10 Tips for the Coast to Coast Walk

The Coast to Coast walk is one of the greatest Walking Holidays in England, and if you are heading out on the trail, here are our Top Ten Tips for walking the Coast to Coast!

1. Take plenty of time to do the walk - you will enjoy it 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 17 days long but will happily tailor make an itinerary for you if you require something longer.
2. Incorporate at least a couple of rest days into your walk - We recommend Grasmere, Kirbky Stephen or Richmond but they can be added anywhere. This really helps to re-charge those batteries and give you a new lease of life!
3. Make sure you have the right gear with you - see 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, I recommend having a pair of gaiters for those tricky boggy bits and a good pair of walking poles for those gnarly descents.
4. Vaseline on the feet - It may or may not help, but I think it certainly stopped quite a few of my blisters! Believe it or not Sheep's Wool is also another good remedy for blisters!!
5. Talk to the B&B owners for tips and advice - 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
6. Be sensible - don't walk alone if you are not comfortable navigating. If at any point you do feel lost or uncomfortable don't hesitate to tag along with other Coast to Coasters who will be able to help you out!  You will also meet life-long friends along the way and the camaraderie you form with other walkers is actually a highlight of the trip.
7. Make sure you are eating and drinking plenty! -  It's a tough old challenge and you need that energy.
8. Kendal Mint Cake  - one of the best energy boosting snacks out there and a local speciality!
9. Bring a good camera - you wont want to miss getting those precious snaps of the breathtaking scenery on this walk
10. Train before you go -  The Coast to Coast walk is a tough walk even for experienced walkers, so to go into it without any training would not be recommended.  The more training you do before you go, the fitter you will be before you start and therefore you will have a much more enjoyable experience. If you are a novice, build up slowly to longer walks, and increase frequency in the weeks and months before you travel.

If you would like more information about the Coast to Coast walk or any Walking Holidays in England contact us here at Macs Adventure! 

Download our Free Guide to the Coast to Coast here.