Guided Coast to Coast Part 2 Walking Holiday Dossier

This is an 110 mile guided walking holiday following Wainwrights Coast to Coast route across North Yorkshire. This tour is a group walking holiday with a guide. You walk from west to east through stunning scenery, crossing the Pennines and Cleveland Hills. Typically you travel to Kirkby Stephen, meet your guide and fellow walkers in the evening, and overnight ready to start your walk the following morning.

From Kirkby Stephen the route enters the Yorkshire Dales national park and crosses the Pennines. At Richmond you leave the Dales and walk across the low lying Vale of Mowbray to Ingleby Cross and the beginning of the North York Moors. From here the trail leads you on a roller coaster ride across the heather covered hills to the North Sea and Robin Hoods Bay.

This is a moderate to challenging 'trek' and should not be under estimated, the valleys through the middle section, and the arable land in the eastern section make for straightforward walking, but the hills of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors are rugged and gradients can be steep, so before you embark on this walk you must be physically fit, and equipped to meet it. The terrain on this trail is a diversity of rocky mountain paths, limestone plateau’s, country lanes, rolling hillsides and farmland.

Our guided coast to coast holidays are group holidays with a guide. Each night on the trail you stay in a different village along the route in selected accommodation, with full English breakfast provided. Your luggage is transferred for you between overnight accommodation, the minibus service will also transfer you with your luggage if you need to miss a days walking.

Start point
Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria

End point
Robin Hoods Bay, North Yorkshire

Direction of walk
West to East

Group size
There will be a maximum of 12 people plus guide on your holiday.

Grade
A moderate to challenging route walked at a steady pace and therefore a good level of fitness (stamina and cardiovascular) is required.

Terrain
The terrain varies from rocky paths (especially in the National Parks), to farmland and country lanes. The National Parks provide the challenge of some steep ascents and descents (perfect if you like walking in the hills).

Included in the price of your holiday

  • 9 nights accommodation with full English breakfast

  • Experienced guide

  • Luggage transfer between accommodation

  • Personal accommodation to accommodation transfer if required

Not included in the price of your holiday
Evening meals, packed lunches, drinks and snacks, travel insurance, travel to Kirkby Stephen and from Robin Hoods Bay, souvenirs, etc.

Accommodation
Accommodation is provided in a variety of selected comfortable B&Bs, Guest Houses, small hotels and Inns. Types and standards of accommodation vary from village to village, and room sizes and facilities vary within accommodation. Many properties are hundreds of years old, and although many rooms have been converted to ensuite (or have a private bathroom) it has not been possible to do so in some properties or rooms due to space limitations or buildings having listed status (a property preservation order). You can expect to share a bathroom (i.e. have non ensuite/private bathroom) for one or two nights of a full tour.

Guide
Your experienced Guide will provide daily information about the route, and guide the way. Your Guide will provide information about your accommodation and places to eat in the evening, etc. Your Guide is first aid trained.

Luggage transfer
For the duration of the holiday your luggage is transferred from accommodation to accommodation by a luggage transfer agent. Luggage allowance is 1 bag/person weighing not more than 20kg (44lbs).

Personal transfer
If required personal transfer from accommodation to accommodation is available.

Meals
A full English breakfast is included in the cost of your holiday and is served at your accommodation. Packed lunches (average cost £5) are available to buy from your accommodation or local shop, and evening meals (average cost £12) are generally available from local pubs (see itinerary below for further information).

Extra nights accommodation
You can add extra nights accommodation in Kirkby Stephen or Robin Hoods Bay. Price £38 per person per night.

Weather
The weather in Northern England is best described as changeable but we do get long dry warm spells. You should be prepared for all possibilities as weather, particularly in the mountains, can change quickly. Weather statistics are available from the Met Office at www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/

Clothing
Good outdoor clothing and waterproofs are essential.

Footwear
Comfortable walking boots which provide good grip on multiple terrain and ankle support are recommended.

Equipment
Specialist equipment is not required for this walking holiday. A suggested equipment list will be sent to you with your booking confirmation.

Travel
For information on travelling to and from the route please click here


Route description

The following is intended to provide some further information about the route and points of interest. Please note that all distances, timings and heights are approximate and along with all the other information are provided as an aid to describe the route. The time to cover the distance includes time spent walking and time for breaks. If further information is required please contact our office. Several guide books providing detailed route descriptions and information are also available.

Day 1 Kirkby Stephen
Kirkby Stephen is a small market town situated in the Eden Valley.

