Five Fun Facts About Wainwright's Coast-to-Coast Walk

Wainwright’s Coast to Coast walk is among the most famous trekking routes in the world. Hikers from around the globe arrive each year to venture across the entire breadth of the country, between the east and west coasts of Northern England.

There is a wealth of fun facts surrounding the journey, each of which makes for fascinating reading. To help you find out more, we’ve shared a selection of these stats for you to read below.

The First to Complete the Coast to Coast

The first person to complete the iconic Coast to Coast walk was, of course, the man who popularised it - the legendary Alfred Wainwright.

Wainwright brought the idea of the hike to prominence in 1973, when he published his acclaimed book ‘A Coast to Coast Walk.’ Although the route has been revised multiple times since then, much of its course has remained the same. This includes its starting site and endpoint (St Bees in Cumbria and Robin Hood’s Bay respectively).

The Highest Point

There are various highs and lows located along the Coast to Coast route, with some sections ascending breathtaking mountain peaks. The highest point of the walk is at Kidsty Pike in Cumbria, which reaches an altitude of 2,560 feet (780 metres) - that’s over twice the height of the Eiffel Tower.

A Parade of National Parks

One of the best parts about walking the Coast to Coast path is the rich tapestry of natural scenery you encounter along the way. This is largely thanks to the fact that the route passes through a total of three incredible national parks.

The first is Cumbria’s beautiful Lake District, which is later followed by the glorious Yorkshire Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors.

One of the World’s Top Trails

Perhaps the most surprising thing about the Coast to Coast is that, despite its widespread popularity, it has never been made an official walk. However, this hasn’t stopped it from receiving international acclaim.

In fact, in 2004, Wainwright’s Coast to Coast was named the second-best walk in the world by a panel of expert hikers. It even ranked higher than globally celebrated treks like Everest and the Inca Trail.

Completed in Record Time

The fastest time it has taken someone to complete Wainwright's Coast to Coast on foot is just 39 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds. This record was set only last year by Gloucestershire runner Damien Hall.

Don’t worry though, our hand-crafted itineraries allow for a much more manageable pace. So, when traversing this historic walk with us, you’ll have plenty of time to take in the stunning sights located along the route.

Facts on Foot

There is much more to learn about this legendary trail, so if these facts have piqued your interest, consider booking one of our Coast to Coast walking holidays. You’ll be escorted by one of our knowledgeable leaders for the entirety of this revered route, who will enlighten you with all there is to know about the trek.

Book your next UK break, today.