The History of Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk
Cumbria is the starting line for one of Britain’s best-loved walking traditions: Alfred Wainwright’s Coast-to-Coast Walk. The village of St Bees on the Irish Sea takes you through just two counties (Cumbria and Yorkshire), ending when you paddle your toes in the East Yorkshire village of Robin Hood’s Bay.
Always follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe. Also read our post on keeping dogs safe by the seaside.
The Cumbria part is more difficult. So you can of course do the walk the other way around, if you prefer the easy Yorkshire rolling hills before the mountains! The Herdwick sheep of the lakes soon give way to the curly-horned Swaledales as you move on.
The 192 mile walk takes a couple of weeks, stopping at bed-and-breakfasts along the way. For car-free journeys, there’s a train stop at St Bees. When you reach Robin Hood’s Bay, Whitby and its cosy cafés are a short bus or taxi ride away.
Who was Alfred Wainwright?
Alfred was an office worker, who took a pay drop to to move the Lake District. After an unhappy first marriage, he married the love of his life (on condition that she walked several paces behind him, and didn’t talk on their walks!) It seemed to work, as they remained blissfully happy until he died of natural causes, at a ripe old age.
Alfred was extremely fond of nature and wildlife, and donated profits from his books to animal charities. A local animal shelter is even named after him.
More Info on the Coast-to-Coast Walk
Contours has accommodation (look for the pawprint icon for dog-friendly trails – you can book just part of the walk). Mickledore offers part-of-the-walk holidays too, but not everywhere is dog-friendly.
The Coast to Coast Path is the official 2024 guidebook. It features maps and route planners, plus details on places to stay and camp, plus local pubs. Or go for the older but more interesting guide by Alfred himself, with pictures (updated regularly). You can report damaged paths or overgrown hedgerows.
