The Coast to Coast Yorkshire Dales walk offers some of the best walking in the UK with a fantastic variety of scenery and experiences, but is not quite as daunting as the full Coast to Coast.
Starting in the old market town of Kirkby Stephen and finishing in the small fishing village of Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea, this 10-day walk (175 km) takes you through some of the most celebrated and loveliest parts of England. Much of your time is spent in the National Park areas of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors where you can lose yourself in the magical mists.
Accommodation is a real highlight on this walk (as it is for all the Coast to Coast trips), staying in traditional English bed and breakfast or lodge accommodations along the way. The genuine warm welcome each day from your hosts is all part of the experience. In many cases, the hosts own the accommodation and subsequently provide a much more personable experience. Hosts often have intimate knowledge of the history of the Coast to Coast track, many of them have walked the Coast to Coast, some multiple times. All the properties are well cared for and of course very comfortable, offering all the local hospitality that the English are renowned for.
After each day’s walk on the Coast to Coast be rewarded with a hot shower, a comfortable bed and cooked dinner (we’ve left this to you as there are many choices on offer). We do however include all the cooked breakfasts in residence and all the walkers lunches.
All the accommodations listed below are our’ go to’ accommodations but on some occasions, we may have to swap out one accommodation for another of equal quality due to lack of availability.
For starters, we’ve walked the track and taken the time to curate what we offer. The Coast to Coast follows clear walking tracks throughout but there are lots of tracks going in all directions. In areas like the Lakes District National Park, walking tracks are not signposted at all. Not to worry, our very comprehensive day-by-day walking notes that we’ve created, together with our marked copy of a detailed walking map, will ensure that you can walk the Coast to Coast with full confidence, and no fear of becoming lost, even when it is foggy and misty.
AVAILABILITY OF THE COAST TO COAST WALK EAST
The walk is available from March to October. Outside that time please check with us.
August is one of the best months in which to walk the Coast to Coast. The weather is often relatively stable, the heather is in flower, and it is often less busy at this time than one might expect! However, we also recommend spring and autumn as the best time to walk the Coast to Coast track as the weather is pretty good for walking.
If you are thinking of driving there’s a free unrestricted car park (overnight stay) that can be found at the north end of the town and unrestricted parking on most side streets. Sometimes our accommodations have parking available at a small fee per night. Please speak to us about helping you facilitate this.
Travelling to the Start of the walk
We offer this walk from Kirkby Stephen to Robin Hood’s Bay, from west to east so the walk starts in Kirkby Stephen. The closest airports to Kirkby Stephen are listed below; then it’s a 3 – 4-hour train ride from there. Of course London is the most popular entry route into the UK. You can catch a train which takes 4.5 hours from London Kings Cross Station northwards to Kirkby Stephen (via Leeds).
To make it easy we have collated some useful information that will assist you in making arrangements for your travel.
By Air: The easiest option would be to fly into the UK, any of the major cities will suffice as the UK’s excellent train network will ferry you to Kirkby Stephen. The main UK airports for international flights are Heathrow Airport www.heathrowairport.com, Gatwick Airport www.gatwickairport.com and Manchester Airport www.manchesterairport.co.uk.
The nearest airports to Kirkby Stephen are: Manchester airport www.manchesterairport.co.uk, Durham-Tees Valley Airport www.dtva.co.uk and Newcastle Airport www.newcastleairport.com
By Ferry: International ferry services run to UK ports from France, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Belgium, Scandinavia and the Netherlands. There are also local ferry services that run from the Channel Islands, Isles of Scilly, Isle of Man and the Scottish Isles. Visit www.aferry.co.uk/ferryports.htm
By Rail: The easiest way to get to the start of the track from London is by train. Kirkby Stephen has good train services. For easy train bookings in the UK (and beyond), we recommend using the LOCO2 website https://loco2.com/en. They have an excellent smartphone APP too. Just enter your station of origin, your destination, date of travel etc., and options will be presented (times, fares etc.). You can pay online. Electronic tickets or ticket pick up at the station (from the dispenser machine). Trains from London Kings Cross Station (North Easter Railway) connect with the Cumbrian Coast Line (Northern Rail) at Leeds which services Kirkby Stephen. There are several trains daily. Trains to Kirkby Stephen from London will take approx. 4.5 hr.
