The Coast to Coast hike is a 192 mile hike across England from St Bees to Robin Hood's bay. I did this trail between June 20th and July 3rd in 2023.
Day 1
Day 1 was from St Bees to Ennerdale Bridge. I actually hiked the St Bees Head part on what I call day zero since I wasn't actually supposed to start until the next day. This shaved some miles off the first day for me so it wasn't such a shock to my out shape body.
The start of the C2C walk at St Bees.
I dipped a toe into the Irish Sea, plucked a pebble from the beach, and started walking.
Hiking St Bees Head.
Cairn atop Dent Fell.
Scenes like this would become VERY familiar over the next 13 days.
Alfred Wainwright pioneered the route.
The end of day 1.
Day Zero and One. I utilized the connector on both days to get to and from St Bees.
Day 2
Day 2 was from Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite. This was the first true day in the Lakes District which I would be crossing over the next several days.
First good view of Ennerdale Water and truly entering the Lakes District
Robin Hood's Chair
Not all of the trail around Ennerdale Water was this nice.
Road walk going up to Black Sail Hut
Black Sail YHA
Heading up from here
Nice stairway
Top. Looking back towards Ennerdale Water in the distance.
Panorama from the top
Looking down at Honister Pass and Honister Slate Mine
Honister Slate Mine
Looking down toward Seatoller and Rosthwaite
Seen near the Glaramara Hotel
Glaramara Hotel, my stop for the night
Day 2
Day 3
Day 3 was from Rosthwaite to Grasmere. Another up and over the pass day in the Lakes District. I opted for the high route and it was really an up and down ridge sort of route with probably more elevation gain than I was expecting, but it was all good.
The start of the walk was really pretty along this part of trail.
Stonethwaite Beck
I've seen many people complain about this short section in the C2C facebook group. Not sure what the big deal is, it's a pretty short little section. The footing is a little uneven but nothing to really worry about.
Bridge over Stonethwaite Beck
The trail begins to go up here
Going Up. Notice the waterfall right of center
Lining Crag
Recently these stones were laid on the path. Previously, this was a notoriously boggy stretch of trail.
Me, enjoying the views!
Calf Crag
Looking down toward Grasmere
One last climb. Helm Crag.
Panorama looking down towards Grasmere
Entering Grasmere
Entering Grasmere
My very first English Fish and Chips at the Travelers Rest in Grasmere
Day 3
Day 4
Day 4 was from Grasmere to Patterdale. Today was a short day of around 7 or 8 miles. It was pretty cloudy. There were opportunities to choose between a few different routes. Just before getting to Grisdale Tarn, you can take a path to the right that goes over St Sunday Crag. Or you could take a path to the left that goes up and over Helvellyn and Striding Edge. Since it was so cloudy and windy, the best option was to stick to the low route.
Another going up start to the day.
Quite the perch
Looking back towards Grasmere
Nice stone path
Along the shore of Grisdale Tarn.
Grisdale Tarn
Beginning the descent to Patterdale
Ruthwaite Lodge
Nice countryside through here just before getting to Patterdale.
Ullswater Lake
Made it to Patterdale!
Day 4
Day 5
On Day five I took the Ullswater Steamer alternate route that avoids going up and over Kidsty Pike and the long slog along the Haweswater Reservoir. There is another alternate that I will share below that involves going up to Kidsty Pike then instead of directly dropping down the Haweswater on the traditional route, you head north to High Raise, then on to Low Raise and follow a more gentle path down to Haweswater that will avoid much of the Haweswater shoreline. Had I not taken the steamer, that would have been the route I would have taken.
All aboard!
My new friends Liz and Dave were doing the hike on the same days I was
Ullswater Steamer
Pooley Bridge
Walking up the road towards Askham Fell
Near Askham Fell
Near Askham Fell
Seen along the way
Near Butterwick
Near Butterwick
This was near Butterwick, or maybe Bampton
This was near Butterwick, or maybe Bampton
Near Bampton
Just Outside of Bampton
This was the first honesty box I saw on the C2C trail. I regret not buying one of the postcards. The photos were really nice.
River Lowther
It wasn't clear to me where it happened, but somewhere along the alternate route, it merged back into the main C2C route
