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C2C Walking 
Holiday Information

  • Hike the highlights of Wainwright’s Coast to Coast, led by an expert guide
  • Relax in handpicked, boutique hotels, charming inns, and a castle
  • Explore 3 National Parks: Lake District, Yorkshire Dales & North York Moors
  • Cruise Ullswater, discover a Dales hill farm, and ride a steam train
  • Share the journey with fellow walkers and embrace group camaraderie
  • End your England crossing in the city of York with its magnificent medieval Minster

On this 10-day guided hiking holiday, experience the best sections of Wainwright’s Coast to Coast with expert support. You will stay in handpicked accommodations that blend charm and comfort including cosy traditional coaching inns, grand Victorian hotels and a night in a castle. Your route will skip the more demanding days, making the walk achievable and enjoyable while immersing yourself in the local English culture. Along the way, enjoy highlights like afternoon tea at a country house hotel, a Victorian steamboat ride on Ullswater, a tour of Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage, a visit to a Swaledale farm and a ride on a steam train across the North York Moors.

 

Starting in Keswick, dip your boots in the Irish Sea at St Bees and hike through the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the North York Moors, ending in the coastal charm of Robin Hood’s Bay. The trip includes some of the best days hiking on the Coast to Coast trail including the hike from Borrowdale to Grasmere and through Swaledale to Richmond. Conclude your walking holiday with a celebratory dinner in York, where you’ll reflect on a journey filled with history, culture, and stunning landscapes. This trip is about more than just the walk—it’s an unforgettable exploration of England’s rich heritage, all with the comfort and ease of a guided experience.

 

2026 DATES:

  • 15 May 2026 – 24 May 2026
  • 11 Jun 2026 – 20 Jun 2026
  • 7 Aug 2026 – 16 Aug 2026
  • 18 Sep 2026 – 27 Sep 2026

£3200 – The price is per person and based on twin sharing rooms.

 

Optional Extras

The below optional extras incur a supplement:

  • Coast to Coast Passport GBP£12
  • Single room supplement GBP£1250

We specialise in coast to coast tours, and that means we can deliver a deluxe experience.

High Quality Accommodation
You’ll stay in handpicked, upgraded accommodation throughout—think charming country inns, stylish hotels, and even a night in a castle—chosen for comfort, character, and warm hospitality. We have chosen the best available accommodation close to the Coast to Coast route to suit your itinerary.

Expert Guide
You’ll be led by an expert guide who brings the landscape, history, and stories of the Coast to Coast to life. They’ll handle navigation and logistics, so you can simply enjoy the walk and soak in the scenery.

Daily Luggage Transfers & Store
Our drivers travel the route each day on a consistent and reliable schedule moving your bag with care and professionalism from accommodation to accommodation, always ensuring it is there by 4pm (and often much earlier depending on location along the route). If you are coming to England as part of a longer holiday and have items you do not need for the Coast to Coast, we can store them safely and securely in our office for the duration of your trip and then drop off at your final accommodation.

Support From Us
We’re available 7 days a week and not just in office hours to help you with any query or request either prior to or during your wonderful trip. Don’t forget we are the only local and the only specialist Coast to Coast holiday provider. Meaning we can freely give you any insights into the route, we will meet you as you pass through, we can even look outside our window to tell you exactly what the ground conditions are like and what the weather is doing.

Selected Meals
9 breakfasts and 2 group dinners on day 4 Ullswater, and on day 5 Augill Castle.

Extra Inclusions

  • Guided visit to a Swaledale Farm on day 6
  • Afternoon tea with prosecco on day 2
  • Ullswater Steamer ticket on day 5 & steam train journey from Grosmont to Goathland on day 8
  • A single-timed transfer from Penrith railway station to Keswick on day 1

Our packages covers all of the things you will need, with just your lunch, evening meal and travel insurance for you to choose and pay direct.

 

Evening Meals
Tasty options throughout the walk including country pubs, restaurants, bistros, and local takeaways (look for our suggestions in your Info Pack). Allow around £20 – £25 per person for a two-course meal.

 

Lunches
Your appetite may change along the route as you adapt to the challenges and you may have special requirements, which is why we avoid choosing your lunches for you. As with evening meals, there are often many great local options to choose from and in any case your accommodations can provide a packed lunch (which you simply order on arrival). Allow around £5-£7pp for a full packed lunch including sandwich, snacks and drink.

 

Travel Insurance
We have developed a partnership with the leading travel insurance company Citybond – part of the TIF plc group. They provide a comprehensive range of travel insurance offering high levels of cover for medical emergency, repatriation, personal baggage, cancellation and much more. This partnership grants you 10% discount on their policies when you give the unique referral code C2CP10. To see more please click here.

