England Coast-to-Coast Walk

Day 1: Rendezvous at the Manchester Airport:
Rendezvous at 11:00 am at Manchester Airport. Group transfer to our hotel in Goathland, 10 miles inland from Whitby and the North Sea. This is about a 3-hour drive. Goathland is considered to be one of the most picturesque towns in the North Yorkshire Moors, with its wonderful stone houses bordered by a broad, grassy common. Black-faced sheep still graze the village common and surrounding moorland, their owners holding common rights that have been passed down over hundreds of years. The 70-foot waterfall Mallyan Spout is a short walk from the center of town. Welcome dinner.

Day 2: Whitby to Goathland:
We begin our hike in Whitby, a wonderful old seaside resort. After dipping our boots in the sea we will head west following the Eskdale Way as it parallels the River Esk. Once an old monk’s way between the Abbey at Whitby and the Chapel in Grosmont, the route still bears the flagstones laid to protect the monks’ habits from the mud. We will end our day back in the village of Goathland.

Day 3: Goathland to Rosedale Abbey:
From Goathland, we begin the day hiking a short section of the Wheeldale Roman Road, one of the best-preserved Roman roads in England. Heading out across the heather-covered expanses of Wheeldale Moor, White Moor, and Shunner Howe, we’ll pass the standing stone of Blue Man-i'-th'-Moss, ending our day in the old mining town of Rosedale Abbey.

Day 4: Rosedale Abbey to Great Broughton:
Today, we cross the High Blakey, Farndale, and Urra moors. Here, we encounter the Cleveland Hills, where our route parallels two other well-known British walks, the Cleveland Way and the Lyke Wake Walk. After crossing Clay Bank Top, also known as Hagg’s Gate, we’ll reach the curious stone outcroppings of The Wainstones before descending into Great Broughton.

Day 5: Great Broughton to Richmond:
Hiking along the impressive Broughton and Kirby banks, our trail will rise to the crest of Cringle Moor, with its views of the surrounding Cleveland hills. Continuing along an undulating escarpment, we cross Carlton Moor, a popular area for the sport of gliding, and then Live Moor before descending through the Clain and Arncliffe Woods and ending our day in the village of Osmotherly.

Day 6: Richmond to Reeth:
We begin the day with a van transfer across the Vale of Mowbray to Richmond. Still possessing an air of quaint antiquity, Richmond is dominated by an 11th-century Norman cliff-top castle and boasts a large cobbled marketplace, with the ancient church of Holy Trinity as its centerpiece. A mixture of stone and brick buildings spreads down the hillside in a maze of narrow streets. We will have a chance to look around this lovely town before beginning our walk.

Three miles after leaving Richmond, we enter the Yorkshire Dales National Park. From here, the walk to Reeth is one of variety. The landscape of limestone escarpments, rich meadows, and “leafy becks” serves as a backdrop for the two lovely villages and priory we will pass along the way. We will end our day in Reeth, once the center of extensive mining activity and now a pleasant, thriving village.

Day 7: Reeth to Thwaite:
Today, we’ll have a wonderful riverside walk along the River Swale. Meandering beside the river’s edge and turning up through rich green pastures, our route will take us to the village of Gunnerside and then to the village of Thwaite, where we will spend the night.

Day 8: Thwaite to Hawes:
Today, we depart from the classic Wainwright route to take a more southerly route to the beautiful valley of Wensleydale. Leaving Thwaite, we join another well-known long-distance footpath, “The Pennine Way,” and begin our climb up the north side of Great Shunner Fell. After reaching the summit at 2,363 feet, we’ll have a long, gradual descent into Wensleydale. Here, we will be staying at the Stone House Hotel, a fine Edwardian country house set amidst old English gardens, offering expansive views of the Valley.

Day 9: Hawes:
Rest day in Hawes. The day can be spent exploring the nearby market town of Hawes or relaxing in this wonderful Edwardian hotel.

Day 10: Hawes to Haweswater Reservoir:
From the Stone Manor House, we will transfer to the town of Orton for our hike to Haweswater Reservoir. Leaving Orton, we join the course of an ancient Roman road, following it over open rolling terrain and past remains of mysterious stone circles. Hiking through the village of Shap, we will continue on through a well-preserved and protected countryside of lakes and high fells. We will stop to visit the remains of Shap Abbey before continuing on to the Haweswater Reservoir and our hotel.

Day 11: Haweswater Reservoir to Glenridding:
We are now entering what some consider the finest section of the Coast-to-Coast route, the Lake District. Leaving the Haweswater Hotel, our hike continues along the reservoir, passing several falling “becks,” or streams, before beginning our climb up Kidsty Peak (2,600′), the highest point of the route. The downhill path leads easily along a four-mile stretch. We’ll skirt the high lake of Angle Tarn on our way to the pass at Boredale Hause and then descend to Glenridding, our stopping place for the night.

Day 12: Glenridding to Grasmere:
This is Wordsworth country, an area of classic English beauty, for decades attracting artists and poets. Our route takes us up the valley of Grisedale along Grisedale Beck, past the lake of Grisedale Tarn, and then over Grisedale Hause (pass). Just before Grisedale Tarn is a plaque commemorating the “Brother’s Parting.” This is where Wordsworth bid his brother, John, a memorial goodbye in 1800. His brother was lost at sea in 1805.

Grasmere, set in its valley, is apparent from the pass, and from here, it’s about three miles down into the village. Grasmere is a lovely, though popular, village. One of its best-known sites is Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage, where he lived from 1799 to 1808.

Day 13: Grasmere to Wasdale Head:
Today will be a long and challenging day, beginning with a transfer to the end of Great Lansdale Valley. Following the valley to its terminus, we then begin our climb up to Rossett Pike (1,980′). From here, we descend slightly to Angle Tarn and climb again to the pass at Esk Hause (2,500′). Our descent takes us past Sparkling Tarn and Sty Head, then just beneath the buttresses of Great Gable, Kirk Fell, and the highest fell in England, Scafell Pike (3,209’), ending at Wasdale Head.

Day 14: Wasdale Head to Ravenglass:
Leaving Wasdale Head, we hiked up over Eskdale Moor. After passing Burnmoor Tarn, which lies between Eskdale Fell and Illgill Head, we will descend to the little hamlet of Boot. Here, we can stop for lunch at the pub before heading up along the spine of Muncaster Fell. Descending through the grounds of Muncaster Castle, with its impressive rhododendron groves, we will have our first glimpse of the Irish Sea. On our way to Ravenglass, we will pass the ruins of a Roman settlement before arriving at the shores of the Irish Sea. Dipping our boots in the sea will officially mark the end of our journey. From Ravenglass, we will start to make our way back toward the Manchester area, stopping for the night near the village of Settle on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

Day 15: Depart:
Transfer to Manchester Airport, arriving mid-morning.