This week, a walk that has it all: England's Coast to Coast (or indeed Wainwright's Coast to Coast, named after the famous author and illustrator who devised the route). The benefit of choosing a classic trail like the much loved favourite Coast to Coast is that tens of thousands of walkers can't be wrong.... you KNOW it is going to be great!

In a Nutshell:

Distance: 199 miles Grading: Depends! Walking over 13 - 14 walking days would be a "moderate - strenuous" grade. Walking over 15 - 16 walking days makes it a little easier and a "moderate" grade. We'd say 12 walking days is just for fit & experienced walkers.

Where is it?

The Coast to Coast runs from St Bees beach in Cumbria in the North West of England, where most walkers pick up a pebble to drop into the sea at the other end. It finishes in Robin Hood's Bay in England's North East. You're walking from the Irish Sea to the North Sea via no less than three national parks (the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the Yorkshire Moors), with a 1,560 m (5,120 ft) elevation change in total.

Why walk it?

Where do we start?! You start off by walking through some of the most beautiful Lake District scenery (which, by the way, is some of the finest in England), and the landscapes are very diverse with everything from rolling farmland to rocky summits, plus, the towns and villages along the way are super-charming and welcoming.

One of the best things about the Coast to Coast is the Coast-to-Coasters themselves. You'll meet friendly faces along the way, getting to know those walking at your pace, maybe even making friends for life. That camaraderie as you all take on the same challenge is unbeatable. A few fun facts: at Macs Adventure, we recently had clients get married on the Coast to Coast (congratulations again Simon and Clare)! You can also read about Rachael, who walked the Coast to Coast three times before her ninth birthday; inspiring stuff. Writer Alison Chino also just completed the Coast to Coast and you can re-live it with her through her words and beautiful pictures on her blog.

Alison Chino on the Coast to Coast

The Coast to Coast is not actually an official English National Trail, it is, however, one of the most popular trails in the UK.

Planning to walk the Coast to Coast

One of the most common questions we're asked is how many days should it take to walk the Coast to Coast. We'd suggest between 12 and 16 walking days (13 - 17 nights) to walk the full Coast to Coast. You can also choose to walk in sections if you don't have that much time (East or West, stopping and starting at Kirkby Stephen in the middle), although if you can, the ultimate buzz is from finishing it in one go. You can view our suggested itineraries and more information on our website: https://www.macsadventure.com/walking-holiday/uk-walking-holiday/england/coast-coast/, or contact us on info@macsadventure.com if you'd like any advice or a tailored quote (we can add or remove days to make the walk as easy or tough as you wish!) We'd highly recommend that every walker ticks this one off the list. An absolute classic.