By Coach: National Express Coaches link most major towns and cities in the UK. For details of departure times and to book tickets call 0871 781 8181 (or +44 (0) 871 781 8181 from overseas) or visit https://beta.nationalexpress.com/.
By Bus: Various buses run to Kirkby Stephen from nearby towns. Please visit http://www.traveline.info/ for up to date bus journey schedules.
By Road: If you have your own vehicle and are thinking of driving up to the walk then there is a free unrestricted car park at the north end of town and unrestricted parking in most side streets. Sometimes our accommodations have parking available at a small fee per night. If this appeals to you, please contact Stroll about this as soon as possible. For advice on driving to St Bees, please visit www.theaa.com which has a very useful route planner.
Travelling from the End of the walk
By Air: The nearest airports to Robin Hood’s Bay are: Durham-Tees Valley Airport www.dtva.co.uk, Leeds Bradford Airport www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk, Newcastle Airport www.newcastleairport.com
By Rail: The nearest train station is north of Robin Hood’s Bay at Whitby (10 km away) or Scarborough (32 km away). For easy train bookings in the UK (and beyond), we recommend using the LOCO2 website https://loco2.com/en.
By Coach: National Express Coaches link most major towns and cities in the UK. For details of departure times and to book tickets call 0871 781 8181 (or +44(0) 871 781 8181 from overseas) or visit https://beta.nationalexpress.com/.
By Bus: You can get a bus from Robin Hood’s Bay to Whitby train station which takes about 20 min (Arriva Bus Services) – route X93 or Scarborough train station which takes about 35 min. There are several buses a day. See http://getdown.org.uk/bus/bus/x93.shtml for the schedule.
By Taxi: Several local Robin Hood’s Bay taxi companies offer good deals for small groups to Whitby. Ask your accommodation for current contact details. Whitby and Scarborough’s stations are served by a taxi rank or a cab office. Check availability before travelling, and pre-book if necessary. For further information visit www.taxinumber.com
By Road: For advice on driving from Robin Hood’s Bay, visit www.theaa.com which has a very useful route planner.
Returning to the Start of the Trail:
To return to the start of the walk, from Robin Hood’s Bay you will need to take a bus (Arriva Bus X93) to Scarborough and from here take a train to Kirkby Stephen (approx. 4 hrs). Please note that there are different options for this journey, depending on the date and time you wish to travel. We recommend visiting the LOCO2 website https://loco2.com/en.
Getting away from Robin Hood’s Bay. The closest airports are again either Newcastle or Manchester. Please check National Rail or the Trainline website for timetables. You will have to catch a bus to Scarborough, a 45-minute journey and then a 4-hour train ride to London (or approximately 3 hours to Manchester or Newcastle).
If you left your car in Kirkby Stephen you would need to take a bus from Robin Hood’s Bay to Scarborough and from here take a train back to Kirkby Stephen, a 4-hour journey (note: there are various other permutations to this like multiple buses that can get you there). Again please check National Rail or the Trainline website for timetables.
12 days is the recommended minimum amount of time in which to do this walk. This means that there are days where you walk up to 23 km days and a few as few as 13 km. The shorter days often have a little up and down so there’s always enough walking. We can also adjust this schedule to include rest days if you need to. The track conditions vary, but all of the walk is passable, no scrambling required. There is some incline but we’re not talking about anything significant. The United Kingdom is prone to having rain (no surprise there!), so there may be some boggy sections but this entirely depends on the time of year and the prevailing conditions. Our advice is to prepare and bring the right gear and you’ll have a fabulous walk. See gear advice in FAQ’s
This walk is not available from November to February. See the United Kingdom Met office or the United Kingdom Meteorological Service for information about the weather and average temperatures and rainfall at different times of the year.
We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.
For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.
We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office. See the FAQ section for more information.