Day 2 Kirkby Stephen (180M) to Keld (350M).
Distance 13 miles - Strenuous - Height Gain 515m/1690ft - 7 hours
Across Franks Bridge and head for the lane which becomes a broad path onto the Pennine Moors and the summit of Nine Standards Rigg (662M). Depending on the time of year there are three routes over and around Nine Standards; green (avoiding the summit) for winter and spring, red for early summer, and blue for late summer and autumn. All routes cross peat, which is notoriously boggy in wet weather, before descending to the River Swale and the road in to Keld.

Day 3 Keld (350M) to Reeth (200M).
Distance 11 miles - Strenuous - Height Gain 150m/490ft - 6.5 hours
The route stays high and crosses moorland that is scarred from a lead mining industry that disappeared at the end of the 19th century. From Keld the route descends to the river then climbs past Crackpot Hall and the ruins of Swinner Gill mine workings. It crosses the moor (580M) before dropping into Gunnerside Gill (400M) and then up onto Melbecks Moor (550M). From here a broad track descends gradually passing the ruins of Old Gang Smelting Mills to Surrender Bridge (350M). The last test of the day is to drop into Cringley Bottom, cross the stream and then continue over the farmland to Reeth.

Day 4 Reeth (200M) to Bolton on Swale near Richmond (150M).
Distance 17 miles - Long Moderate - Height Gain 400m/1315ft - 8 hours
This is a much easier day’s terrain through rolling countryside passing Marrick Priory, Marske village and Whitecliffe wood. We arrive in Richmond at lunchtime and then continue to Bolton on Swale in the afternoon (to reduce the following day’s distance). Short transfer back to Richmond.

Day 5 Bolton on Swale, Richmond (150M) to Ingleby Cross (100M).
Distance 17 miles - Long Moderate - Height Gain 100m/330ft - 7.5 hours
Transfer back to Bolton on Swale. The route to Danby Wiske is almost level and generally easy going, it crosses farmland and then follows 8 miles of country lanes and then farmland again across the low lying Vale of Mowbray to Ingleby Cross.

Day 6 Ingleby Cross (100M) to Clay Bank Top (250M).
Distance 13 miles - Strenuous - Height Gain 750m/2465ft - 7 hours
A rollercoaster day. The path climbs through Arncliffe Wood and joins the Cleveland Way trail. The route then descends into Scugdale (100M). Not keen to stay low the path climbs steadily at first then steeply onto Gold Hill (315M). It continues onto Carlton Moor (408M) before descending to Green Bank (300M). Once again it climbs going over Cringle Moor (430M), descends to 280M back up to 400M, down again to 300M and then a final climb through the Wainstones onto Hasty Bank (398M) before descending to the road at Clay Bank Top (250M). If all the up and down seems like too much hard work there is a path that contours round the hills from Green Bank to Clay Bank. Short transfer to our accommodation in Great Broughton.

Day 7 Clay Bank Top (250M) to Blakey Ridge (400M).
Distance 9 miles - Moderate - Height Gain 250m/820ft - 4 hours
Short transfer back to Clay Bank Top. The walk starts with a steep ascent to Carr Ridge (390M) this is followed by a gradual rise to the summit of Round Hill (454M), the highest point on the North York Moors. The path descends to Bloworth Crossing (400M) were it leaves the Cleveland Way and continues on an almost level disused railway line across the desolate moors to the remote Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge.

Day 8 Blakey Ridge (400M) to Grosmont (50M).
Distance 15 miles - Long Moderate - Height Gain 100m/330ft - 6 hours
High on the moors we follow a road for a few miles before returning to tracks through the heathers. Another road walk and then the route takes a broad disused track gradually descending Glaisdale Moor into Glaisdale village. The route, never far from the River Esk, passes through woodland to Egton Bridge where it follows a once toll road through the private estate of Egton Manor to Grosmont.

Day 9 Grosmont (50M) to Robin Hoods Bay.
Distance 15 miles - Long Moderate - Height Gain 475m/1560ft - 7 hours
The road climbs steeply out of Grosmont (its not called the 1 in 3 for nothing) to its high point on Sleights Moor (285M), there are wonderful views to Whitby and the sea. Still on heather moorland the route descends into Littlebeck (50M). After the woodland walk it climbs back up to 200M and crosses a final stretch of heather moorland before following country lanes to the coast. We turn south to follow the coastal path to Robin Hoods Bay and a final last descent to the sea. Follow tradition once more by dipping your boot in the sea and throwing your pebble in (that should baffle the geologists in years to come). Your challenge is complete.

Day 10 Robin Hoods Bay
Robin Hoods Bay is a picturesque once fishing village and reputed smugglers haunt. Being built on the hillside the street from top to bottom of the village is the final steep descent/ascent on route.