Coast to Coast Running — Route Guide & Guided Trips
Sea to sea across northern England: the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors in one continuous line, and the best multi-day running trip in Britain.
The Coast to Coast crosses three national parks in roughly 300 km, and each one runs completely differently. The Lakeland opening is the hardest — steep fell crossings and the biggest climbing. The Dales middle is fast and rolling. The North York Moors finish is heather, old railway lines and a long descent to the sea.
It became a fully waymarked National Trail in recent years, which has made navigation much easier, though the high Lakeland alternatives still reward a map and the confidence to use it.
At a glance
| Distance | Approx. 300 km, St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay |
| Ascent | Approx. 6,800 m |
| Terrain | Lakeland fell, Pennine moor, Dales limestone and North York Moors heather |
| Best season | May to September |
| Difficulty | Hard — a multi-day undertaking across three national parks |
| Start point | St Bees, Cumbria |
| Region | Northern England |
| Guided | Yes — quoted against dates and group size, request a quote |
The route, section by section
| Section | What to expect |
|---|---|
| St Bees to Patterdale | The Lakeland crossing — the hardest running and the biggest ascent |
| Patterdale to Kirkby Stephen | Over Kidsty Pike and across the Westmorland limestone |
| Kirkby Stephen to Richmond | Swaledale — the fastest, most runnable section of the whole route |
| Richmond to Robin Hood's Bay | The Vale of Mowbray, then the North York Moors to the sea |
Route notes and safety
Runners typically split it into five to eight days. Baggage transfer is well established the whole way, so you can run with a light pack and stay in villages each night — which is what makes this such a good first multi-day trip.
Running it guided
We guide this route for individuals and small groups. That means route planning, navigation, pace matched to you, safety kit and first-aid cover carried by the guide, and a kit list sent before you travel. Price is quoted against your dates and group size.
- A guide on every run, with route planning and navigation
- Pace grouping, so nobody is dropped and nobody is held back
- Safety kit carried by the guide, plus first-aid cover
- A personalised kit list before you travel
- Technique and pacing coaching on trail, at no extra cost
- Accommodation and transfers bundled in if you want them
Frequently asked questions
How many days does it take to run the Coast to Coast?
Five to eight days is the usual runner's schedule, at roughly 40–60 km a day. Walkers typically take twelve to fifteen.
Is the Coast to Coast a good first multi-day run?
It's one of the best. Baggage transfer, accommodation and resupply are all well established, so you can concentrate on running rather than logistics.
Which direction should I run it?
West to east is traditional and puts the prevailing wind behind you, plus you get the hardest Lakeland climbing done while you're fresh.
Where to go next
Ready to run?
Tell us your dates, your rough weekly mileage and where you'd like to run. We'll come back with the routes we'd recommend, availability and a price.