Experience what some would argue is the most spectacular part of England's Coast to Coast walk in the Lake District, England's premier walking destination. Walk from St Bees on the Irish Coast to the old market town of Kirkby Stephen to the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. This week-long journey covers a distance of just over 131 km, much of which is spent in the iconic Lake District, recognised as a World Heritage Site since 2017. Considered to be the most challenging part of the Coast to Coast track, the route will take you up rugged hills, along the shores of beautiful lakes, and through lush, green valleys, such as Borrowdale and Wordsworth's Grasmere.
If you are not quite ready to commit to the full Coast to Coast walk or only have a week to spare but are looking for some challenging fell walking, this is the trip for you!
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 cosy 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 (except for one).
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
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.
We offer this walk from St Bees to Kirkby Stephen, from west to east so the walk starts in St Bees. The closest airports to St Bees are Manchester and Newcastle, then it’s a 4-hour train ride from there. Of course, London is the most popular entry route into the UK. You can take a train which takes 5 to 6 hours from Euston Station central London northwards to St Bees (via Carlisle).
Please refer to your itinerary. To make it easy we have collated some useful information that will assist you in making arrangements for your travel.
By Air: If living outside of the UK, the easiest option would be to fly in; any of the major cities will suffice as the UK’s excellent train network will ferry you to St Bees. The main UK airports for international flights are: Heathrow Airport www.heathrowairport.com, Gatwick Airport www.gatwickairport.com, Manchester Airport www.manchesterairport.co.uk.
The nearest airports to St Bees are: Durham-Tees Valley Airport www.dtva.co.uk, Leeds Bradford Airport www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk, 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. St Bees 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 dispenser machine). Trains from London connect with the Cumbrian Coast Line (Northern Rail) which services St Bees. There are several trains daily. Trains to St Bees from London will take approx. 5 hr, with 1 or 2 changes required.
If you would prefer not to change trains, consider going direct from London to Penrith and spend the night there before continuing to St Bees by private transfer.
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 St Bees 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, we would suggest driving to Penrith where we can arrange secure car storage for the duration of your walk. You will spend the night in Penrith and then get a private transfer out to the start of the walk. If this appeals to you, please contact the Auswalk office 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.
By Air: The nearest airport to Kirkby Stephen is: Manchester Airport https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk
By Rail: Kirkby Stephen in on the main Carlisle to Leeds Train Line. To get to London from Kirkby Stephen, take the train to Leeds (Northern Rail Line). Then change at Leeds to continue to London Kings Cross Station (North Eastern Railway). Travel time is approximately 4.5 hr. For easy train bookings in the UK (and beyond), we recommend using the LOCO2 website: https://loco2.com/en.
As with flights, the earlier you book, the cheaper it is. Pick up tickets at the station machine – you just need to provide the credit card that you used to book the tickets online, and they’re printed and ready to go.
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 from Kirkby Stephen from nearby towns. Please visit http://www.traveline.info/ for up to date bus journey schedules
By Road: For advice on driving from Kirkby Stephen, visit www.theaa.com which has a very useful route planner.
To return to the start of the walk, from Kirkby Stephen take a train directly to St Bees (approx. 3 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 following website Northern Railway.
8 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 14 km. The shorter days have a little up and down so there’s enough walking. We can also adjust this schedule to include rest days if you need to. The track conditions range, but all of the walk is passable, no scrambling required. There is some incline but we are 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 the FAQ section.
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
Experience what some would argue is the most spectacular part of England's Coast to Coast walk in the Lake District, England's premier walking destination. Walk from St Bees on the Irish Coast to the old market town of Kirkby Stephen to the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. This week-long journey covers a distance of just over 131 km, much of which is spent in the iconic Lake District, recognised as a World Heritage Site since 2017. Considered to be the most challenging part of the Coast to Coast track, the route will take you up rugged hills, along the shores of beautiful lakes, and through lush, green valleys, such as Borrowdale and Wordsworth's Grasmere.
If you are not quite ready to commit to the full Coast to Coast walk or only have a week to spare but are looking for some challenging fell walking, this is the trip for you!
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 cosy 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 (except for one).
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
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.
We offer this walk from St Bees to Kirkby Stephen, from west to east so the walk starts in St Bees. The closest airports to St Bees are Manchester and Newcastle, then it’s a 4-hour train ride from there. Of course, London is the most popular entry route into the UK. You can take a train which takes 5 to 6 hours from Euston Station central London northwards to St Bees (via Carlisle).
Please refer to your itinerary. To make it easy we have collated some useful information that will assist you in making arrangements for your travel.
By Air: If living outside of the UK, the easiest option would be to fly in; any of the major cities will suffice as the UK’s excellent train network will ferry you to St Bees. The main UK airports for international flights are: Heathrow Airport www.heathrowairport.com, Gatwick Airport www.gatwickairport.com, Manchester Airport www.manchesterairport.co.uk.
The nearest airports to St Bees are: Durham-Tees Valley Airport www.dtva.co.uk, Leeds Bradford Airport www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk, 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. St Bees 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 dispenser machine). Trains from London connect with the Cumbrian Coast Line (Northern Rail) which services St Bees. There are several trains daily. Trains to St Bees from London will take approx. 5 hr, with 1 or 2 changes required.
If you would prefer not to change trains, consider going direct from London to Penrith and spend the night there before continuing to St Bees by private transfer.
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 St Bees 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, we would suggest driving to Penrith where we can arrange secure car storage for the duration of your walk. You will spend the night in Penrith and then get a private transfer out to the start of the walk. If this appeals to you, please contact the Auswalk office 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.
By Air: The nearest airport to Kirkby Stephen is: Manchester Airport https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk
By Rail: Kirkby Stephen in on the main Carlisle to Leeds Train Line. To get to London from Kirkby Stephen, take the train to Leeds (Northern Rail Line). Then change at Leeds to continue to London Kings Cross Station (North Eastern Railway). Travel time is approximately 4.5 hr. For easy train bookings in the UK (and beyond), we recommend using the LOCO2 website: https://loco2.com/en.
As with flights, the earlier you book, the cheaper it is. Pick up tickets at the station machine – you just need to provide the credit card that you used to book the tickets online, and they’re printed and ready to go.
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 from Kirkby Stephen from nearby towns. Please visit http://www.traveline.info/ for up to date bus journey schedules
By Road: For advice on driving from Kirkby Stephen, visit www.theaa.com which has a very useful route planner.
To return to the start of the walk, from Kirkby Stephen take a train directly to St Bees (approx. 3 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 following website Northern Railway.
8 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 14 km. The shorter days have a little up and down so there’s enough walking. We can also adjust this schedule to include rest days if you need to. The track conditions range, but all of the walk is passable, no scrambling required. There is some incline but we are 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 the FAQ section.
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