Coast to Coast: St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay
About this trip.
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Wainwright's Coast to Coast, from St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay
This is a self-guided walking holiday of 13 days and 12 nights along Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast route. It runs west to east from St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay, which the operator says is by far the most popular direction. The team will help you put together an itinerary that suits you, and you walk the trail at your own pace. Rest days can be added, and single rooms are available.
You stay in country inns, guest houses, farmhouses and small family-run hotels. The team has chosen each one and visited it in person. Breakfast is included every day. Your bags are moved from one place to the next each day and arrive by 4pm, often earlier. If you're unwell or injured and can't walk on a particular day, a driver will collect you and your bags and take you to your next accommodation. If the walk is part of a longer trip to England, the office can store anything you don't need and drop it at your final accommodation.
Maps, guides and support
Several weeks before you leave, you'll receive a detailed information pack by email as a PDF. It covers preparation and packing, what to look out for along the way, the services in each village (such as cash points, banks and shops) and when your bags will be collected and delivered each day. You also get a map booklet covering the full route on 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey mapping, plus a GPX file for navigation devices. Support is available seven days a week, before and during the trip.
Lunches, evening meals and travel insurance are not included. The information pack suggests places to eat, from country pubs to local takeaways. Your accommodation can make you a packed lunch if you order it when you arrive.
Getting to St Bees and back
The operator is based in Kirkby Stephen, just off junction 38 of the M6. If you drive, you can spend your first night there and leave your car in their locked car park for the whole trip. You can get to it when the walk passes back through Kirkby Stephen. The Packhorse minibus takes you to the start at St Bees and brings you back from Robin Hood's Bay.
If you're coming by train, you can start with a night in St Bees instead. There are rail stations at Whitehaven and St Bees. The train from Manchester takes about 4 to 4.5 hours, depending on connections. Manchester is the nearest international airport. The team can also help arrange train tickets, hotels in Manchester and taxis from Robin Hood's Bay, though you pay for these separately.
The shape of the trip.
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1How hard is it really?
The grading is set by the operator and usually reflects daily distance and total ascent. As a rule of thumb: if you can comfortably manage a 5-6 hour hillwalk at home on a weekend, a moderate-graded route will be fine. Read the day-by-day notes carefully, and train with a loaded pack in the months before.
Q2Can I do this solo?
Yes — self-guided walking holidays are well suited to solo travellers, and some operators waive the single-room supplement on certain departures. The route notes are written for confident independent walkers, and most operators run a 24/7 support line.
Q3Do I need to speak the language?
No. Hotels and restaurants on the route are used to English-speaking walkers. A phrasebook for menus and a few polite basics (hello, thank you, please) is all you really need. The operator's support line speaks English.
Q4Can I bring my dog?
Some routes are dog-friendly, others aren't — it depends on whether all the accommodation on the itinerary accepts dogs. Check with the operator before booking. If you do bring a dog, you'll need a pet passport, up-to-date rabies vaccination, and a lead for villages.
Q5What if it rains?
The route is walkable in rain — your luggage travels ahead regardless, so you'll always arrive somewhere dry. Some trails get slippery in wet weather and the operator's support line can arrange a taxi for any stage if conditions are properly bad.
Q6How do I get there from the UK?
Most routes are reachable by a short flight to a nearby airport, followed by train or transfer. The operator will usually point you at the nearest airport and can advise on rail connections. Some will book train tickets on your behalf for a small fee.
Q7Can I shorten or extend it?
Usually yes. Many operators offer shorter versions of a route as a standalone, and most will add extra nights at the start or end at their own rates. Ask when you enquire — they'll tailor it before booking.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a deposit (usually 20-25%) is taken at booking, with the balance due 8-10 weeks before departure. The operator's own terms apply — Mooch doesn't handle the booking or refunds. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Three walking holidays, side-by-side.
The two closest walking holidays on Mooch, both on the Coast to Coast. Prices are the operators' own, per person.