Planning your Arrival / Departure

Bus links – Train Links

 

Which airport is closest to route?

The closest ones to the start and finish (and hence easiest to travel to/from) are Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Stay up to date with the latest route conditions, closures and diversions

After an exhilarating day walking, cycling or running along the Coast to Coast, the right accommodation is essential. Welcomed into a friendly, clean, comfortable and characterful accommodation to stay is an absolute must. We are very demanding in the standards we expect for our customers.

 

Our accommodation hosts are our trusted and valued partners in ensuring you have a special trip. From 400-year-old cottages and farmhouses, through family-owned country inns and colourful guesthouses, there are over 130 places we use and visit frequently.

 

We look at your overall trip and curate it so the places you stay give you a full flavour of the styles and characters to be found on the Way. No two consecutive nights may be the same as far as the physical surroundings go, though the warmth of the welcome, quality of the lodging & food and facilities to dry your kit are a constant.

 

With over 130 places, it’s a little hard to list without some key omissions! We take your nights and mornings seriously, and so do our accommodation choices.

 

For this holiday, accommodation is in twin-sharing rooms, though there will also be a limited number of single rooms booked on first come basis (single supplement incurs a charge).

The below optional extras incur a supplement:

  • Coast to Coast Passport GBP£12
  • Single room supplement GBP£1250

Book Your Coast to Coast Adventure

Secure your booking with just a £200 deposit today.

Want a more bespoke Coast to Coast trip? Create your own adventure here.

Coast to Coast Packhorse is part of PHSV Ltd. Your booking contract will therefore be with PHSV Ltd and your payment will be made to PHSV Ltd.

Key Information

Price from: £3200

Days: 10

Type: Guided

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C2C Holiday

Itinerary for your
C2C Walking Holiday

Dedicated to the Coast to Coast route devised by fell walker Alfred Wainwright, C2C Packhorse has served walkers and cyclists across this route for many years. Based at Kirkby Stephen, close to the trail’s halfway mark, the Packhorse provides a comprehensive range of services, thus creating a supportive backdrop to your self-guided trip.

Your journey begins in Keswick, a historic market town in the heart of the Lake District. Easily accessible from the West Coast Mainline train station at nearby Penrith, Keswick is a small town with a population of around 7000 people. The town is clustered around the Market Square and historic Moot Hall. There is lots to see and do: visit the local museums, shop for outdoor gear, take a boat trip on the lake, see a show at Theatre by the Lake or take the short walk down to the lakeshore to enjoy the iconic view of Catbells and the Newlands fells across Derwentwater. A single-timed transfer from Penrith Station in the late afternoon (5pm approx) is included or alternatively make your own way to Keswick from Penrith by local bus. It is also possible to arrange a private transfer, please ask your travel consultant for details. In the evening, meet your guide and fellow walkers for a briefing before dinner. Accommodation: 2 nights at our comfortable, historic Keswick hotel.

After a hearty English breakfast, transfer to St Bees and the start of the Coast to Coast trail.

Dip the toes of your boots in the Irish sea and pick up a pebble to take to Robin Hood’s Bay at the end of your journey. The trail climbs from the beach around St Bees Head, a nature reserve home to England’s only breeding colony of Black Guillemots. The trail traverses through farmland to Cleator where we pause for today and stop at a local country house hotel for afternoon tea and fizz to celebrate your first day on the trail together. Transfer back to your overnight accommodation in Keswick in time for dinner.

15km/9 miles

Take the open-top bus from Keswick down the Borrowdale Valley, passing alongside Derwentwater for panoramic Lakeland views.

Alight at Rosthwaite to begin your hike over Greenup Edge to the vale of Grasmere. The trail today is challenging, with around 550m/1800ft of ascent. The path ascends alongside Stonethwaite Beck and Greenup Gill, eventually reaching the high ground via Lining Crag. The descent to Grasmere is on a stone-pitched path via Easedale Gill. Grasmere, home of William and Dorothy Wordsworth, nestles at the foot of spectacular fells, has its own lake and the small village boasts many pubs, cafes and restaurants. It is also home to the famous Grasmere Gingerbread shop. This unique and delicious gingerbread is made daily from a secret recipe and is the perfect sweet treat for a picnic (or souvenir to bring home!). Accommodation: Overnight in a comfortable 4* hotel with pool.

13km/8 miles

Your day begins with a visit to Dove Cottage at the Wordsworth Grasmere Centre.

