Wainwright's Coast to Coast

Wainwright Coast to Coast

Wainwright planned a expedition across England from coast to coast in 1971 which has encouraged others to follow and take part in their own cross country marathons. A. Wainwrights route starts from St. Bees Head on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea. As discribed by A. Wainwright in 'A Coast to Coast Walk' (2003) The grandest territory in the north of England is traversed by it; indeed, two thirds of the route lies through the area of three National Parks. The walk commences on the sea cliffs of St. Bees Head, passes through the heart of Lakeland, and crosses the Westmorland limestone plateau, the Eden Valley and the Pennine watershed, where it accompanies Swaledale and then aims across the Vale of Mowbray to the Cleveland Hills and North York Moors to end on the sea cliffs of Robin Hood's Bay.

Surely there cannot be a finer itinery for a long distance walk! For sustained beauty, variety and interest it put the Pennine Way to shame! We are luck enough to be situated directly on route at the end of day four as the first accommodation in town once arriving within Shap.

Sherpa and Packhorse both deliver to us more or less daily so there is no need to phone us to let us know that there will be bags being delivered. Scott & Jamie may look like there are willing to carry your bag up 2 filghts of stairs but when there is 30 sets of bags at the door you have to understand we can not do this for every one!!

Q: What's the best time of year to walk the Coast to Coast?

A: From May to September, the days are certainly much longer. Now you might think that May, June and September would be the best choices here, to avoid high-season crowding in July and August, and hotter weather. However, our accommodation expert Doreen Whitehead says that actually there can be more available places to stay in July and August. We at New Ing agree and looking back think that, if you need to book in the middle of Summer August is the month to do so and can be done at short notice.