Dip your boot in the sea at the start of this walk, as it is traditional that you dip your boot in Robin Hood's Bay at the end, making you a traveler from sea to shining sea.
The very best sections of this outstanding long distance walk have been selected to do on foot. You will enjoy intervening areas from the comfort of a sightseeing vehicle. Your knowledgeable, and good-natured Blue Badge Tourist Guide is a veteran of this walk, and has a curiosity and passion for its ever changing discoveries.
England's Coast-to-Coast Walk is a route pioneered by Viking settlers in the last millennium, and has been kept cleared by enlightened man ever since. Pass through forests, quiet valleys and some high ground with absolutely marvelous views of the largest lakes in England.
Pass by the Pennine Mountains. Through the picturesque, sleepy villages of Kirkby Stephen, an ancient market town, and Patterdale, set in the Ullswater Valley, and Reeth, the 'capital of Swaledale', sporting three pubs, three tea shops, a post office and a museum. Walking by the swirling waters of the River Swale takes you past a 12th century monk's priory.
At the end of the walk you come to the small town of Robin Hood's Bay. Clinging to the rugged cliffs of the powerful North Sea, your journey ends with an extraordinary coastal walk along the cliffs, seeing quaint cottages along the way. You have done it! Each walker will receive a certificate attesting to the accomplishment.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Meet at 2:00pm. As St. Bees is on the Irish Sea, your introductory walk offers outstanding coastal views around the beautiful St. Bees headland, one of the largest cliff seabird colonies on the west coast of England. Afterwards there will be a welcome reception to discuss the week ahead before dinner. Walk: 5 miles, 3 hours. Ascent: 300 ft. Overnight St. Bees.
Day 2: After a short drive to Ennerdale we walk up this remote and tranquil valley alongside Ennerdale water, through pine forests and up into the magnificent mountain scenery of the Lake District National Park. We descend via old slate quarry workings, evoking the industrial past, to Borrowdale, ‘the most beautiful valley in England’. Walk: 10 miles, 7 hours. Ascent: 1700 ft. Overnight Borrowdale valley.
Day 3: A scenic drive through the very heart of the Lake District takes us to Thomas Gray’s “unsuspected paradise” – the valley of Grasmere. There will be time to explore this delightful village with its many Wordsworth connections and visit Dove cottage, the poet’s home before we depart for our walk to Patterdale via the mountain pass of Grizedale Hause. This well trodden path provides a corridor through some spectacular mountain scenery to the valley of Ullswater where we stop for the night. Enjoy a special evening with a chance to meet with local people. Walk: 7 miles, 5-6 hours. Ascent 1600 ft. Overnight: Ullswater valley.
Day 4: This morning we drive along the shores of Ullswater, leaving the Lake District and head for the Yorkshire Dales National Park and beautiful Swaledale with its unique landscape and field barns. Here a high level moorland walk on good tracks takes us by the remnants of a once flourishing Lead Mining industry before descending to the delightful village of Reeth - often referred to as "the capital of Swaledale". A visit to an organic working farm, with time for a tour and tea, rounds off the day. Walk: 9.5 miles 5 hrs Ascent: 800ft Overnight Reeth.
Day 5: Our walk continues from Reeth along the River Swale where the valley widens on its majestic journey eastwards. We pass the ruins of Marrick Priory en route to the village of Marske and continue above the River Swale through magnificent limestone scenery and woods to the historic market town of Richmond dominated by its medieval castle. Walk: 11 miles, 6-7 hours. Ascent: 500 ft. Overnight: Richmond.
Day 6: We drive from Richmond to the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Today is spent walking in the lovely rolling Cleveland Hills, enjoying extensive views over the surrounding countryside as we walk across the moorland footpaths. A short drive takes us to the small village of Ellerby, our home for the last two nights. Walk: 11 miles, 7-8 hours. Ascent: 2000 ft. Overnight Ellerby.
Day 7: We return this morning to the heather clad moors for a delightful walk and outstanding views and then gradually descend into Esk Dale, via an ancient packhorse bridge and woodland, following the River Esk to lunch at an old coaching inn. Drive to Hawsker for the final part of this memorable journey. A magnificent walk along the cliffs and down past quaint cottages to the sea at Robin Hood’s Bay. Time to celebrate an achievement - you will have walked or traveled through three National Parks and covered just over a third of the 190 mile route on foot. Walk: 12 miles, 7 hours. Overnight Ellerby.
Day 8: Depart after a leisurely breakfast.
2008 Dates: June 28-July 5, September 20-27.
Meeting Point: Hotel in St. Bees. Transfers are not included.
Difficulty of Walk: Walking along footpaths, narrow earthen tracks which can sometimes be uneven and a little rocky in places. Occasionally there will be farm tracks and paved minor roads. This is a hike for fit walkers only.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
$3,995 per person, shared.
$325 single supplement.
Price Includes:
- 7 nights B&B accommodation
- 6 days of guided walking
- Breakfast each day
- 6 picnic or pub lunches
- Fruit and juice breaks
- 5 dinners
- All entrance fees in the itinerary
- Blue Badge Tourist Guide
- Back-up transport during walk
- Luggage transfer
- Tax.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
England
Walking Tours
Ecotourism
|
