If you're looking for a world class walk that will delight and inspire you throughout, while also providing a decent challenge, then the UK Coast to Coast is for you!
Created by Alfred Wainwright, this long distance walk of over 300km takes you through picturesque villages, rolling hills, immaculate farmland and mountains in the Pennines, the English Lake District and the North Yorkshire Moors.
You'll enjoy the incredible camaraderie and support of other women, as you walk along the trail and then again of an evening, while relaxing in the charming B&B's. This dramatic and rewarding trail, along with new formed friendships will forever remain in your memory.
Location
Please note map locations and route are approximate only Highlights
● Small Group Adventurous Women Experience
● Walking across England on Wainwright's Coast to Coast, one of the most inspiring long distance walks in the world.
● Passing through three National Parks while crossing England from Coast to Coast
● Dramatic upland scenery in the English Lake District and the rolling green valleys of the Yorkshire Dales
● Friendships & camaraderie between fellow Adventurous Women Coast to Coasters
● Finishing the walk feeling exhilarated & rewarded, with a real sense of pride.
● Breathtaking views from the tops of the Lake District Fells
● Overnight in some of England's prettiest villages
Itinerary
Today is our arrival day into the attractive coastal village of St Bees in Cumbria, the starting point of the Coast to Coast walk. After settling into the accommodation, you'll meet with your Adventurous Women Hosts for introductions and a briefing. Afterwards it's off to a local pub for dinner & drinks (guests own cost).
Meals: None included
Today marks the beginning of our Coast to Coast walk, however before we head off, we follow in Wainwright's footsteps, carrying out the tradition of dipping our toes in the sea and pocketing a pebble from the beach to carry with us on our journey. Today's walking is delightful consisting of high cliffs, quiet country lanes and distant views of lakeland scenery.
Meals: Breakfast
A beautiful day's walk takes us along the shores of Ennerdale Water, the most westerly lake in the Lake District National Park, through forest and on to the remote Black Sail YHA, something of a Lakes District treasure. After enjoying a break here and weather permitting, we head up Haystacks, the peak directly behind the hostel standing at 1959 feet above sea level and a favourite of Alfred Wainwright's, so much so that his ashes are scattered in the tarn on top. We enjoy soaking in the views of the surrounding peaks before we begin our descent into the beautiful Borrowdale Valley.
Meals: Breakfast
This stage of our walk is a Lakeland classic, taking you on a straightforward climb up past Lining Crag to Greenup Edge, then either following a track down the valley or taking the high option over the ridge of Calf Crag, Gibson Knott and Helm Crag and onwards to our final destination for the day, Grasmere, Disneyland of the Lakes District.
Please note that as your stay in Grasmere falls on a weekend day you may be transferred to Patterdale for your accommodation due to limited availability of overnight stays in Grasmere at the weekend. There will be a small supplement charged for the cost of the return taxi transfers, however Adventurous Women will absorb this charge, should it occur.
Meals: Breakfast
This is another classic day in the Lakes District, with an initial walk up to Grisedale Pass, reaching it by ascending up a bridleway from Grasmere and arriving at the pretty mountain lake, Grisedale Tarn. Continuing on through the valley and on to Patterdale, we may see a red squirrel or two as this is a haven for wildlife.
Meals: Breakfast
Today we'll be leaving the Lake District behind, however plenty of stunning landscapes full of pikes, crags and fells await us. A long climb up to Kidsty Pike is followed by a descent down to Haweswater and an undulating section taking us above the lake's shore. We pass by the atmospheric ruins of Shap Abbey before arriving in Shap itself, a long narrow village with a 17th-century market hall.
Meals: Breakfast
The walk from Shap to Orton makes for a nice 'recovery day' after the long distance covered yesterday. Once again we're spoilt by the stunning scenery including limestone cliffs, moorland and pastures, also passing by a handful of prehistoric sites. Orton is one of the lost villages of the Coast to Coast walk, which is part of its appeal. This pretty village is off the beaten track and has recently been incorporated into the Yorkshire Dales. A visit to Kennedy's Chocolate Factory well may be on the cards if we need a little boost!
