Answers to common questions about Coast to Coast Packhorse holidays and baggage transfers on Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route, including costs, getting to the start, accommodation, bags and support.

About Coast to Coast Packhorse

Coast to Coast Packhorse is a UK travel company based in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, specialising in Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route. We organise walking, running and cycling holidays on the route, with accommodation, baggage transfers and support.

Coast to Coast Packhorse and Sherpa Van are two brands of the same group. Coast to Coast Packhorse specialises in the Coast to Coast, with accommodation packages, guided and non-guided holidays and baggage transfer. Sherpa Van is our baggage-transfer service across several UK trails.

Yes. As well as the Coast to Coast, Coast to Coast Packhorse offers holidays on the Cumbria Way, and bespoke itineraries.

Yes. Coast to Coast Packhorse offers Coast to Coast running holidays, with accommodation, baggage transfers and route support.

Yes, Coast to Coast Packhorse offers Coast to Coast cycling holidays, including e-bike holidays.

On a guided holiday, a guide leads you along the route. On a non-guided holiday you walk independently using your road book, map and GPX files, while Coast to Coast Packhorse arranges your accommodation and baggage transfer. Guided groups are a maximum of 12 people.

A Coast to Coast Packhorse package covers your accommodation bookings, daily baggage transfer, a map, a road book and GPX files. Breakfast is included, and optional extras are car parking and passenger transfers.

Yes. Many people walk the Coast to Coast solo, and Coast to Coast Packhorse takes bookings from solo walkers.

Yes. Coast to Coast Packhorse arranges accommodation and baggage transfers for groups. The maximum group size is 16, and group bookings follow our Package Terms & Conditions.

Costs and booking

The price of a Coast to Coast Packhorse holiday depends on your itinerary, the number of nights and your accommodation. You can see the price for each holiday on its holiday page, or contact the team for a quote.

The 2027 Coast to Coast season with Coast to Coast Packhorse runs from Monday 22 March to Sunday 17 October. You can book any date within the season, apart from our guided holidays, which run on set dates.

Coast to Coast Packhorse recommends booking as early as you can, especially for peak season and bank holiday weekends, because accommodation on the route fills quickly. We have arranged trips at short notice too.

Often yes, depending on accommodation availability. Coast to Coast Packhorse has arranged trips booked a fortnight or less before departure, but accommodation fills quickly in peak season.

Cancellation terms depend on your booking type and how close you are to departure. They are set out in our Package Terms & Conditions, or our Services Terms & Conditions if you booked baggage transfer only.

Yes. You can book baggage transfer only with Coast to Coast Packhorse and arrange your own accommodation. Our Services Terms & Conditions cover this.

The Coast to Coast route

Yes. You can walk the western half (St Bees to Kirkby Stephen), the eastern half (Kirkby Stephen to Robin Hood’s Bay), or the whole route in sections over several years. Kirkby Stephen is the natural midpoint and our base.

Most walkers allow 14 to 16 days. Coast to Coast Packhorse tailors itineraries to your pace and fitness, and more days means shorter, easier stages.

The Coast to Coast runs from St Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Sea, a distance of 190 miles (306 km), depending on the route you choose.

The Coast to Coast is a challenging long-distance walk rather than an easy pub-to-pub stroll, and the Lake District days early in the route are the most demanding. Difficulty depends mostly on how many days you allow.

Spring and autumn are popular choices. Summer and bank holiday weekends are busiest, and rain is possible even in summer, so pack for all weathers.

Most walkers go west to east, from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay, as Wainwright recommended, so the prevailing wind is at your back. You can walk east to west if you prefer, but Coast to Coast Packhorse cannot provide baggage transfers in that direction.

No, it is a tradition rather than a requirement. Walkers dip their boots in the sea at St Bees, collect a pebble, and drop it into the sea at Robin Hood’s Bay at the end.

The Coast to Coast was announced in April 2026 as an official National Trail.

Yes. Good map reading skills and a compass are essential. The route is not well signposted on the tops of the hills, and in poor weather you will need your compass.

Yes. Your Coast to Coast Packhorse welcome pack includes a Coast to Coast map, and your electronic information pack includes the GPX files. We also sell the Trailblazer Coast to Coast guide book and the Wainwright guide book.

No, GPS works without phone signal. If you are using your phone, download the base maps for offline use, and download the GPX files before your trip so you can use them offline.

Phone signal on the Coast to Coast is patchy. Some areas have signal and others have none, but most accommodation has wifi, so you can use wifi calling.

Carry 2 litres of water every day. We don’t recommend purifying water from streams, because it isn’t fresh running water. Some days have shops where you can ask for a water top up, and your app shows which sections.

