On Foot Across England's Legendary Landscapes
England Coast to Coast
Overview
The coast-to-coast path from the Irish Sea to the North Sea is one of the great hikes of the world. We’ve perfected this classic journey, hiking the most spectacular stretches across England’s literary landscapes and through three renowned national parks. We do the hike from west to east, putting the prevailing wind at our backs as we traverse the romantic Lake District, the limestone uplands of the Yorkshire Dales, and peaceful dales of the North York Moors. We finish in Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Sea, where we dip our boots in the water—it’s the traditional celebration of the hike’s end. En route, we visit stone-built villages and ancient castles, stay at welcoming inns, and savor a pint or two at friendly rural pubs.
Arrive: Manchester, England
Depart: Manchester, England
Highlights
- Hike with Trip Leaders who bring local heritage and culture to life along the trail
- Savor the emerald landscapes of the Lake District, the limestone country of the Yorkshire Dales, and the rolling moors of North York
- Visit Wordsworth's Dove Cottage and historic Richmond, with its Norman castle on the River Swale
- Stay in village inns, historic hotels, and a Georgian country house we have for our exclusive use!
- Enjoy a private dinner in an ancient castle
Itinerary
We christen our boots in the Irish Sea at Ravenglass and collect a pebble to carry with us on the journey—a time-honored coast-to-coast tradition. Our first hike is a gentle ascent onto Muncaster Fell, passing the ruins of a Roman bathhouse and Muncaster Castle, where we’ll return for a private dinner. More challenging hikes lie ahead, but the sheer grandeur of the Lake District scenery is uplifting, with colorful fellsides swooping up from sapphire lakes. After we visit Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage in Grasmere, we make the classic Lake District hike over Grisedale Hause and descend along the long, blue ribbon of Ullswater, one of England’s most beautiful lakes. A long climb brings us over the last of the Lake District’s high fells, following a mountain ridge to hike the highest Roman road in England.
Entering “James Herriot country,” we’ll cross the watershed of England by way of the summit of Nine Standards Rigg, with the Lake District behind us and the Yorkshire Dales ahead. Our hikes bring us to Marrick Priory, established in the 12th century, through wooded Yorkshire valleys, and into charming villages along the River Swale. In ancient Richmond, poised majestically above the River Swale, we explore cobbled alleys below a massive Norman castle.
As we hike moorland escarpments, the dramatic play of light and color can bring the feeling of hiking through an 18th century landscape painting. In Robin Hood’s Bay, we let the North Sea lap our boots and celebrate the culmination of our hike. On Day 12, depart for Manchester via the medieval city of York.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated a Level 4+ (Moderate to Strenuous) according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 10 miles a day and being on your feet for 5-6 hours a day. You will also need to be able to keep up with the moderate but steady pace of the group as there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
- 6-8 miles
- 4-6 hours
- 1,000-1,500 feet gain/loss
- Day 6: 11 miles, 6.5 hours, 2,293 feet gain, and 2,017 feet loss
The terrain can be rugged, with steep climbs over uneven ground, boggy terrain, open fells, and craggy rocks. We hike the Coast to Coast from west to east, so that the prevailing wind and weather is at our backs. This can make a great difference in the changeable English climate! It does mean, however, that we start the trip with the hardest and highest section, the Lake District, where there are many steep ups and downs. Due to the steepness of some descents and the rocky surface in some sections of the path, the trip should not be attempted by anyone who has serious balance or joint problems.
We have designed this itinerary with our veteran Trip Leaders, who have selected the best stretches of the Coast to Coast hike. We do not hike every inch of the trail from one coast to the other—this is not a purist trip following every mile. The itinerary is flexible and adjusted by the Trip Leader's knowledge and by weather conditions. A day of rain may make one route more desirable than another, for both safety and comfort.
Your feet should be fully prepared for the hikes, accustomed to long days in sturdy, well-broken-in hiking boots with ankle support. A good pair of hiking boots are your most important piece of equipment. Your boots should be waterproofed. Hiking poles are highly recommended—they are particularly useful on steep descents.
A Note on Boots: British hiking etiquette requires patrons to remove their boots before entering hotels, guesthouses, pubs, etc. In the interest of both comfort and etiquette, you'll want another pair of comfortable shoes to change into at the end of the hiking day.
Even in the summer, England is famous for its changeable weather. It is necessary to pack in preparation for cold rain, persistent fog, mist, and beautiful, sunny weather. The rule here is to be prepared for any eventuality by creating a layering system that takes you from shorts to warm rain gear.
Our accommodations are in small, comfortable hotels that have been selected for their local history and charm. Since they are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Additionally, many are architecturally protected, so elevators are not permitted and you will have to carry your luggage up the stairs to your room. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
Lunches will be either at local cafes and pubs or picnic-style during one of our hikes. Dinners will be at a local restaurant or at the hotel. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Our van will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need for the day (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transferring that day).
Client Testimonials
"Stunning vistas, fun company and great hikes. We had a blast!"
Barbara K.
Kenilworth, IL
"A very well thought out itinerary—great hikes, lots of options for trail weary feet, and the scenery couldn't have been better."
Bob B.
Belvedere-Tibrn, CA
"I would be hard-pressed to pick a favorite day because they were all pleasurable and unique. It was a superb trip!"
Carol T.
Kingston, PA
"I loved this trip, with its wide variety of landscapes and terrain and its sense of accomplishing a goal."
Carol T.
Kingston, PA
"This was an exceedingly well designed and well led trip. It is obvious that the leaders are constantly evaluating the quality of their product and modifying it as needed to offer the best experience possible."
Curtis L.
Meadville, PA
"So many wonderful moments on the trip. Really a remarkable opportunity."
Fae E.
Salt Lake City, UT
"It was a wonderful trip, great group of travelers, and fabulous trip leaders!"
Gretchen M.
Cornwall On Hudson, NY
"Superb. Your Trip Leaders are why we travel with you. They are knowledgeable, fun, ultra-experienced, deeply committed, and concerned about guests’ enjoyment."
Jan W.
Tampa, FL
"I really loved this trip and your company. In the future I will always consider your company first."
Janet V.
Cupertino, CA
"This is a great hiking trip and a wonderful way to experience England outside the big cities. The scenery is varied enough to keep it interesting, and we fell in love with hiking in the Lake District."
Jim and Carol B.
Kensington, MD
"Can’t say enough about the trip or the Trip Leaders. Absolutely wonderful. They made the trip enlightening and fun."
Karen N.
Carlsborg, WA
"Fantastic trip all the way around!"
Kate F.
Santa Monica, CA
"Beautiful hikes, gorgeous scenery, nice group, and excellent trip leaders and assistants made this trip extremely enjoyable."
Marie-Odile F.
Indianapolis, IN
"It was a delightful trip with rigorous hiking, beautiful vistas, delicious food, and charming villages and inns, not to mention wonderful guides. We loved every day!"
Martha H.
Celebration, FL
"WT always does such a terrific job at putting these trips together and we couldn't have been more pleased with this one!"
Mary L M.
Sanibel, FL
"Fantastic trip! Well rated, wonderful hikes, everything was great!"
Richard P.
Washington, DC
"We thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The weather was fantastic and the guides were outstanding."
Steve H.
Verona, WI
"I had a great time on this trip! Fun and challenging at the same time."
Sunny M.
Marietta, GA
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.