Meals: Breakfast
In the thick of rolling farmland and without the steep ascents and descents, we continue our walk through walled fields to Tarn Moor and Sunbiggen Tarn, a bird sanctuary. At the crest of Smardale Fell the Pennines rise in front of us, before we make our way into the quant market town of Kirkby Stephen.
Meals: Breakfast
Today's route takes us over the Pennines, the great watershed of England, roughly marking the halfway point of our walk. Be prepared for getting dirty, time to release our inner child and embrace the bog, as there's plenty of it today! Leaving Kirkby Stephen we'll cross the Eden River and continue to Hartley Village, followed by a long ascent to Hartley Fell. It's here that we'll check the notice boards for any seasonal diversions currently in place due to mud, erosion and weather, which will then be the deciding factor as to which route we take to Keld from this point. All being well, we'll be able to continue over the summit of the mysterious Nine Standards Rigg.
Meals: Breakfast
A favourite walking day for many Coast to Coasters as we head out along the beautiful Swaledale Valley, passing through quaint and traditional villages, such as Muker (slightly off the route) and Gunnersdale. Cross moor and farmland , then drop down into Healaugh, before arriving in Reeth, another traditional Yorkshire village with a green flanked by a pub and a tearoom. If we arrive early enough we may like to take a visit to the Swaledale Museum, which houses some interesting exhibits, have cream tea, or simply kick back and enjoy a pint at the pub!
Meals: Breakfast
Today's walk is fairly straightforward as far as the route and signposting, leaving the Pennines behind and following the river Swale, plenty of time for quiet contemplation. We walk through pretty woodland, charming villages and local farms before great views of Richmond come into sight. Arriving in the large market town of Richmond for the evening, which has been built up over the years around it's impressive Norman Castle.
Meals: Breakfast
Today our walk is lengthy, however it's along the flattest section of the Coast to Coast, traversing the no man's land between the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. A fairly uneventful stage, however pleasant nonetheless, ending in the tiny village of Danby Wiske.
Meals: Breakfast
Our day's walk will consist of weaving between farms on tracks or minor roads and can get quite muddy if there has been rain, however still very pleasant walking, allowing the mind to wander. As we approach Ingleby Cross the views of the Cleveland Hills begin to come into sight, so rewarding!
Meals: Breakfast
This stage of the Coast to Coast takes us into the beautiful North York Moors, described by Wainwright in his pictorial guide as heather-clad, unenclosed, uninhabited and remote. We tackle many ascents and descents today as we walk over the Cleveland Hills, enjoying stunning views, soaking in the beautiful autumn hues and magnificent views of the rock crags known as the Wainstones. We continue east to Clay Bank Top and steeply drop one more time before arriving into Great Broughton, our next overnight stop.
Meals: Breakfast
A relatively short day awaits us and another beautiful one, however the plan is to have plenty of time at the end of the day to enjoy a little bit of time at the Lion Inn on remote Blakey Ridge. The Lion Inn is a 16th Century freehouse located at the highest point of the North York Moors National Park, it stands at an elevation of 1,325 feet offering breathtaking views over the valleys of Rosedale and Farndale.
Open fires burn all day and evening in the ancient fireplaces and the original low beamed ceilings add to the friendly atmosphere of the Inn. The bar is well known for its good selection of quality real ales, including Black Sheep, Theakstones and the award winner Old Peculier, Yorkshire Golden and Thwaites Wainwright Bitter, also boasting an extensive food menu with plenty of options.
Meals: Breakfast
This morning we being our walk on a high note from Blakey Ridge, passing by various landmarks such as Young Ralphâels Cross, before strolling down the Esk Valley, passing through iconic English countryside.
The scenic hillside village of Glaisdale is set above the Esk Valley and its terraced houses were originally built for workers from the nearby ironstone mines.
Meals: Breakfast
Today it's likely that you'll have mixed feelings on waking, as our Coast to Coast journey is coming to an end. The final day's walk is a bit of an encore, it's varied and is a mixture of all the previous days of walking all rolled into one. Shortly after commencing our walk, we head into Egton Bridge, one of the prettiest villages on the whole of the Coast to Coast, with its grand houses and St Hedda's Church, named after a 7th-century saint who is buried in Winchester Cathedral. We also visit the picture-postcard settlement of Grosmont in the hope of seeing one of the local steam engines in action (featured Harry Potter movies).
