Coast to Coast Walking Holidays in England

Before setting off on your trip, make sure you’ve got yourself a C2C Passport in hand — trust us, you’ll want one. We’ve teamed up with a brilliant non-profit organisation that produces the Passport, as a fun way to document your journey by collecting unique stamps from 30 locations stretching all the way from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay. Along the way, a network of official stamping agents will be only too happy to add their stamp to your collection.

As well as being a great keepsake from your adventure, your Passport also unlocks discounts along the way at local retailers and the opportunity to claim a personalised Coast to Coast Completion Certificate when you finish. If you book with Macs, you’ll also get a 20% discount when purchasing your Passport online before you go. Your exclusive code can be found in your booking documents.

Lake District National Park - Marvel at rugged peaks and shimmering lakes as you pass through Grasmere, Patterdale, and Ennerdale. Enjoy English scones and a pint at a pub after a day’s walking.

Yorkshire Dales National Park - Wander rolling green hills, ancient stone walls, and the charming market town of Richmond - a historic gem filled with local culture.

North York Moors National Park - Finish your walk on moody moorlands before descending into Robin Hood’s Bay, where you’ll celebrate with fish and chips by the sea and dip your toes in the North Sea.

Q: How long is the Coast to Coast walk?
A: The walk is approximately just under 200 miles long. Most walkers complete it in 14 to 18 days, depending on their pace and itinerary.

Q: How far is the Coast to Coast walk each day?
A: Daily distances vary from 8 to 20+ miles (13 to 32 km), with rest days and shorter options available.

Q: What’s the best time to walk the Coast to Coast trail?
A: May through September offers the best weather and trail conditions.

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 May, June and September.

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: Does it have a trail passport?
A: Yes! In 2025, the Coast to Coast launched its very own trail passport. Run by a non-profit team based out of Richmond, you can get personalised stamps for every location and even a discount from local shops, restaurants, and cafes. Macs Adventure customers also get a 20% discount when purchasing online.

‘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. 

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

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.