Yes, bring waterproofs. The route is prone to heavy rainfall even in summer, so pack appropriate clothing for all weathers.

Getting there and back

Kirkby Stephen is on the Settle to Carlisle railway line, so you can travel by train, usually via Carlisle, or by car. The station is about 2 miles (3 km) from the town.

The Coast to Coast Packhorse shuttle bus leaves Kirkby Stephen every morning at 8 am and arrives at St Bees at about 10.15 am. St Bees also has a train station, and you can plan your journey on the Northern Railway website at northernrailway.co.uk.

Yes, Coast to Coast Packhorse runs a return transfer from Robin Hood’s Bay to Kirkby Stephen for customers who have left a car there. It leaves opposite The Victoria Hotel at 4 pm daily, and you need to reserve a seat in advance.

The drive takes about two and a half hours.

Coast to Coast Packhorse offers secure car parking in Kirkby Stephen, so you can leave your car for the duration of your walk. Use the shuttle bus to St Bees at the start and the return transfer from Robin Hood’s Bay at the end.

You can catch a train from Scarborough or Whitby. Regular buses run from Robin Hood’s Bay, or you can pre-book a taxi. The local taxi company is Bay Private Hire Taxis on 01947 880603.

Accommodation and food

Yes. Tell us your preferences when you book, such as the type of stay (B&B, pub, inn or hotel), dog-friendly stays or the length of each day, and we will build the itinerary around them.

Coast to Coast Packhorse books a mix of B&Bs, pubs, inns and hotels chosen for walkers. Quality varies by location, because some villages have limited choice.

Most accommodation is on or close to the route, but in a few places you may need to walk further at the end of the day.

We advise you to pre-book your evening meals to avoid disappointment. You will find the details on your accommodation schedule and in our dedicated app.

Your accommodation schedule tells you whether your accommodation can make a packed lunch, and they will ask on arrival if you would like to order one. If it doesn’t provide packed lunches, your app lists your options for that day, such as shops on the route.

Yes. Tell Coast to Coast Packhorse about any dietary requirements when you book so we can let your accommodation know.

Yes, carry some cash. There are ATMs in Grasmere, Kirkby Stephen and Richmond. You will find honesty boxes on the route, and some smaller accommodation providers have no card machine, for example for packed lunch payments.

Yes, there is a laundrette in Kirkby Stephen.

A double room has one large bed for two people. A twin room has two separate beds in one room.

Yes, but only a limited number of accommodation providers allow pets, and they charge a pet supplement that varies by property, usually between GBP 0 and GBP 25.

Yes. Tell us you are walking with a dog when you book, and we will plan your daily distances and rest days around them and look for dog-friendly accommodation.

Yes. You can add rest days, and we can suggest where, or choose a longer itinerary with shorter stages.

Bags and baggage transfer

Your bag needs to be ready by 8.30 am for our drivers to collect. Your accommodation will tell you where to leave it.

Your information pack will be waiting for you at your first point of contact with Coast to Coast Packhorse, either your first accommodation or the transfer bus.

The limit is strictly 20kg for each bag. If your bag is overweight, we will issue a spare bag and you will pay for the extra bag move.

If your bag is over 20kg, we issue a spare bag and you pay for the extra bag move.

Package customers can have 2 bags. We can either move both daily, or store one and deliver it to your last accommodation.

Yes, suitcases are accepted. Keep within the 20kg limit and let us know if your bag is unusually large or fragile.

Yes, you don’t have to send your bag every day. Let the office know in advance if you plan to carry it yourself.

Yes. Baggage transfer does not replace travel insurance, so please insure your belongings and trip.

Support and problems

Contact Coast to Coast Packhorse on 017683 71777 as soon as you can, and we will arrange the changes where accommodation allows.

Phone Coast to Coast Packhorse straight away on 017683 71777. We can help change your schedule, sort your accommodation and arrange transport to the next town.

If you are unwell or injured, our driver may be able to give you a lift to the next accommodation. Call the office as early as you can.

Phone the Coast to Coast Packhorse team straight away on 017683 71777 for an update.

Contact the Coast to Coast Packhorse office. We have had replacement walking poles delivered to customers’ accommodation and have replaced lost maps and returned lost property.

We advise you to have travel insurance. For UK residents we recommend Citybond Travel Insurance, and Coast to Coast Packhorse customers receive a discount. Overseas walkers should speak to their insurance broker.

Still need help? Call Coast to Coast Packhorse on 017683 71777 or use our contact page.

Call
UK: 017683 71777
International: +44 (0) 17683 71777

Email
[email protected]

Address
25 Cumberland House, St Lukes Road, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria CA17 4HT