Wainwrights coast to coast walk by alfred wainwright. The coast to coast is one of the worlds great walks. Feb 15, 2015 3 tips for first timers on wainwright s coast to coast thelondonhiker. Wainwright suggested a way of breaking the walk miles into stages, each of which to be completed in a day. Chris jesty has done a marvelous job of revising wainwrights guidebooks over the. Since his guide to the route was published in 1973, it has been widely hailed as a work of genius, linking west and east coasts via a near arrowstraight line that connects three national parks, taking in some of englands finest walking country. Chris started with the coast to coast walk book way back in the late 80s. Guide books, maps and advice useful for wainwrights coast to.
Back in the 70s, alfred wainwright wrote a book documenting a path across england, from coast to coast, as it were. It is a classic and quite rightly has become one of the most popular long distance walks in the british isles. View my photographic journal of the 1994 coast to coast walk this classic long distance walk was devised by alfred wainwright in 1972. The coast to coast route was aws last great venture and has become his greatest legacy to long distance walkers a beautifully simple proposition, linking three national parks that lie between the irish and the north sea the lake district, the yorkshire dales. First, the walk has distinct starting and finishing points as it starts on the west coast of northern england and. Hiking wainwrights coast to coast trail rick steves. In an edited extract from his book coast to coast walk, martin wainwright follows in the footsteps of the walks creator alfred wainwright, 192 miles from st bees to robin hoods bay. Devised by alfred wainwright, it passes through three contrasting national parks. A coast to coast walk was devised by alfred wainwright, and his guidebook to the route was published in 1973. From st bees head to robin hoods bay wainwright walkers edition paperback alfred wainwright. The coast to coast walk was my first hike in england. In the village of st bees you could head to the 17th century queens hotel which has a cosy country pub atmosphere with oak beams and log fires in winter. Aws coast to coast wainwright society for lovers of.
Though the idea of crossing england and three national parks was appealing, the route includes long stretches, like. There is a reasonable amount of road walking and some hilly sections, but this is balanced with plenty of pubs and campsites to rest and recover. Follow tradition and dip your toe in the irish sea on the west coast then 200 miles later in the north sea on the east coast. Aws coast to coast wainwright society for lovers of fell. A walk across england history smithsonian magazine. Book collection wainwright society for lovers of fell. Planning your coast to coast walk planning your own walk. From st bees head on the irish sea by way of the lake district, the pennines, swaledale and the north york moors and ending at robin hoods bay on the north sea, this 190mile walk has over the years become one of the bestloved. Hiking wainwrights coast to coast trail rick steves travel. Itineraries vary from 10 to 15 days covering about 52,000 foot of elevation change over 192 miles. From st bees head on the irish sea by way of the lake district, the pennines, swaledale and the north york moors and ending at robin hoods bay on the north sea, this 190mile walk has over the years become one of the bestloved longdistance routes in the world. Though the idea of crossing england and three national parks was appealing, the route includes long stretches, like the vale of mowbray, that didnt appeal. Coast to coast walking holidays from mickledore travel. It covers 190 miles, from the sea cliffs of st bees on the irish sea, to the fishing village of robin hoods bay on the north sea.
What to expect from the coast to coast walk in england. Lake district fells and is the starting point of some classic hill walks like. If youre thinking about taking on the coast to coast walk, then youve come to the right place. Coast to coast was broadcast on bbc four in april and may 2009 and on bbc2 from 21 july 2009, and presented by julia bradbury. Pdf wainwright s coast to coast walk download full pdf. The c2c, devised by the late alfred wainwright, continues to be one of the most popular longdistance walks in the world. Wainwrights coast to coast walk contours walking holidays. Advice on walking wainwrights coast to coast path the.
Wainwright routes, a website featuring walks in the english lake district, routes to the summits of the 214 fells described in the seven volume pictorial guide to the. The coast to coast walk is unique among britains longdistance footpaths in that it was the invention of one man, the legendary alfred wainwright, and enjoys no official status like, for example, the national trails in england and wales. Alfred wainwright, famous for his pictorial guides to the lakeland fells, stitched two coasts, three national parks and 200 miles of footpath together to create the ultimate long distance walk in england. Wainwrights coast to coast walk tv series 1990 imdb. The coast to coast walk was created by alfred wainwright, the famous fell walker and guidebook writer, in 1973. A granada tv series wainwright country included eagle crag, great calva, knott rigg, pike oblisco, stybarrow dodd, thornthwaite crag and yewbarrow. A coast to coast walk was devised by wainwright himself and stretches across 190 miles from st bees head on the east coast to robin hoods bay on the west. Wainwright s pocketsized guide to the classic coast to coast walk. Wainwrights coast to coast contours walking holidays. One of the best loved walks in the world, the coast to coast is the brainchild of alfred wainwright and follows a spectacular. The scenery varies dramatically from day to day and the trail gives hikers the flexibility of how much support, luxury or adventure they want. With one or two rest days, this enables the route to fit into a twoweek holiday. Aug 14, 2019 wainwrights coast to coast is a long distance unofficial trail in britain that goes from the irish sea to the north sea via three national parks.