Here we take a break, regroup and gain our strength for the final, but very rewarding section into Robin Hood's Bay where we walk down to the shore together and throw in the pebbles we had collected at St Bees. This is sure to be an emotional time for all of us as we've just completed the challenging but rewarding Coast to Coast Walk.
We then jump on board a local bus for a quick trip to the neighboring village of Whitby, where we settle in and then join together later for a final celebration dinner ..... cheers to an incredible achievement!
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy one last hearty Coast to Coast Breakfast before checking out and making your way to the closest train station, or airport for onward travel.
Meals: Breakfast
Includes
Two Adventurous Women Tour Escorts
Hand picked accommodation in B&B, guesthouses & small hotels on a twin share basis
Daily UK Coast to Coast Hearty Breakfast
Luggage transfer each day from inn to inn (1 x 20kg bag per person)
Access to maps, GPX tracks & daily route information provided by our local UK Partners
24/7 Emergency telephone support provided by our local UK Partners
Adventurous Women Memento
UK Coast to Coast Completion Certificate
Celebration Dinner on the last evening of the trip
Photos of your experience
17 Breakfasts
1 Dinners
Excludes
Flights & Train Transport
Travel arrangements, including pre or post tour accommodation
Lunches, Dinners (except for the last evening), Snacks and Drinks
Taxi transfers or public transport should you wish to skip a stage
Comprehensive Travel Insurance - Compulsory
Personal Equipment
Accommodation
Carefully chosen hotels, inns, guesthouses and B&B's / Twin Share. There are limited single rooms available and a single supplement of $1500 is payable if you request this option.
What To Bring/Wear
- Pre-departure trip notes will be provided well in advance of your departure to assist in your training & preparation. Your notes will also provide information in regard to the closest airport to fly into and train/bus transport to St Bees and then back to the airport after the tours.
More Information
Walk Grading:
The first few days of this hike are challenging as the terrain is all up's & downs. After the first 4 days the walk is considered to be moderate to hard on any given day depending on the mileage, weather conditions and other factors which may come into play during a long distance walk (aching muscles, tired, sore feet, bog, erosion on tracks etc) The walk is suitable for those walkers with previous long distance experience or those who are prepared to train to get themselves conditioned to walking long distances day in, day out. - The route is a mixture of paths, tracks and minor roads. Some of the paths can become very muddy and boggy where progress can often be slow.
How fit do you need to be:
If you currently don't enjoy an active lifestyle, we suggest regular walking on hilly terrain, stair climbing, walking on beach sand, supplemented by cardiovascular exercise for at least six months before your walk to assist you in preparing for this walk. A good gym or personal trainer will be able to draw up a personalised training program if necessary.
What does an "escorted" tour mean:
This is an escorted tour, whereby you are accompanied on this walk by Two Adventurous Women Tour Escorts/Hosts, who will assist you in achieving your goal to complete the walk.
You will be provided with all the necessary tools to enable you to self guide, however from our previous experience in escorting groups on the UK Coast to Coast, the value of having Adventurous Women representatives on this walk is a welcome addition given the nature of the logistics involved.
Our Tour Escorts are extremely experienced bushwalkers, are used to guiding groups on unmarked hiking trails that often present difficult conditions, both have their Senior First Aid & CPR qualifications, carry full first aid kits and emergency communication devices and will be armed with all the insider knowledge from the previous Adventurous Women hike on the Coast to Coast. They will add those special little Adventurous Women touches we are renowned for, while liaising with our local UK partners to ensure that everything runs smooothly, ie: accommodation and luggage transfers are taken care of, restaurant bookings made, group dynamics are taken into consideration etc, so you don't have to worry about a thing .... just walk!
Meals:
A hearty breakfast is included each morning and a celebration Dinner is complimentary on the last evening of this tour. Lunch and dinner for the duration are not included, however most of our accommodation providers will be more than happy to provide us with a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival. Dinner is available either at our accommodation or nearby pubs & restaurants.
Baggage Transfer:
Our bags will be transferred from our accommodation as per our itinerary and moved onto our next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
Important to Note:
Please do not arrange flights until you check with us prior, to ensure we have reached our minimum numbers for this tour to depart.
To attend this tour you are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
