The hardest day is Rosthwaite - Patterdale, as this involves two mountain crossings and over 1300m (4000ft) of ascent. If you have the time, or have any concerns at all about your fitness, we recommend at least 13 days walking, as this splits the Rosthwaite - Patterdale day. Having stated the above, many people do complete the route in 12 days and live to tell the tale - some even enjoy it!

St Bees – Grasmere - Into the Heart of the Lake District
The route starts on the shores of the Irish Sea in the village of St Bees. After climbing the impressive sandstone cliffs of the headland, the path turns inland and over agricultural land and foothills to Ennerdale Bridge and the start of the Lake District.

The path continues up Ennerdale beneath Pillar Rock, before climbing up to Brandreth, high in the fells with fantastic views of Great Gable and the Buttermere valley. The route then drops into Borrowdale via Honister. With another day of climbing as the trail heads up the remote Greenup Gill and then down either the valley of Far Easedale or over the Lion and the Lamb, to Grasmere. This is a memorable day with views of Lakeland fells in all directions.

Grasmere to Kirkby Stephen - Eastern Lakes & Upper Eden
From Grasmere there is more climbing - the route lies over the Helvellyn range either over the pass at Grisedale tarn, or for the more adventurous, via the summit of Helvellyn, England’s 3rd highest mountain, before dropping down to Patterdale on the shore of Ullswater. The remotest walking of the tour leads from Ullswater over Kidsty Pike, a tremendous viewpoint of the Lakeland fells then down to Haweswater, home to a pair of nesting golden eagles and onwards to Shap.

Having left the Lakes, the route between Shap and Kirkby Stephen is undulating rather than mountainous, following limestone scarps and moorland paths. It passes the delightful village of Orton and travels onwards past numerous prehistoric sites to the market town of Kirkby Stephen.

Kirkby Stephen – Richmond – The Yorkshire Dales
After Kirkby Stephen the route climbs up to Nine Standards, moorland, high above the Eden valley, then onwards into Swaledale, one of the longest and quietest areas of the Yorkshire Dales. The route crosses open moorland above the steep sided valley, punctuated by limestone dry stone walls and field barns. Then between the upland sections the route drops into the valley to follow delightful stretches of riverside path and passes through the charming farming villages of Keld and Reeth.

Closer to Richmond, the moorlands give way to woodlands. Richmond is a bustling market town and is the largest settlement on the route, worthy of a day off to explore, with its cobbled market place, overlooked by the castle originally built in the 11th Century.

Blakey to Robin Hoods Bay – Country Villages & the North Sea
With the upland part of the route completed the route descends to the River Esk at Glaisdale, which it follows downstream to Egton Bridge and Grosmont, thought by many to be the prettiest villages on the route. Littlebeck, and its accompanying woodland, provide a final taste of picture postcard countryside before more agricultural land leads to the sea cliffs, which are followed south to Robin Hoods Bay, a fishing village famed for its narrow, steep streets, and characteristic roofscapes.