Coast to Coast (Wainwright)

Cumbria, N Yorkshire

The classic route by Alfred Wainwright was intended in part to encourage others to devise their own routes, walking coast to coast connecting the Irish and North Seas. This particular route also links three National Parks taking a high level traverse wherever possible. From the west, the coastal plain is crossed to, and through, the Lake District to Shap, followed by the crossing of the Westmorland limestone plateau to Kirkby Stephen, a climb across the Pennine watershed to reach Keld and over Gunnerside Moor and Melbeck Moors to Reeth and Richmond to the low level Vale of Mowbray, before again achieving height across the North York Moors. Between Keld and Reeth there is a choice to take the high level route, as favoured by Wainwright, or a low level route through beautiful Swaledale.

The revised edition (2017) of Wainwright's original guidebook includes marked alternatives to his original route where there was no public right of way or where erosion issues have required seasonal route options. These are clearly identified in the text. The original maps have been updated by Chris Jesty.

UPDATE November 2021: There is a very short permanent diversion at the eastern end of Mount Pleasant North, Robin Hood's Bay due to coastal erosion. This takes users across Rocket Post Field and down an accessible ramp to join a short stretch of the Cinder Track as the route enters Robin Hood's Bay. Further information is available on the National Trails website. It is not proposed to amend our GPX files at the present time.

UPDATE September 2022: The announcement* on 12th August 2022 by the UK Government's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs that Wainwright's Coast To Coast is to be awarded National Trail status has been confirmed on the nationaltrail.co.uk website. The announcement made it clear that this would not happen until the route has been 'improved' and 'enhanced' to meet National Trail Quality Standards, for which the government is to provide 5 million pounds of new funding, and that "Enhancements will be undertaken over three years with the upgraded path expected to open in 2025". The expected improvements include accessibility, signage and path surface, plus circular paths and link routes. The proposals include 9.7 miles of new public footpath, 9 miles of new public bridleway, and 5 miles of realignment of existing rights of way.
* https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-national-trail-status-awarded-for-popular-coast-to-coast-route

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Details:

Path Type:	Other Paths
Waymark:	Path name with AW initials
Attributes:	Challenging Coast-to-Coast Lake/Reservoir/Loch Moorland
Start:	NX960118 - St Bees, Cumbria
Finish:	NZ953048 - Robin Hood's Bay, N Yorkshire
Open Date:	1973
Web Sites:	Wainwright Society Moorland Challenge - Coast to Coast Visit Cumbria - Coast to Coast Walk Yorkshire Dales National Park - Coast to Coast Independent Hostels UK - Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk Accommodation Tim Bertuchi - Coast to Coast [part] [blog] Rambling Man - Planning your Coast to Coast Walk Brian's Walks - Coast to Coast east to west [blog] Brian's Walks - Coast to Coast west to east [blog] Coast to Coast : raising the standard Camino Adventures - Walking the Coast to Coast Walk in England [blog] A walker's journal - The Coast-to-Coast Path [blog] Our Coast to Coast Walk April 2010 [YouTube video] Chris Stuart's Walks - Coast to Coast [blog] Coast to Coast [YouTube video]

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook	Coast to Coast Path: St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay  (Trailblazer  - 2023 )
Guidebook	Coast to Coast: St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay  (Rucksack Readers  - 2018 )
Guidebook	Walking the Coast to Coast walk : St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay  (Cicerone Press  - 2017 )
Guidebook	Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk : from St Bees Head to Robin Hood's Bay  (Frances Lincoln (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2017 )
Guidebook	A Coast to Coast Walk : a pictorial guide : St Bees Head to Robin Hood's Bay  (Frances Lincoln (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2017 )
Guidebook	Coast to Coast Walk : the classic high-level walk from Irish Sea to North Sea  (Aurum Press (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2016 )
Guidebook	Coast to Coast Route Guide  (Skyware  - 2014 )
Guidebook	Coast to Coast Walk  (Hillside Publications  - 2010 )
Guidebook	Fastpacking : multi-day running adventures : tips, stories and route ideas  (Cicerone Press  - 2018 )
Accommodation list	Coast to Coast Bed & Breakfast Accommodation Guide 2020  (Coast to Coast Guides  - Annual )
Certificate	Certificate for Coast to Coast Walk  (Coast2.co.uk )
General Interest Book	Coast-to-Coast Walk: Rocks & Scenery  (Cordee Ltd  - 2017 )
General Interest Book	Coast to Coast with a camera  (Hayloft  - 2011 )
General Interest Book	Big walks of the north  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2010 )
General Interest Book	Ancient feet  (Matador (an imprint of Troubadour)  - 2008 )
General Interest Book	Big walks of Great Britain  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2007 )
General Interest Book	Coast to Coast: in the Middle Ages  (P3 Publications  - 2002 )
Guidebook	Coast to Coast with Wainwright  (Books Cumbria  - 2009 )
Guidebook	Coast to Coast  (Dalesman  - 1998 )
General Interest Book	Coast to Coast walk  (Frances Lincoln (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2012 )
General Interest Book	Wainwright's Coast to Coast walk  (Michael Joseph (an imprint of Penguin Books)  - 1996 )

Click to showhide 17 more Publications, Badges and Certificates

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