Coast to Coast in 12 days
Four pairs joined. Three days pass 18 miles, and two of them cross open moor — this is a fit walker's schedule.
A 12-day Coast to Coast walk covers 186.9 miles (301.0 km) and about 8813 m of ascent, averaging 15.6 miles a day. The longest day is 21.5 miles (Keld to Richmond). 3 days pass 18 miles.
- 186.9 mi301.0 km total
- 12walking days
- 15.6 miaverage day
- 8813 mtotal ascent
- 21.5 milongest day
The 12 days
Distances and ascent are the figures published on each stage page; a day that joins two stages is the sum of the two. Every overnight below is a village that ends a stage, so each one has its own guide.
| Day | Walk | Distance | Ascent | Time | Grade | Cumulative | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Bees → Ennerdale Bridge Stage 1 | 17.1 mi | 27.5 km | 885 m | 8.6 h | Hard | 17.1 mi |
| 2 | Ennerdale Bridge → Rosthwaite Stage 2 | 13.2 mi | 21.3 km | 671 m | 6.6 h | Hard | 30.3 mi |
| 3 | Rosthwaite → Patterdale Stage 3 + Stage 4 | 13.9 mi | 22.4 km | 1195 m | 8 h | Moderate | 44.2 mi |
| 4 | Patterdale → Shap Stage 5 | 15.3 mi | 24.6 km | 1128 m | 8.2 h | Very Hard | 59.5 mi |
| 5 | Shap → Kirkby Stephen long day Stage 6 + Stage 7 | 19.4 mi | 31.3 km | 675 m | 9.4 h | Moderate | 78.9 mi |
| 6 | Kirkby Stephen → Keld Stage 8 | 10.9 mi | 17.5 km | 654 m | 5.7 h | Moderate | 89.8 mi |
| 7 | Keld → Richmond long day Stage 9 + Stage 10 | 21.5 mi | 34.7 km | 988 m | 10.7 h | Moderate | 111.3 mi |
| 8 | Richmond → Danby Wiske Stage 11 | 15.5 mi | 25.0 km | 244 m | 6.9 h | Easy | 126.8 mi |
| 9 | Danby Wiske → Osmotherley Stage 12 | 14.0 mi | 22.6 km | 305 m | 6.3 h | Moderate | 140.8 mi |
| 10 | Osmotherley → Clay Bank Top Stage 13 | 10.9 mi | 17.5 km | 898 m | 6.1 h | Hard | 151.7 mi |
| 11 | Clay Bank Top → Grosmont long day Stage 14 + Stage 15 | 20.2 mi | 32.5 km | 386 m | 9.1 h | Moderate | 171.9 mi |
| 12 | Grosmont → Robin Hood's Bay Stage 16 | 15.0 mi | 24.1 km | 784 m | 7.5 h | Hard | 186.9 mi |
| Total | 12 walking days | 186.9 mi | 301.0 km | 8813 m |
Grade is the harder of the stages a day covers. Walking times are moving time at a steady pace and exclude stops.
The Coast to Coast is traditionally quoted as 190 miles (306 km), and that is the figure used across this site. Adding up the 16 stage lines we publish gives 186.9 miles (301.0 km). Both are here on purpose: the totals in the tables are the sum of the stages, so they always match the days above them, while the headline figure is the one the route is known by. Exact distance depends on which variants you walk — the Nine Standards Rigg seasonal routes alone differ by over a mile.
Who this schedule suits
Walkers with hill fitness and a light pack who have used up their leave and still want the whole line.
The day that costs the most
Day 3, Rosthwaite to Patterdale, carries 1195 m of ascent — more climbing than any other day on this plan, over 13.9 miles. It is graded moderate.
Where to sleep
Each overnight in the table is a village or town on the route. Beds are the binding constraint on this walk, not fitness: Keld, Blakey Ridge and Clay Bank Top have very few, and in June to September they go months ahead. Book the whole line before you commit to dates — see Coast to Coast accommodation, or tell us your dates once on the trip request form and let local providers come back to you.
Other schedules
Common questions
Can you walk the Coast to Coast in 12 days?
Yes. This is a 12-day schedule for the Coast to Coast Path: 186.9 miles (301.0 km) and about 8813 m of ascent, split into 12 walking days that each finish in a village on the route. The longest day is 21.5 miles, Keld to Richmond.
Which are the long days on a 12-day Coast to Coast?
3 of the 12 days pass 18 miles: day 5 Shap to Kirkby Stephen (19.4 mi); day 7 Keld to Richmond (21.5 mi); day 11 Clay Bank Top to Grosmont (20.2 mi). Plan these for your strongest days and start early — they are the ones people underestimate.
Which stages are combined on the 12-day plan?
Compared with walking one stage a day, this plan joins stages 3 and 4; stages 6 and 7; stages 9 and 10; stages 14 and 15. Every other day is a single stage, and every overnight is still a village that ends a stage on our 16-stage scheme.
How much walking is that per day on average?
About 15.6 miles (25.1 km) a day, with roughly 734 m of ascent. Averages hide a lot on this route: the Lakeland days at the start carry most of the climbing, and the Vale of Mowbray in the middle is nearly flat.
Does this include rest days?
No — 12 is the number of walking days. Kirkby Stephen and Richmond are the usual places to add a rest day, because both are proper towns with shops, banks, food and onward transport.
Which direction does this itinerary walk?
West to east, St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay, which is the direction Wainwright set out and the way the great majority walk it. It puts the prevailing south-westerly weather behind you and saves the Lake District fells for legs that are still fresh.
