Coast to Coast Walk West (9 Days & 8 Nights)
9 Days & 8 Nights 4.7 Read 289 reviewsTour Type:
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Activity:
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.
This trip is suitable for:
Solo Travellers
As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 12 Years
Ideal if you have an interest in:
- Long-Distance Trails
Activity Level & Terrain
This holiday is graded moderate to strenuous. It is most suitable for those walkers with previous long distance experience.
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.
Navigation
The route is waymarked sporadically on the Coast to Coast however, navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App which has maps, GPS tracks and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation on this tour will be made simple and you cannot get lost.
You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.
Accommodations
We specifically choose the hotels, inns, guesthouses and B&B’s to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. They all offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local food. We always try and book your accommodation as close as possible to the trail.
Accommodation Location
We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in the tour itinerary. Occasionally, because of limited availability we may have to accommodate you in alternative accommodations which are not listed in the description. If those listed are unavailable the alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard than those described.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
If you require single rooms we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. We welcome solo walkers on the Coast to Coast, although you should of course take extra care in the outdoors when walking solo.
- Hand picked B&B's, guesthouses and small hotel accommodation.
- Door to door baggage transfer.
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- All your trip documents provided digitally through your online Macs “My Account”
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our UK office
- Extra nights
When To Go
The Coast to Coast Walk West is available from March to September.
PLEASE NOTE: around early June (3rd to the 9th June 2021) the Appleby Horse Fair takes place in Appleby and it is extremely difficult to book any accommodations Kirby Stephen during this period.
You can start your holiday on any date during the season. Please note if your itinerary includes Grasmere, it may be easier to get availability if you do not start your walk on a Tuesday or Wednesday due to restrictions with weekend availability in Grasmere. Also, if Grasmere is on your itinerary it may be easier to confirm if you add in an extra night here (which we recommend anyway) due to restrictions with 1 night bookings in Grasmere. If your stay in Grasmere does fall at the weekend and you don't wish to add an extra night, we will most likely have to book your accommodation in Patterdale with return taxi transfers for a small supplement.
Like-wise if your stay in Rosthwaite falls at the weekend, we may have to arrange your accommodation in nearby Keswick with return taxi transfers at a small supplement.
Getting to the Start
The closest airports to the start of the walk are Manchester and Newcastle. From both airports, the travel time by train is approximately 4 hours. You can also fly into any of the London Airports and take a train north from London Euston to St Bees (via Carlisle). There are also alternative trains going via Preston and Barrow-in-Furness.
If you are thinking of driving please be aware that there are very limited parking facilities. The only free public parking is available at the railway station (only 18 spaces available) but is not intended for C2C walkers. Many B&B’s have parking available at a small fee per night.
Getting from the End
Getting from Kirkby Stephen
The closest airports to Kirkby Stephen once again Manchester and Newcastle. From Kirkby Stephen you can take a train to Manchester via Carlisle. Getting to Newcastle from Kirkby Stephen is more complicated and time consuming as you have to go via bus and train with a few changes. However it can be done and you would need to check the Traveline website for schedules. The Trainline is also a good resource.
It is also possible to travel by train to London via Carlisle, or via Leeds.
Parking in Kirkby Stephen is limited. There are some spaces in the Pennine View Campsite, the campsite is secure and you can leave it there for the duration of your walk.
If you do decide to park your car in Kirkby Stephen then we can arrange for your first night’s accommodation to be in Kirkby Stephen instead of St Bees and you can then catch the Sherpa Bus to St Bees the following day to being the walk. Please contact your Destination & Adventure Specialist for further details.
Luggage Transfer
At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person of up to 20kg. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.
If you are travelling from far afield and do have more than one bag it is possible to arrange for the extra luggage to be stored whilst you are on the tour for a fee of £25 per bag. These additional bags would be picked up from your accommodation at the start point (St Bees or Kirkby Stephen) and dropped off wherever you finish depending on the itinerary you choose to do. Please contact us if you are interested in this option.
Equipment
Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes and a day pack.
Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a daypack.
Travel Insurance
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive St Bees Day 2 St Bees to Ennerdale 15 miles / 24 km Day 3 Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite 16 miles / 26 km Day 4 Rosthwaite to Grasmere 9.5 miles / 15 km Day 5 Grasmere to Patterdale 7.5 miles / 12 km Day 6 Patterdale to Shap 16 miles / 26 km Day 7 Shap to Orton 8 miles / 13 km Day 8 Orton to Kirkby Stephen 12.5 miles / 20 km Day 9 Onward TravelBlog Articles
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