For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants. You can get in touch with us via our contact form or email us at info@stroll.com
The Coast to Coast Yorkshire Dales walk offers some of the best walking in the UK with a fantastic variety of scenery and experiences, but is not quite as daunting as the full Coast to Coast.
Starting in the old market town of Kirkby Stephen and finishing in the small fishing village of Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea, this 10-day walk (175 km) takes you through some of the most celebrated and loveliest parts of England. Much of your time is spent in the National Park areas of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors where you can lose yourself in the magical mists.
Accommodation is a real highlight on this walk (as it is for all the Coast to Coast trips), staying in traditional English bed and breakfast or lodge accommodations along the way. The genuine warm welcome each day from your hosts is all part of the experience. In many cases, the hosts own the accommodation and subsequently provide a much more personable experience. Hosts often have intimate knowledge of the history of the Coast to Coast track, many of them have walked the Coast to Coast, some multiple times. All the properties are well cared for and of course very comfortable, offering all the local hospitality that the English are renowned for.
After each day’s walk on the Coast to Coast be rewarded with a hot shower, a comfortable bed and cooked dinner (we’ve left this to you as there are many choices on offer). We do however include all the cooked breakfasts in residence and all the walkers lunches.
All the accommodations listed below are our’ go to’ accommodations but on some occasions, we may have to swap out one accommodation for another of equal quality due to lack of availability.
For starters, we’ve walked the track and taken the time to curate what we offer. The Coast to Coast follows clear walking tracks throughout but there are lots of tracks going in all directions. In areas like the Lakes District National Park, walking tracks are not signposted at all. Not to worry, our very comprehensive day-by-day walking notes that we’ve created, together with our marked copy of a detailed walking map, will ensure that you can walk the Coast to Coast with full confidence, and no fear of becoming lost, even when it is foggy and misty.
AVAILABILITY OF THE COAST TO COAST WALK EAST
The walk is available from March to October. Outside that time please check with us.
August is one of the best months in which to walk the Coast to Coast. The weather is often relatively stable, the heather is in flower, and it is often less busy at this time than one might expect! However, we also recommend spring and autumn as the best time to walk the Coast to Coast track as the weather is pretty good for walking.
If you are thinking of driving there’s a free unrestricted car park (overnight stay) that can be found at the north end of the town and unrestricted parking on most side streets. Sometimes our accommodations have parking available at a small fee per night. Please speak to us about helping you facilitate this.
Travelling to the Start of the walk
We offer this walk from Kirkby Stephen to Robin Hood’s Bay, from west to east so the walk starts in Kirkby Stephen. The closest airports to Kirkby Stephen are listed below; then it’s a 3 – 4-hour train ride from there. Of course London is the most popular entry route into the UK. You can catch a train which takes 4.5 hours from London Kings Cross Station northwards to Kirkby Stephen (via Leeds).
To make it easy we have collated some useful information that will assist you in making arrangements for your travel.
By Air: The easiest option would be to fly into the UK, any of the major cities will suffice as the UK’s excellent train network will ferry you to Kirkby Stephen. The main UK airports for international flights are Heathrow Airport www.heathrowairport.com, Gatwick Airport www.gatwickairport.com and Manchester Airport www.manchesterairport.co.uk.
The nearest airports to Kirkby Stephen are: Manchester airport www.manchesterairport.co.uk, Durham-Tees Valley Airport www.dtva.co.uk and Newcastle Airport www.newcastleairport.com
By Ferry: International ferry services run to UK ports from France, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Belgium, Scandinavia and the Netherlands. There are also local ferry services that run from the Channel Islands, Isles of Scilly, Isle of Man and the Scottish Isles. Visit www.aferry.co.uk/ferryports.htm
By Rail: The easiest way to get to the start of the track from London is by train. Kirkby Stephen has good train services. For easy train bookings in the UK (and beyond), we recommend using the LOCO2 website https://loco2.com/en. They have an excellent smartphone APP too. Just enter your station of origin, your destination, date of travel etc., and options will be presented (times, fares etc.). You can pay online. Electronic tickets or ticket pick up at the station (from the dispenser machine). Trains from London Kings Cross Station (North Easter Railway) connect with the Cumbrian Coast Line (Northern Rail) at Leeds which services Kirkby Stephen. There are several trains daily. Trains to Kirkby Stephen from London will take approx. 4.5 hr.
