping place for the night.
Day 12: This is Wordsworth country, an area of classic English beauty, for decades attracting artists and poets. Our route takes us up the valley of Grisedale along Grisedale Beck, pass the lake of Grisedale Tarn and then over Grisedale Hause (pass). Just before Grisedale Tarn is a plaque commemorating the “Brother’s Parting”. This is where Wordsworth bid his brother, John, a memorial goodbye in 1800. His brother was lost at sea in 1805.
Grasmere, set in its valley, appears at the pass and from here it’s about three miles down into the village. Grasmere is a lovely though popular village. One of it’s best known sites is Wordsworth Dove’s Cottage, where he lived from 1799 to 1808.
Day 13: Today will be a long and challenging day. Leaving Grasmere we will climb up and over Dow Bank coming down into the valley of Great Lansdale. Following the valley to its terminus we then begin our climb up to Rossett Pike (1980′). From here, we descend slightly to Angle Tarn and climb again to our pass at Esk Hause (2500′). Our descent takes us past Sparkling Tarn and Sty Head, then just beneath the buttresses of Great Gable and Kirk Fell, ending at Wasdale Head.
Day 14: Leaving Wasdale Head, our route takes us along the banks of the lake of Wast Water. We then climb the hillsides to Hollow Moor (726′) and from here begin our descent down to the Ravenglass and the shores of the Irish Sea. Dipping our boots in the sea will officially mark the end of journey.
Day 15: Transfer to the Sandhole Farm in Cheshire near Manchester. Farewell dinner.
Day 16: Depart the Sandhole Farm in the morning with a group transfer back to Manchester Airport.
Additional Information
Included
Group transfers to and from the Manchester Airport, all accommodations, with private baths when available, all breakfasts (full English), most dinners, all group transfers on buses and vans as described in the itinerary, luggage transfer, great hiking, guides, great memories.
Not Included
Air fare, lunches, optional/individual transfers between inns or individual excursions, 6 dinners, items not on set dinner menus, beverages, insurance, tips to guides, items of personal nature.
Luggage
This hike has luggage transfer each day. You will need to carry a small day pack with only the clothing and accessories you will need for the day.
While this trip includes luggage transfer, it is not vehicle supported. Participants should be in physical condition appropriate to the strenuousness of this hike. It is, however, possible to skip a day of hiking and take a taxi to the next hotel. This extra cost is not included in the price of the trip.
Accommodations and Facilities
Most evenings will be spent in small villages or hamlets. For the most par,t these are not typical tourist destinations and therefore have limited choices of accommodations. Our accommodations will run the gamut between small, simple bed and breakfasts to very comfortable country inns. All rooms will be double occupancy with private bathrooms when possible. Breakfasts and dinners are served at the hotels or a nearby restaurant or pub. Lunches are picnic style along the trail with the occasional stop at a pub or tea room.
Travel
It is easiest to fly to Manchester, England. However, there are frequent trains from London, just be sure to allow for extra travel time.
Who Would Like this Hike
Unlike our trips in the Alps, this trip involves more distance than it does elevation gain and loss, yet each day provides good solid hiking and ends at comfortable accommodations. Each of the three National Parks this route travels through has it’s own unique landscape and ecosystem, heightening the sense of traveling by foot and the small villages en route retain a feeling of timelessness. If you’ve ever felt the urge to shout “Heathcliff” across the moors, have a cup of tea in the afternoons, a pint at the pub at the end of a long days walk and experience the endless variety of footpaths and stiles that England has to offer, you really should join us.
What Makes this Trip Different
While typically the Coast-to-Coast is hiked from west to east, we hike it from east to west. Many consider the Lake District to be jewel of Northern England, offering the best and most challenging hiking. We like leaving the best for last, working up to the most strenuous days in the Lake District National Park.
We also deviate somewhat from the Wainwright route opting to spend more time in the National Parks. We bypass Kirkby Stephen, instead spending a day on the Pennine Way crossing over from Swaledale over to Wensleydale and visiting the old market town of Hawes in heart of James Herroitt country. And, instead of ending at St. Bee’s Head, we remain in the Lake District National Park, visiting the most remote corner of the park, Wasedale Head, and ending our walk in Ravensglass.
Meeting point
Manchester airport at 11:00 am on day 1 for a group transfer to our hotel near Whitby.
Ending Point
Group transfer to the Manchester airport arriving about 8:15–8:30 am.