The books contain intricate hand drawn sketches by the author, detailing routes of ascent, and gradients of the hills in and around the lake district and outlying regions. Wainwrights coast to coast is a long distance unofficial trail in britain that goes from the irish sea to the north sea via three national parks. Pdf download wainwrights coast to coast walk free unquote. Journey through the magnificent scenery of the lake district, the yorkshire dales and the north york moors national parks along one of englands most famous trails. Dec 31, 2019 north west walks deserve a particular mention from the maps and guide books they supply to their selection of accommodation used.
This pictorial guide, first published in 1973 and updated in 1992, contains wainwrights original text and his handdrawn blackandwhite route maps the coast to coast walk, devised by wainwright himself, stretches across 190 miles from st bees head on the east coast to robin hoods bay on the west, passing through the lake district, yorkshire dales and north york moors. A coast to coast walk book was one of wainwrights most popular guidebooks. Wainwrights coast to coast is a great walk with children, providing they are reasonably fit, as the paths are mostly good. Wainwrights pocketsized guide to the classic coast to coast walk. This peaceful location commands great views of the lake district fells and is the starting point of some classic hill walks like striding edge, helvellyn, swirral edge. They do good food which can be taken in the nice conservatory or the terraced garden bar on warmer days. Coast to coast walking and cycling holidays sherpa. Wainwrights coast to coast hike in england is one of the worlds most famous walk and a great way to experience quintessential england. Coast to coast walk by paul hannon though paul hannon dedicates his book to coast to coasters, especially his good friend pete, this pocketread more. Over 18 days we encountered some amazing challenges and scenery which tested our stamina, our navigational skills and our photographic prowess.
After buying alfred wainwrights a coast to coast walk a pictorial guide in the early 1980s, i waited until 20 before walking his path. Coast to coast walking and cycling holidays sherpa expeditions. Its the book that started it all off and we carried a copy with us at all times. Having complete his pictorial guides to the lakeland fells, alfred wainwright became obsessed with finding the perfect route across the north of england, from the irish sea to the north sea. Coast to coast and north west walks we four women in our 70s completed this incredible walk in september. Bees head, it winds its way across northern england, 190 miles or so, to the north sea shoreline at robin hoods bay. A pictorial guide wainwright pictorial guides 3rev ed by wainwright, alfred isbn.
A selection of guidebooks and maps for coast to coast walkers and cyclists that you can comfortably carry in a rucksack pocket or walking jacket. After the previous volumes covering walking in the lake district and the pennine way, this book turns to wainwrights own famous route, the coast to coast walk, crossing england from st bees head across the lake district, yorkshire dales and north york moors to the east coast at robin hoods bay. While i have a fair bit of experience in ireland, france, spain and morocco, i didnt know what to expect from the uk. Wainwrights coast to coast walk mermaid books alfred wainwright, derry brabbs on. Since then the coast to coast path has become one of englands classic long distance walks. Wainwright devised in 1973, covering rights of way and areas of open access between the irish sea and the north sea. Guide books, maps and advice useful for wainwrights coast. Now hundreds of people walk it each year, perhaps even thousands. The coast to coast route was aw s last great venture and has become his greatest legacy to long distance walkers a beautifully simple proposition, linking three national parks that lie between the irish and the north sea the lake district, the. The walk passes through three of englands most beautiful national parks taking you on a tour of some of the most incredible scenery in the country. Wainwright, author of a wellknown series of mountainwalking guide books on the lake district. North west walks deserve a particular mention from the maps and guide books they supply to their selection of accommodation used.
Julia bradbury walks the wainwright walk up helvellyn. A coast to coast walk alfred wainwrights classic walk. Travel from the west coast of england to the east along this breathtaking route devised by alfred wainwright. Contours provide everything you need to discover the coast to coast walk at your own pace. One book in particular created a nowfamous route through heather and woods, over stiles, past lakes, among sheep and across ridges in the face of horizontal rain, from one coast of england to the. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Wainwrights coast to coast walk is by far the most popular long distance trail in britain, and one of the worlds great walks from the irish sea at st. Julia bradbury follows in the footsteps of guidebook writer alfred wainwright by walking across the whole of northern england from the west to the east coast. Wainwright s coast to coast walk is by far the most popular long distance trail in britain, and one of the worlds great walks from the irish sea at st. There is a section about wainwrights comments about walking, the various routes in uk, the good and the bad.
Feb 11, 2014 after buying alfred wainwrights a coast to coast walk a pictorial guide in the early 1980s, i waited until 20 before walking his path. This classic coast to coast walking route was originated and described by a. From st bees head on the irish sea by way of the lake district, the pennines, swaledale and the north york moors and ending at robin hoods bay on the north sea, this 190mile walk has over the years become one. Coast to coast path, 5th edition by henry steadman you could pick this book up and never use another resource from the first stages of planning to arrivingread more. Alfred wainwrights coast to coast walk is, almost certainly, the uks finest long distance trail. You cross three national parks before reaching the north sea at the. Julia bradbury pictured at the start of her coast to coast walk, clutching her trusty copy of alfred wainwrights timeless guide.
Wainwrights coast to coast walk walking englishman. Julia bradbury pictured at the start of her coast to coast walk, clutching her trusty copy of alfred wainwright s timeless guide. The coast to coast walk is a 182mile 293 km unofficial and mostly unsignposted longdistance footpath in northern england. We hiked the full c2c in september with the assistance of northwest walks. The obvious book to mention when talking about the coast to coast is the original a coast to coast walk by wainwright himself. This classic long distance walk was devised by alfred wainwright in 1972.