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Coast to Coast Hike England

The Coast to Coast hike in England is one of the world’s most famous walks and a great way to experience quintessential England. Follow tradition and dip your toe in the Irish sea on the west coast, then 200 miles later in the North Sea on the east coast. Along the way you’ll travel through three of England’s national parks each with their own incredible beauty.

Described by writer Alfred Wainwright as “paradise on earth” the Lake District is home to England's highest mountains and largest lakes. In contrast the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales are divided by traditional stone walls and dotted with sheep. This area has a rich heritage with historic castles, charming stone villages and country pubs where you can enjoy a pint of real ale after a long days walking. Famed for its moorland, the North York Moors are moody and magnificent all at once, a fitting end to your coast to coast hike.

Since 2005, Macs Adventure has been helping walkers enjoy the delights of the Coast to Coast. We know the route inside-out and many of our team based in our UK office have walked at least one half of it! Choose to hike the full Coast to Coast across England, or if you’re stuck for time, concentrate on the Lake District on the Coast to Coast West, or focus on the Yorkshire Dales and Moors on the Coast to Coast East

For all the information you will ever need on walking Wainwright's Coast to Coast, you can download our free guide to the Coast to Coast

Discover Coast to Coast

  • Download our Free Coast to Coast Guide
    Download our Free Coast to Coast Guide

    Thinking of walking the Coast to Coast? There is a lot to plan for a trip this length and sometimes it is difficult to know where to start. 

    Luckily it is Macs Adventure to the rescue! Simply download our Free 14-page Coast to Coast guide from the link below to read on your phone, tablet or good old printed page.  

     

    Download your Free Coast to Coast Guide

  • Wainwright's Coast to Coast
    Wainwright's Coast to Coast

    ‘Surely there cannot be a finer itinerary for a long-distance walk! … The countryside traversed is beautiful almost everywhere, yet extremely varied in character, with mountains and hills, valleys and rivers, heather moors and sea-cliffs combining in a pageant of colourful scenery.’

    This is Alfred Wainwright's introduction to his book, A Coast to Coast Walk, published in 1973. Since uttering those words, thousands of walkers have taken his advice and walked the route which he made famous. His original guide followed the style of his earlier series of books entitled "A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells", which he wrote over 13 years from 1952. It included recommendations on how to break up the walk alongside a series of beautiful illustrations. 

    But who is Alfred Wainwright? Originally qualified as an accountant, Wainwright visited the Lake District for the first time in 1930, and climbed to the summit of Orrest Head, about which he said "those few hours cast a spell which changed my life". He later fulfilled his dream of moving to the Lake District and began his literary career, starting with his pictorial guides. He was a passionate man who cared deeply about fell-walking. 

    Today the Wainwright Society are responsible for the maintenance of the Coast to Coast route, and aim to keep Wainwright's passion alive. Wainwright's ashes are also scattered at Haystacks, a highlight of the Coast to Coast route whilst walking from Ennerdale to Rosthwaite. 

  • Laura's Top Tips for the Coast to Coast
    Laura's Top Tips for the Coast to Coast

    Our Product Manager, Laura, is a huge fan of the Coast to Coast walk, with it being one of the first walks she took with Macs when she first started. Here she gives her top tips to make the experience as enjoyable as possible!

    Take a Break - I recommend that you incorporate at least a couple of rest days into your walk. Grasmere, Kirkby Stephen or Richmond are great places to break up the walk, and they are also really attractive places with plenty to see and do.  This really helps to re-charge those batteries and give you a new lease of life!

    Take your time - You will enjoy the route much more if you don’t push yourself too much, and it gives you more time to take in the beautiful scenery along the way! We offer Coast to Coast itineraries up to 18 days long but will happily tailor-make an itinerary for you if you require something longer.

    Make sure you have the right gear - Take a look at our Coast to Coast equipment blog for more details – as this can make a big difference to how enjoyable you find the walk.  In particular, we recommend having a pair of gaiters for those tricky boggy bits and a good pair of walking poles for those gnarly descents.

    Sheep's Wool or Vaseline for the feet! - The lovely Margaret from Brookside Guesthouse at Shap left me a little present of sheep's wool in my bag when I left there advising me to line my socks with it to stop the blisters - and it worked! That or rubbing vaseline into your feet can help stop those pesky blisters forming which can certainly ruin a good trip!

    Meet the locals. - Quite often the B&B owners and locals are the best people to speak to about ideas for alternative routes, places to see, lunch stops etc. This local knowledge can really help make your walk go as smoothly as possible. 

  • Most Frequently Asked Questions on the Coast to Coast
    Most Frequently Asked Questions on the Coast to Coast

    Q: How far in advance do I need to book?

    A: We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as Wainwright’s Coast to Coast is extremely popular, especially over April/May and September. You will find up to date availability on our website, and we will always try and accommodate your plans.

    Q: Which itinerary should I take?  

    A: We offer several different itineraries so that all levels of walkers can tackle this mighty trail. So, basically, the answer is, it depends on your level of fitness. However, you can read a far more extensive response to this particular question on our blog post- How many days to walk the Coast to Coast.

    Q: When is the best time of year to walk the Coast to Coast?

    A: Traditionally April/May has always been the most popular time of year because the theory goes that the weather is better. This said any time between late March and October offers a beautiful experience.

     

  • Coast to Coast

    The Coast to Coast is one of England's most iconic walks.  While not a National Trail, it still holds its own as one of the great walks of England.  It takes in two National Parks, crammed with natural beauty and takes you through some of the loveliest villages in the North of England.  

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