Overview
This self-guided holiday, walking the Coast to Coast Path east section over nine days, covers the second half of the iconic 293km trail, traditionally walked west to east. Starting in the market town of Kirkby Stephen, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and finishing in the magnificent Robin Hood’s Bay on the east coast, you also discover the Pennines and North York Moors National Park en route. Walking it over nine days means you can take it gently, with daily walking distances of 19-33km, and an average of 5-6h of walking. Every evening you are welcomed at one of many charming hotels and inns along the way, while having your luggage transferred for you.
You might also like to check out our walking tours of the Coast to Coast Path west section or the complete Coast to Coast Path over 16 days.
- Yorkshire Dales National Park
- Kirkby Stephen in the Upper Eden Valley
- The Pennines
- North York Moors National Park
- Robin Hood’s Bay
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kirkby Stephen
Arrive in the small yet lively town of Kirkby Stephen in the heart of Eden Valley. If time allows, take a stroll through the town centre to see the red sandstone cloisters in the Market Square and St Stephen’s Church, the 16th-century parish church, often referred to as the Cathedral of the Dales.
- Accommodation: The Old Croft House or similar in Kirkby Stephen
Day 2: Keld – Reeth | 17.3km/19.1km
Following a brief morning transfer to Keld, embark on the route across the renowned Coast to Coast trail. From Keld, there is a choice of two routes. A low-level route that follows the river through Swaledale, leading across farmland and woodland. Or alternatively, a higher route over more rugged terrain, heading through an area with a history of lead mining. Both routes end in the village of Reeth.
- Walking for the day: 17.8km, ↑437m ↓553m or 19.1km, ↑316m ↓433m
- Accommodation: Ivy Cottage or similar in Reeth
Day 3: Reeth – Richmond | 16.4km
Today’s route heads away from the Pennines. From Reeth, follow the route through Swaledale and past Marrick Priory, a Benedictine nunnery founded in 1155, with a tower dating back to the 13th century. From here, it’s a steep but short climb up to the village of Marrick. Walk through fields and woodland, before a descent into Richmond, a bustling small town with plenty of traditional pubs.
- Walking for the day: 16.4km, ↑295m ↓363m
- Accommodation: Black Lion Hotel or similar in Richmond
Day 4: Richmond – Danby Wiske | 23.3km
Leaving Richmond behind, follow the line of the River Swale before heading through farmland. Today’s walk is pleasantly flat, especially after passing Brompton-on-Swale. Arrive in Danby Wiske, a small village with an 11th-century Norman church, and the lowest point inland of the entire route.
- Walking for the day: 23.3km, ↑96m ↓184m
- Accommodation: The White Swan or similar in Danby Wiske
Day 5: Danby Wiske – Ingleby Cross/Osmotherley | 23.1km/27.6km
Another easy-going walk with no major climbs. Follow the route through a combination of fields and woodland, before arriving at Ingleby Cross, near North York Moors National Park. Depending on availability, accommodation is in Osmotherley.
- Walking for the day: 18.6km, ↑258m ↓130m
- Accommodation: The Blue Bell Inn or similar in Ingleby Cross/Osmotherley
Day 6: Ingleby Cross/Osmotherley – Blakey Ridge | 32.5km
Start the day walking along wooded paths, before heading uphill and taking in views stretching back to Richmond and ahead towards the North Sea. Today’s route enters the North York Moors National Park, with its wide expanses of heather-covered moorland contrasting with the distinctive rocky crags of the Wainstones. Continue along the plateau to then follow the route of an abandoned mine railway to The Lion Inn pub. Originally a 16th-century hunting lodge, it’s the third highest pub in England and the only building for miles around.
You can split this long day in two by adding an extra night in Great Broughton.
- Walking for the day: 32.5km, ↑1,007m ↓686m
- Accommodation: The Lion Inn or similar at Blakey Ridge
Day 7: Blakey Ridge – Grosmont | 21.3km
Today’s route is mainly flat and downhill, with the exception of the section leading from Great Fryup Dale into Glaisdale. With another ascent and descent following as you pass through Egton Bridge. End the day in Grosmont, one of the stops on the famous North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR). Depending on availability, accommodation is in Grosmont.
