Rollup, rollup for Wainwright’s masterpiece! This is the quintessential English hill walking and long distance trail experience: 190 odd miles traversing three national parks and a lot of interesting landscapes, old towns and of course public houses in between! It is amazing to think that this most famous of routes, totally eclipsing the Pennine Way in terms of popularity and variety, is still not classified as a National Trail! Starting at the tiny Cumbrian seaside resort of St. Bees on the Irish Sea we head East, with the wind, into the Lake district to pass by some of its most famous lakes and cross some important passes, with options to extend days (with ascents of peaks such as Helvellyn). 
     Then it is on into the Yorkshire Dales and over the mystical Nine Standards Rig, before following the beautiful River Swale for a couple of days into the old market town of Richmond. There follows a marathon section to link up with the North York Moors National Park from where we roller coaster around to the North Sea Coast to make a triumphant entrance into Robins Hoods Bay where a celebratory pint, bottle of Champagne or ice cream whilst standing in the Sea is in order. Along the way you will be amazed at the variety of the dry stone walls, the charming little villages and just how much that you get to eat for a full English cooked breakfast! There are cozy small hotels, guest houses and pubs to stay at on this tour and these, as well as the rich variety of the people that you meet enroute, reflect something of the great diversity of England.

 

General Information

Duration of tour: 15 days (14 nights)

Season: 23 March to mid October.

Starting point: St Bees

End of tour: Robin Hood’s Bay

Getting to the Start

Convenient Major city and international airport: Manchester Airport 4-5 hours by rail via Carlisle.

Outward journey from London: Train from London Euston to Carlisle. Then local train from Carlisle to St Bees (1 hour 15 mins). Then short walk from station to hotel.

Inward journey to London at end of tour: Bus/taxi from Robin Hood’s Bay to Scarborough. Then train from Scarborough to London.

Grading
Moderate to Challenging. Some long days and steep climbs and descents. Generally however undulating. Mixed weather can be expected. We would not recommend the route for first time walkers.

Waymarking
Despite its justifiable popularity, this is not a National Trail. Waymarking is variable or erratic and you will have to use map interpretation for much of the time, especially at times of low visibility, so you should be accustomed to using map and compass.

Your Accommodation

q       Night 1: This 17th Century sandstone barn situated on the main coastal village of St. Bees. The barn was initially converted in the 1980s into a large guesthouse and self-contained flats, being recently refurbished throughout. All rooms are en suite, and have a TV and full tea and coffee making facilities.

q       Night 2: Overnight at a friendly family owned and run hotel, of three crown standard. Enjoy a home cooked meal of local produce including fish and game in season. A traditional feel is retained by the hotel, with its open fire, and the fully licensed bar serves a range of beverages including locally produced ale.

q       Night 3: Tonight we stay in a very small, and long established guesthouse. It is set in a beautiful small hamlet town, and offers excellent home cooking. A popular peaceful retreat for former clients. Ensuite facilities are not available here as it is a listed building that changes cannot be made to.

q       Night 4: Tonight's accommodation is in a country house in Grasmere, the facilities here allow guests to enjoy comfortable, affordable accommodation and good food in the very beautiful surroundings of Easedale. Glenthorne is operated on a non-profit making basis by a Committee and is a registered charity. Grasmere is one of Lakeland’s most celebrated villages, and there is time either this afternoon or tomorrow morning to look around and visit the poet Wordsworth's home at Dove Cottage.

q       Night 5: Tonight’s accommodation is popular with visitors and local people alike since the early 1800’s. Many a tale could be told of events that have taken place in all its lifetime, including the time when Wordsworth was in our very bar as news arrived that Nelson had died at Trafalgar. All rooms are ensuite.

q       Night 6: The proprietors will welcome you to their guesthouse in the village of Shap. The village offers an interesting insight to the history of the area, and the old Shap Abbey is nearby.

q       Night 7: This accommodation has many unusual features, and is of an exceptionally high standard. It is a Grade II listed Georgian town house full of character, with a friendly relaxed atmosphere.

q       Night 8: Accommodation in Thwaite is at a medium sized guesthouse, offering a gateway to the Pennines "The Backbone of England". Traditional Yorkshire fayre is served in an attractively decorated dining room, and there are tea and coffee making facilities in all rooms.

q       Night 9: Formed from a terrace of traditional Cl6th miners' cottages, a peaceful and comfortable hotel with courtyard and garden, renowned for its cuisine.

