There is something wonderfully satisfying about walking from one side of Britain to the other. Coast-to-coast routes take you through landscapes that can feel worlds apart in a single day – from windswept beaches and rugged cliffs to open moorland, ancient stone monuments and quiet valleys where ponies roam free.
You don’t have to be an endurance athlete to enjoy one, either. Across the UK, there are routes that combine the drama of a long-distance hike, with plenty of exciting reasons to stop and look around. Here are five of the best coast-to-coast hikes for walkers who want their miles to come with a little history and wildlife along the way.
Wainwright’s Coast to Coast, Cumbria & Yorkshire
The route to Robin Hood’s Bay covers 190 miles (Photo: © Joe Daniel Price, joedanielprice.smugmug.com, 500px.com/JoeDanielPrice/Getty)
Legendary fell-walker Alfred Wainwright first published his plan for a coast-to-coast route across northern England in 1973. In 2026 the route – which has been tweaked over the years – will officially become a National Trail. Quite right too, it’s a classic.
