Return: Home / Walking Holidays

C2C Walking 
Holiday Information

Taking in the very best of Wharfedale, Dentdale & the foothills of Lakeland!

Welcome to the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, the purest form of English highland landscape, with traditions and views, which have remained virtually untouched for centuries. Soft rolling hills, limestone edges, green valleys, waterfalls, a Roman road, several interesting old churches, an abbey and some lovely Real Ale pubs all feature here as well as the villages proud of their heritage. This tour includes the whole 78 mile length of this much loved long distance path, established in 1969, which runs right across the Yorkshire Dales National Park to the Lake District. Gradients and terrain are generally straight forward, but the going may be muddy underfoot in wet weather; there are some high moorland areas to cross.

Much of the trail follows pretty river valleys especially The Wharfe, Dee, Rawthey, Lune and The Kent. All have beauty spots for shady picnics, small ravines and rapids and are patrolled by birds such as Berwick swans, kingfishers, dippers and wagtails. Brown trout lurk in their waters depths. There are also a large number of “stiles” and “kissing gates” to negotiate as you stroll across fields, so good mobility is important. The itinerary follows Wharfedale (where there is time to admire the ruins of Bolton Abbey) and then via Hubberholme, gradually gaining height upstream to reach the Pennine watershed at Cam Fell (1700 feet). The way then runs down Dentdale to the market town of Sedbergh and across sheep pastures to Bowness on Windermere.

 

Guided expertise will be provided by Team Walking, who will share their knowledge of the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District with you, with plenty of little detours and extra experiences along the way.

 

This is a total of 81 miles of walking in 6 days, 21st- 26th April 2024.

£990.00 – The price is per person and based on twin sharing rooms.

 

Optional Extras

The below optional extras incur a supplement:

  • Single occupancy rooms – single supplement of £45 per night

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

 

High Quality Accommodation
You will be staying in our personally selected and high quality, friendly, bed and breakfast accommodations. We curate a great range of country inns, guest houses, farmhouses and small family-run hotels for your trip, each visited by our team to ensure excellence. Delicious filling breakfasts are included with your stay.

 

Expert Guide
You will be guided by Team Walking, who will share their knowledge of the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District with you, with plenty of little detours and extra experiences along the way. You will also receive a Guidebook and GPX files.

 

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 Dales Way, we can store them safely and securely in our office for the duration of your trip and then drop off at your final accommodation.

 

Assistance Pre- & Post Trip
If you need assistance or advice on anything related to your trip then we will happily help and can arrange for you. For example, finding train tickets from the airport, hotels in Manchester, and taxis from the finish (these purchases are all additional expenses).

 

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. 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.

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 (the places will be booked by Mark Reid but you need to pay for your own 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, your accommodations can provide a packed lunch (which you simply order on arrival and pay for).

 

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.

 

Pre-walk Accommodation

Pre-walk accommodation is not included, however, can be provided if required. Please speak to a member of the team should you require pre-walk accommodation in Ilkley.

 

Travel and Transport

We cannot offer parking or passenger transfers to the start or from the finish on this guided walk. You will need to make your own way to Ilkley. It has a railway station with direct trains to Leeds and Bradford (and hence connections from all major hubs around the UK). There is also a station in Windermere, near the finish. This line connects to the West Coast Mainline for trains to all major UK hubs.

 

Remember to carry personal spending money too, in case you wish to purchase any souvenirs, memorabilia or to enjoy a few pints of local ale.

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 walk, we can store them safely and securely in our office for the duration of your trip and then drop off at your final accommodation.

 

Transport to the Start & Back from Finish
We cannot offer parking or passenger transfers to the start or from the finish on this guided walk. You will need to make your own way to Ilkley. It has a railway station with direct trains to Leeds and Bradford (and hence connections from all major hubs around the UK). There is also a station in Windermere, near the finish. This line connects to the West Coast Mainline for trains to all major UK hubs.

After an exhilarating day walking across the trail, 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. You will be staying in lovely family-owned inns and quant Bed & Breakfasts in the overnight villages (Burnsall, Hubberholme, Ingleton, Sedbergh, Kendal and a night at Bowness at the end). The main trip price is based on two sharing a twin room. If you want single occupancy then a supplement will apply.

The below optional extras incur a supplement:

  • Single occupancy rooms – single supplement of £45 per night

Book Your Coast to Coast Adventure

Secure your booking with just a £100 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: £990

Days: 6

Type: Guided

Book Now

Itinerary for your
C2C Walking Holiday

> Find out more about the C2C walk distances

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.

Saturday 21st April 2024

We will meet at 9:30am on Saturday 21st April 2024 at Ilkley in Wharfedale. There is a train stations at Ilkley.

Lower Wharfedale and Bolton Abbey. This promises to be a very beautiful walk tracing the side of the River Wharfe. Undoubtedly, the well-preserved remains of Bolton Abbey are a popular spot especially on a weekend. To continue, you can cross to the other side of the Wharfe either by the bridge or by a long sequence of stepping stones. The route continues through the Duke of Devonshire’s estate and into beautiful Strid Woods, with a little gorge area – The Strid where the Wharfe narrows to a point that it has a cheese wire effect on the rocks incising a little gorge. From here the landscape opens up again as you head past the substantial structure of Barden Bridge. Thirsty people with a sensitivity for architecture, might like to take mile or so detour to the pretty village of Appletreewick which has an interesting ensemble of local stone houses as well as two nice pubs. Watch out for the weather stone, which can tell you the weather in any weather! There are a couple of interesting churches including St. Wilfrid’s from the 1400s.