q       Night 10: The extremely picturesque North Yorkshire town of Richmond, with its cobbled market square and Norman castle, is an ever-popular destination for visitors. Our accommodation is in a small, very comfortable, guest house within easy reach of all the sights in Richmond.

q       Night 11: Tonight's accommodation is set in an extremely picturesque village on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors. All rooms are ensuite and have tea and coffee making facilities.

q       Night 12: Tonight we stay in a wonderful guesthouse. All the rooms are very spacious. There is a TV and tea & coffee making facilities in all rooms.

q       Night 13: Another listed building will be the accommodation for tonight. Situated alongside the River Esk, the inn is actually mentioned in the Norman Doomsday Book of the 11th Century, and the oldest part of the building dates back almost as far. Some rooms are en suite, and there is a TV and tea and coffee making facilities in all rooms.

q       Night 14: Our final night is spent in a large, cliff-top hotel. Magnificent views of the bay are offered by the attractive dining room, in which is served good home-cooked food. There are private and public bars, and a large lounge in which to relax having completed the magnificent Coast-to-Coast crossing of England. Rooms are spacious, with tea and coffee making facilities available.
 

 

Outline Itinerary

q       Day 1 St Bees: Travel to starting point on the edge of the Irish Sea with views across to the Isle of Man.

q       Day 2 Ennerdale Bridge: Footpath along red sandstone coastal cliffs of St Bees Head and then inland over hilly ground to the edge of the Lake District National Park (14 miles 6 hours).        

q       Day 3 Borrowdale: A quiet and scenic footpath along the shore of Ennerdale Water lake to Black Sail and over the hills (1900 ft) to Borrowdale (400 ft) (14 miles 8 hours).                                 

q       Day 4 Grasmere: Classic Lakeland scenery over Greenup Edge (2000 to Easedale and Grasmere (10 Miles 6 Hours).

q       Day 5 Patterdale: Over Grisedale Pass (2000 ft) and around the small mountain lake of Grisedale Tarn to Patterdale (500 ft). Add 2 miles and 2 hours if include detour via Summit of Helvellyn.

q       Day 6 Shap: Past Angle Tarn, over Kidsty Pike (2560 feet, the highest point on the whole route) and along Hawes Water (home of England’s only nesting eagles) (17miles 9 hours).                

q       Day 7 Kirkby Stephen: Easier going over limestone plateau  between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. (18 miles 8 hours)

q       Day 8 Thwaite: Across Nine Standards Rigg (2170 feet) with its array of obelisks and down to Keld in Swaledale with its many waterfalls ( 16 miles 8 hours).                   

q       Day 9 Reeth: Wild moorland with long-abandoned lead mines, a magnet for the industrial archaeologist (14 miles 7 Hours).                                             

q       Day 10 Richmond: A morning walk through pretty Swaledale lined with limestone crags on either side, allowing time in Richmond for shopping (note shops closed Sunday) and sightseeing in Richmond whose Norman Keep towers above the Swale on one side and the ancient cobbled market square on the other (10 Miles 4 Hours).                  

q       Day 11 Osmotherley: Longest and flattest day of the tour, bridging the gap between the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors National Parks (24 miles 9 Hours)    

q       Day 12 Blakey: A strenuous day with repeated ascents and descents in the Cleveland Hills, then across heather moors to Rosedale (21 miles 10 hours).

q       Day 13 Egton Bridge: An easy descent to wooded Eskdale. The latter part of today's walk follows a beautiful path through the woodlands on the banks of the River Esk (10 miles 4 hours).

q       Day 14 Robin Hoods Bay: Across heather moors and along  coastal cliff path to Robin Hood's Bay. A village of red roofed houses clustered around its harbor on the North Sea coast. This is the end of the 190-mile crossing of England. (16 miles 7 hours).

Included
Bed & Breakfast throughout. Ensuite facilities where available. Luggage transfers from Inn to Inn. Full route notes and map package.

Extending Your Tour

Extra nights: 
Kirkby Stephen from £28 per person per night,
Richmond from £30 per person per night,
Robin Hood Bay from £38 per person per night.

Escorted Departures 2005:

Sat 11 June - Sat 25 June
Sat 10 Sept - Sat 24 Sept

NB. If there is a group of you we can customize an escorted departure just for you.