By Coach: National Express Coaches link most major towns and cities in the UK. For details of departure times and to book tickets call 0871 781 8181 (or +44 (0) 871 781 8181 from overseas) or visit https://beta.nationalexpress.com/.
By Bus: Various buses run to Kirkby Stephen from nearby towns. Please visit http://www.traveline.info/ for up to date bus journey schedules.
By Road: If you have your own vehicle and are thinking of driving up to the walk then there is a free unrestricted car park at the north end of town and unrestricted parking in most side streets. Sometimes our accommodations have parking available at a small fee per night. If this appeals to you, please contact Stroll about this as soon as possible. For advice on driving to St Bees, please visit www.theaa.com which has a very useful route planner.
Travelling from the End of the walk
By Air: The nearest airports to Robin Hood’s Bay are: Durham-Tees Valley Airport www.dtva.co.uk, Leeds Bradford Airport www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk, Newcastle Airport www.newcastleairport.com
By Rail: The nearest train station is north of Robin Hood’s Bay at Whitby (10 km away) or Scarborough (32 km away). For easy train bookings in the UK (and beyond), we recommend using the LOCO2 website https://loco2.com/en.
By Coach: National Express Coaches link most major towns and cities in the UK. For details of departure times and to book tickets call 0871 781 8181 (or +44(0) 871 781 8181 from overseas) or visit https://beta.nationalexpress.com/.
By Bus: You can get a bus from Robin Hood’s Bay to Whitby train station which takes about 20 min (Arriva Bus Services) – route X93 or Scarborough train station which takes about 35 min. There are several buses a day. See http://getdown.org.uk/bus/bus/x93.shtml for the schedule.
By Taxi: Several local Robin Hood’s Bay taxi companies offer good deals for small groups to Whitby. Ask your accommodation for current contact details. Whitby and Scarborough’s stations are served by a taxi rank or a cab office. Check availability before travelling, and pre-book if necessary. For further information visit www.taxinumber.com
By Road: For advice on driving from Robin Hood’s Bay, visit www.theaa.com which has a very useful route planner.
Returning to the Start of the Trail:
To return to the start of the walk, from Robin Hood’s Bay you will need to take a bus (Arriva Bus X93) to Scarborough and from here take a train to Kirkby Stephen (approx. 4 hrs). Please note that there are different options for this journey, depending on the date and time you wish to travel. We recommend visiting the LOCO2 website https://loco2.com/en.
Getting away from Robin Hood’s Bay. The closest airports are again either Newcastle or Manchester. Please check National Rail or the Trainline website for timetables. You will have to catch a bus to Scarborough, a 45-minute journey and then a 4-hour train ride to London (or approximately 3 hours to Manchester or Newcastle).
If you left your car in Kirkby Stephen you would need to take a bus from Robin Hood’s Bay to Scarborough and from here take a train back to Kirkby Stephen, a 4-hour journey (note: there are various other permutations to this like multiple buses that can get you there). Again please check National Rail or the Trainline website for timetables.
12 days is the recommended minimum amount of time in which to do this walk. This means that there are days where you walk up to 23 km days and a few as few as 13 km. The shorter days often have a little up and down so there’s always enough walking. We can also adjust this schedule to include rest days if you need to. The track conditions vary, but all of the walk is passable, no scrambling required. There is some incline but we’re not talking about anything significant. The United Kingdom is prone to having rain (no surprise there!), so there may be some boggy sections but this entirely depends on the time of year and the prevailing conditions. Our advice is to prepare and bring the right gear and you’ll have a fabulous walk. See gear advice in FAQ’s
This walk is not available from November to February. See the United Kingdom Met office or the United Kingdom Meteorological Service for information about the weather and average temperatures and rainfall at different times of the year.
We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.
For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.
We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office. See the FAQ section for more information.
For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants. You can get in touch with us via our contact form or email us at info@stroll.com