- Walking for the day: 21.3km, ↑72m ↓729m
- Accommodation: Grosmont House B&B or similar in Grosmont
Day 8: Grosmont – Robin Hood’s Bay | 23.8km
Start the day with a steep climb, along the road and up onto the moor, where you can catch a glimpse of the sea and impressive Whitby Abbey, before descending to Littlebeck. Cross the last section of the North York Moors, heading through Falling Foss woodland with its hidden follies. The final stretch leads from High Hawsker along the top of the Jurassic cliffs, providing views of the coastline and Robin Hood’s Bay. You may even spot a dolphin if you’re lucky.
- Walking for the day: 23.8km, ↑537m ↓538m
- Accommodation: Lee-side B&B or similar in Robin Hood’s Bay
Day 9: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- The Old Croft House (Kirkby Stephen)
- Ivy Cottage (Ivy Cottage)
- Black Lion Hotel (Richmond)
- The White Swan (Danby Wiske)
- The Blue Bell Inn (Ingleby Cross)
- The Lion Inn (Blakey Ridge)
- Grosmont House B&B (Grosmont)
- Lee-side B&B (Robin Hood’s Bay)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated moderate, with daily walking distances ranging between 15-33km and most days offering an average of 5-6h of walking. While not too demanding, a good level of fitness is required to get the most out of this tour. The routes cover a variety of terrain, but there are no steep ascents and descents. Some of the paths can become muddy and boggy, and progress can often be slow. The trail follows well-maintained footpaths, bridleways, open fields and some minor roads, and the trail is only waymarked sporadically (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from April until mid September. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, meaning you can start your trip on any date during the season. If you are a seasoned and well-equipped hiker, it may be possible to book your tour on off-season dates.
In the north-west of England and the region of Yorkshire and the Humber, during the spring and autumn months, average maximum temperatures range between 9-17C, and you can expect more rainfall than during the summer months. In the period of June-August, the average maximum temperatures range between 19-20C. For more information, see our blog, Best time to visit England.
Getting there
Up-to-date travel advice on the United Kingdom is available here (for Canadian citizens) and here (for US citizens).
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour are Manchester Airport (MAN) and Newcastle Airport (NCL).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to England without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with railway stations in Kirkby Stephen and Whitby (20mins bus ride to Robin Hood’s Bay) or Scarborough (35mins bus ride). See Trainline for more rail details and Arriva for buses.
- From Manchester Airport, the journey to Kirkby Stephen is approximately 4h and from Newcastle Airport it is approximately 3.5h. From Robin Hood’s Bay, the journey to Manchester Airport the journey is 5h and to Newcastle Airport it is 4h
- Kirkby Stephen is served by regular train services from Carlisle and Leeds, stations which are reachable from all UK destinations. Journey time from London is 4.5h
- From Robin Hood’s Bay, take the bus to Scarborough or Whitby, where there are train connections to all UK destinations
- For more information about train services, see the rail operators Northern Rail and Transpennine Express, see Trainline or use the Omio planner above
UK Visa and entry requirements:
IMPORTANT: From 2025, the UK is implementing a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for many countries around the world. Up until 08 January, the ETA requirement only applied to nationals from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
On 08 January 2025, the ETA requirement was extended to visitors from eligible non-European countries, including Australian, Canadian and US nationals. Then, on 02 April 2025, the ETA requirement was extended to eligible European countries, referring to most of Europe.
You can view the full list of countries that this applies to here and apply for your ETA here, or on the UK ETA app. The ETA usually takes up to three working days to be processed, although we advise applying as early as possible, in advance of your travel dates. People travelling with an Irish passport don’t need an ETA.
You can read more about the UK entry requirements on our blog.
Inclusions
Included
- 8 nights accommodation
- 8 breakfasts
- Morning transfer from Kirby Stephen to Keld
- Detailed tour materials, including practical information, personalised trip notes and maps (digital copy only)
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel (one piece per person, up to 20kg)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Extra nights along the trail to add in a rest day or split the walk
- Additional night in Keld to walk from Kirkby Stephen to Keld instead of skipping the section with a private transfer
- Upgraded accommodations throughout
