9 days tour

Coast To Coast: St Bees To Kirkby Stephen - 9 Days

Coast To Coast: St Bees To Kirkby Stephen - 9 Days

This tour includes:

Accommodation

8 nights accommodation in hotels and guesthouses on a twin share basis with ensuite facilities where available The hotels described are our usual accommodation, however if these are not available then alternatives are used. Rooms generally do not have baths. The main reason being that they take up a lot of space, some hotels/guesthouses may have a separate room in the house where a bath is available to guests, but in the main it is showers. Note that the sheer popularity of this tour may mean that we cannot get you into the accommodation described below for the dates of your tour. We will endeavor to get you into a similar standard of accommodation nearby, but please appreciate that there is limited accommodation. Also, although we aim to get you into accommodations with ensuite rooms this is not always possible, at a couple of places on your tour you may be sharing bathrooms, particularly if you are in a single room. Suggested rest stops: Must be requested at the time of booking. GRASMERE: In the heart of the Lake District National Park. Once the home to William Wordsworth. The village has narrow streets with cafes, shops and pubs. Bus service connects Grasmere with Keswick and Ambleside. KIRKBY STEPHEN: Traditional market town of historic buildings, cobbled yards and interesting shops.

Transport

One piece of luggage per person transferred from Inn to Inn, not exceeding 18kg

Meals

8 Breakfasts

Others

Information pack including route notes & maps (1 pack per room booked) Emergency hotline GPX files

Not included:

Others

Lunch, Dinner and drinks Entrance fees Travel to the start and from the end point of the trip Travel insurance Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls Unscheduled transfers required during the trip Excess Luggage A supplement will apply if you are travelling solo or book a single room Guide - this is a self guided holiday

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Flights

International flights are not included

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Coast To Coast: St Bees To Kirkby Stephen - 9 Days

  • Day 1 Day 1: Arrive St Bees
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Arrive St Bees

      Make your own way to the starting point, the resort of St Bees on the edge of the Irish Sea where youโ€™ll have views across to the Isle of Man (but thatโ€™s another trip). In St Bees you should have time to visit the Abbey church, which has features on the local history and a display on a mummified knight that was discovered in a lead coffin from the graveyard. If you have booked with us an extra night here, you can follow the coastal path or quiet inland roads to the attractive town of Whitehaven, with its marina and great museum. Whitehaven is famous in the annals of the US navy as the site of an elaborate raid on the British mainland by one John Paul Jones during the American War of Independence. | Accommodation: Your hotel tonight is located in the Borrowdale Valley near the hamlet of Seatoller. It has striking views over the local fells.

  • Day 2 Day 2: St Bees To Ennerdale Bridge 23.5 Km/14.5 Miles, 6 H
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: St Bees To Ennerdale Bridge 23.5 Km/14.5 Miles, 6 H

      Take the first steps on this first section of the epic Coast to Coast walk when you climb from the beach at St Bees. Take a footpath along red sandstone coastal cliffs off St Bees Head with Englandโ€™s only breeding colony of Black Guillimots, then head inland over hilly ground to the edge of the Lake District National Park. Dent Hill is the first real fell that you cross and will give you some indication as to whether you are fit enough for the following days! Although short, there follows possibly the steepest descent of the whole tour down to Nannycatch Gate and Beck. A delightful stroll along which brings you to the final descent to leafy Ennerdale Bridge. // The dayโ€™s total ascent 780m / descent 665m. | Accommodation: Overnight at a friendly, family-owned hotel. 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. If we are unable to book you into Ennerdale then we will secure accommodation for you at Cleator with a return taxi transfer that we will put in place for you (own expense).

  • Day 3 Day 3: Ennerdale Bridge To Borrowdale 26.5 Km/16.5 Miles, 7 H
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Ennerdale Bridge To Borrowdale 26.5 Km/16.5 Miles, 7 H

      Follow a quiet and scenic footpath along the shore of Ennerdale Water, with a bit of an easy scramble under Anglerโ€™s Crag at Robin Hoodโ€™s Seat. A long walk on a forest track then continues to Black Sail Hut, which is the smallest youth hostel and originally a shepherdโ€™s hut. A steep climb follows up the Lowther Beck before traversing some of the Lakeland fells, perhaps with views down to Buttermere. Finally you reach the โ€˜drum houseโ€™, which marks the descent path to the Honister Slate Mine workings & cafe and Borrowdale. This is perhaps the most delightful valley in the Lakes with its crags and broadleaved trees. Borrowdale is a delightful ensemble of hamlets: Seatoller (the wettest place in England), Longthwaite, Rosthwaite and Stonethwaite. Delightful riverside paths connect the places and their pubs together - if you have sufficient energy left for the evening. You might be interested to know that โ€˜thwaiteโ€™ is old Norse for paddock. // The dayโ€™s total ascent 765m / descent 785m. | Accommodation: Your hotel tonight is located at the southern end of the Borrowdale (Seatoller) Valley. It has striking views over the local fells.