The cottage was home to poets William and Dorothy Wordsworth from 1799 to 1808. Even if you are not interested in literary history, this 17th century stone cottage is worth a visit for the insight into Lake District life in times past. Leaving the cottage, another challenging hike today over Grisedale Pass (609m/2000ft) to Ullswater. Enjoy views over Patterdale and Ullswater and the summits of Helvellyn and the Lake District high fells. Descend into the valley to your accommodation in Glenridding close to Ullswater. Overnight in a comfortable 4* hotel with lake views.

12km/7.5 miles

Today’s route skips the most difficult day of the entire Coast to Coast with a delightful alternative. All aboard the Ullswater Steamer for the journey up the lake to Pooley Bridge. This scenic journey takes around an hour and affords stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains. The Ullswater steamboats have a rich history and many of the vessels were built in the 1880s and remain in service! On arrival in Pooley Bridge, hike over Askham Fell down to Bampton and the meandering River Lowther and on to Shap Abbey, a 12th century ruin dissolved in 1540 by Henry VIII. From here transfer to Kirkby Stephen for your overnight stay in Augill Castle where we will enjoy a group dinner. Overnight in the castle which is a blend of historic charm and modern comfort.

15km/9.5 miles

Transfer from Augill to Keld. Taking the low route from Keld to Reeth on the Coast to Coast makes for an enjoyable and beautiful walk through the Swaledale Valley. With a strong farming heritage and a landscape of hills, wildflower meadows and old stone walls this valley is a typical Yorkshire Dale. We’ll break our journey to visit a Dales farm to learn about life in the valley on a working farm. Meet some farm animals (who you’ll meet will depend on the time of year) and learn about ways this farm is maintaining tradition and working with nature to conserve the landscape. From here it’s a short final hike into Reeth, an attractive settlement with a village green and a collection of pubs and tea shops. Overnight at an old coaching inn close on the green.

20km/12.5 miles

Continue your hike through the Swaledale valley as the trail winds through meadows alongside the River Swale.

The route is more gentle today, passing through villages and farmland with fewer climbs and mostly level paths as you hike to the historic market town of Richmond. Its centrepiece is the impressive 11th-century Norman castle, which overlooks the town and offers sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. Cobbled streets lead to independent shops, welcoming cafés, and a picturesque market square, while the River Swale flows below. Explore the town and Richmond castle in the afternoon. Accommodation: Overnight in an 18th century coaching inn with a 21st century interior.

20km/12.5 miles

An early start for the transfer (1 hr 15 mins) from Richmond to Blakey Ridge in the North York Moors national park.

Hike across the dramatic moorland scenery as the trail winds through Eskdale with views opening up towards the sea. You come across the ‘Beggars Bridge’ a parabolic stone structure that has a story of love lost and love refound! Egton Bridge features a church with relics of the Catholic martyr, Nicholas Postgate. A really pretty setting, the river is famous for fly fishing and has some interesting stepping stones, which enables you to hop between the two pubs faster than using the road. Arriving in Grosmont we walk to the train station to take the North Yorkshire Moors Railway steam train.

This heritage railway is one of the most iconic and scenic in the UK. Running for 24 miles through the heart of the North York Moors National Park, it operates lovingly restored steam and heritage diesel trains between Pickering and Whitby, with stops at charming rural stations like Goathland (famous as “Hogsmeade” in the Harry Potter films), your destination for this evening. Accommodation: Overnight in a charming 19th century country house hotel in the village, close to the Mallyan Spout waterfall.

18km/11 miles

A short transfer take you to the village of Little Beck for your final hike on the Coast to Coast trail to Robin Hood’s Bay. The final stage of the Coast to Coast walk from Littlebeck to Robin Hood’s Bay is a rewarding and varied stretch, bringing the journey to a spectacular close.

The trail begins in the peaceful woodland of Littlebeck, where mossy paths and trickling streams lead past the enchanting Falling Foss waterfall. From there, the route climbs across heather-covered moorland with sweeping views, before descending through fields and quiet lanes toward the coast. As the North Sea comes into view, anticipation builds until you reach the charming fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay, with its steep cobbled streets and dramatic cliffs. Tradition calls for walkers to dip their boots in the sea, marking the end of an unforgettable cross-country hike and enjoy a pint at the Bay Hotel! Your journey ends with a transfer to the ancient city of York (1hr 15mins) where you can enjoy a final celebratory dinner. Overnight at a comfortable, boutique hotel in the ancient city of York.

17km/10.5 miles

Tour arrangements end after breakfast. You can spend further time exploring York. Please speak to a member of our team should you wish to book additional nights’ accommodation. York is on the East Coast Main Line with regular trains departing north to Edinburgh and south to London.

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“Oh, how can I put into words the joys of a walk over country such as this; the scenes that delight the eyes, the blessed peace of mind, the sheer exuberance which fills your soul as you tread the firm turf? This is something to be lived, not read about…” Alfred Wainwright