Sunday 22nd April 2024

Today is an upland and lowland day. Firstly follow the Wharfe past attractive Linton to the market town of Grassington, with is cobbled streets and teashops. The route then leaves the river to start heading across drystone wall fringed upland fields. If you have forgotten your lunch, you can try to take a mouthful of Conistone Pie, a limestone hill feature which looks like a pie! There are great views over rocky scars, over dales and limestone pavements, before descending to reacquaint oneself with the river as you reach the old lead mining village of Kettlewell with three pretty looking pubs, this was the setting for the film ‘Calendar Girls’ filmed in 2003.

Monday 23rd April 2024

Rejoining the river, thread your way through sheepy fields to Buckden and then onto the riverside village of Hubberhome, with its nice pub, attractive church and torrents. Follow the Wharfe towards its upper youthful sections, the water spilling off limestone terraces and small waterfalls. At Yockenthwaite try to find the tiny stone circle. Further up at Beckermonds, you are at the source of the Wharfe from two small becks or streams. Say goodbye to the infant river here, climb stiffly up and out of Wharfedale over Cam Fell. The farmland here can be boggy! A steep ascent from Cam houses, the last farm in the Dale, brings you to a broad track and the highest point of the walk 1710ft / 521m, then start descending along what was once a Roman road, cutting across the Pennine Way Footpath and down into Dentdale. Views hopefully of the Yorkshire three peaks; Penyghent, Whernside and Ingelborough. Walk down towards Ribblehead and Gearstones.

Tuesday 24th April 2024

Today starts with a further moorland section ascending slightly to cross over to Denthead and then you are confronted with the magnificent viaduct on the Settle to Carlisle Railway, which almost seems to be a natural part of the surroundings. Another mile of steep descent along the pretty River Dee, brings you to Cowgill, a quiet pretty place.

At the foot of the steep Howgill Fells. The Dee becomes wider and more ‘fluid’ as you go. There is a welcome diversion offered across the river in the village of Dent, built of grey limestone with cobbled streets and well protected traditionally maintained buildings. This was the birth place of Adam Sedgwick in 1785, an important geology professor who much influenced Charles Darwin later on. There are a couple of welcome tea shops and the George and Dragon pub serves ale crafted by the Dent Brewery only a couple of miles away. St. Andrew’s church has a beautiful interior.

Following the river some more, ascend over a slight ridge and down into Garsdale and cross the river Rawthey and up steeply to the small town of Sedbergh at the foot of the wildly undulating Howgill Fells. Sedbergh is famous for its Public school and like Ilkley, has a number of family run shops. There are however, an overwhelming amount of bookshops, as it claims to be England’s book town, worth knowing if you are out of reading material by this stage of the walking tour!

Wednesday 25th April 2024

Returning to the Rawthey, you follow this attractive river, before joining the River Lune walking past some more viaducts reflecting the glorious Victorian era of engineering. At Crook of Lune you will discover a beautiful parabolic arch bridge, which is probably 500 years old. The view from it towards the Howgill Fells is a beauty. The Way now follows across an undulating landscape of sheep pastureland, with views of the Howgills and also turns towards the Lake District. You will reach Black Moss Tarn, a tiny lake tucked into a fold of the meadows, often with swans and geese floating upon it. A good spot for a break before descending, meeting briefly the rivers Mint and Sprint and onwards towards the 14th century Burneside Hall, a Pele tower to protect inhabitants from the Scots and the ‘Border Reivers’ who caused mayhem in this land. Arriving at Burneside, the first realization is that this is an industrial rather than tourist village dominated by a paper mill relying on the waters of the River Kent. The oldest parts of this mill are worth having a look at, with its interesting clock tower.

Thursday 26th April 2024

This morning we follow the attractive River Kent to Staveley passing interesting former mill areas, which in some cases have been creatively redeveloped into housing. The millponds however still remain and often trout can be seen jumping for fly. A few miles bring us into Staveley, an attractive village with its interesting bell tower and thriving local artisan businesses. The walk then becomes increasingly rural and onto wilder areas. Then we descend towards Lake Windermere, which remains elusive until you finally leave woodland, and come into Bowness on Windermere, a tourist town on the lakeside, this expanse of water is England’s largest natural lake.

As you finish on a Saturday, accommodation in Bowness stipulate an overnight stay, there is a train station at Windermere to travel home the following morning.

Book Now
Coast to Coast Packhorse Logo White

Chat with our team

Are you dreaming of booking one of our amazing walking holidays along the coast to coast and have some questions for our team? We’d love to have a chat about our hiking staycations and help to plan a totally bespoke journey for you. Fill in the form below and our team will be in touch as soon as possible. Thank you.

C2C Contact Form

“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