  • Day 4 Day 4: Borrowdale To Grasmere 13.5 Km/8.5 Miles, 5-6 H Via Helm Crag
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Borrowdale To Grasmere 13.5 Km/8.5 Miles, 5-6 H Via Helm Crag

      Enjoy classic Lakeland scenery over Greenup Edge to Easedale and Grasmere. Grasmere is one of Lakelandโ€™s most celebrated villages and you might have time either this afternoon or tomorrow morning to visit the poet Wordsworthโ€™s home at Dove Cottage and drop into the famous Ginger bread shop! // The dayโ€™s total ascent 750m / descent 760m. | Accommodation: We use a number of different accommodation in the busy village of Grasmere.

  • Day 5 Day 5: Grasmere To Glenridding 12 Km/7.5 Miles, 5.5 H Standard Route
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Grasmere To Glenridding 12 Km/7.5 Miles, 5.5 H Standard Route

      A great walk over Grisedale Pass (609m/2000ft) and around the small mountain lake of Grisedale Tarn to Patterdale. In good weather and if you are a reasonably strong walker, we recommend that you take the detour route up St Sunday Crag (add 1ยฝ hours). It will give some exceptional views down across Ullswater on the descend to Patterdale, possibly the most breathtaking of the trip. Another detour option is via the summit of Helvellyn, for this add 2 miles and 2 hours. // The dayโ€™s total ascent: 900m / descent 805m (via the optional route over St Sunday Crag, less if you avoid this).| Accommodation: Tonightโ€™s accommodation is a family-run guesthouse. It is located in the centre of Glenridding alongside Glenridding Beck, situated at the southern top of Ullswater - the second largest lake in the Lake District.

  • Day 6 Day 6: Glenridding To Shap 26 Km/16 Miles, 7-9 H
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Glenridding To Shap 26 Km/16 Miles, 7-9 H

      After completing todayโ€™s walk, some would say this was the most difficult stage on the Coast to Coast walk. The day starts with a steep climb up past pretty Angle Tarn. Youโ€™ll then hike up and onwards to a critical cairn where you turn off the route to High Street. It will take you up and over Kidsty Pike (780m / 2560ft), the highest point on the Coast to Coast, and then descend steeply to walk along Haweswater. This is a huge body of water that was conceived in 1929 to supply Manchester with drinking water, drowning a couple of villages in the process. You then undulate through fields to Shap Abbey, the most easterly point of the Lake District National Park. This was the last abbey to be founded in England (1199) and the last to be destroyed (1540). It nevertheless is a pretty place to take a break with some new interpretation signs. After this, you continue into Shap, the old granite mining town with several pubs and shops. The village offers an interesting insight to the history of the area. // The dayโ€™s total ascent 1174m / descent 1009m. | Accommodation: The proprietors will welcome you to their guesthouse in the village of Shap.

  • Day 7 Day 7: Shap To Tebay 16Km / 9.94 Miles
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Shap To Tebay 16Km / 9.94 Miles

      Due to the lack of accommodation in Orton you will be staying in Tebay. Follow the Coast to Coast route for approx. 7.5km before leaving the path on the Crosby Ravensworth Fell. Walk over rolling countryside before taking the motorway underpass towards Scout Green and continue onto Tebay.| Accommodation: This family owned hotel has a contemporary design, which uses natural materials throughout. The restaurant has tempting menus and they use local ingredients.

  • Day 8 Day 8: Tebay To Kirkby Stephen Via Orton 21 Km/13 Miles, 5.5 - 6 H
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Tebay To Kirkby Stephen Via Orton 21 Km/13 Miles, 5.5 - 6 H

      You have an approx. 3km walk to the quaint picturesque village of Orton with Kennedyโ€™s Chocolate factory to lead you into temptation. From Orton it becomes a bridging day between Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Thereโ€™ll be mainly farmland walking with a section of moors around Sunbiggin Tarn, which is an important site for birds. A steep descent to the Scandal Beck at Smardale Bridge makes for a nice lunch stop. Continue to ascend over Smardale Fell for the pretty descent into Kirkby Stephen. This is an attractive market town, with St. Heddaโ€™s Church containing the 8th Century Loki stone relating to Norse mythology. Contour h| Accommodation: This is a fine looking guesthouse and the interior retains many of the delightful and original features. It has a friendly relaxed atmosphere.

  • Day 9 Day 9: Trip Concludes
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Trip Concludes

      Your Coast to Coast walking experience concludes in Kirkby Stephen after breakfast.

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Challenging

Long and challenging experience. Youโ€™ll be required to have good physical fitness to go on it. In some of these activities you'll need previous experience on similar activities.

Age range

Age range

Min: 2 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

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