Wainwright's Coast to Coast is one of England's great long-distance walks, crossing the country from St Bees on the Cumbrian coast to Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire. Now designated as a National Trail, the walk covers around 190 miles / 306km, passing through the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. Most walkers complete the route in around 12-14 days, although the exact itinerary can be adapted to suit fitness, available time and preferred stage lengths.
For walkers travelling west to east, Rosthwaite is one of the key overnight stops in the Lake District. After crossing from Ennerdale Bridge through the western fells, the trail descends into Upper Borrowdale, with The Royal Oak waiting in the heart of the valley.
The western stages of the Coast to Coast path are among the most demanding on the entire trail, with steep climbs, remote fell terrain and significant ascent and descent. Waymarking can also become limited on higher Lake District sections, so strong navigation skills remain important even on an established long-distance route.
Check the mountain weather before every stage and carry suitable walking boots, waterproofs, warm layers, food, water, a charged phone, map and compass. Never rely entirely on waymarkers or your mobile phone, particularly around Honister Pass, Greenup Edge and other higher sections.
The Coast to Coast is normally tackled as a staged walking holiday rather than one continuous push. Exact stopping points vary between walkers, accommodation availability and walking holiday companies, but a typical west-to-east itinerary looks like this:
This 12-stage pattern is commonly used, although stopping points and walking distances vary. A more relaxed itinerary adds Grasmere as an overnight stop, splitting the demanding Rosthwaite-to-Patterdale stage into two shorter days.
Useful resources before and during your Coast to Coast walking holiday include:
Coast to Coast National Trail route map and current route information
Met Office Lake District Mountain Forecast
OS Maps
Mountain Rescue England & Wales
AdventureSmart walking advice
In case of emergency: Dial 999 or 112, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue. Be ready to provide your location or grid reference, details of the incident, number of people in your group and a contact number.
On the classic west-to-east itinerary, Rosthwaite is the second overnight stage stop, following Ennerdale Bridge. The Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite stage is around 15 miles / 24km on commonly used itineraries, with significant ascent and descent through the Lake District fells.
That makes The Royal Oak a particularly well-timed overnight stop: by the time you reach us, you have already completed two substantial Lake District stages and have another significant day over Greenup Edge ahead.
The Royal Oak is well appointed for Coast to Coast walkers, with many essentials already taken care of after a long day on the fells.
Facilities include a boot and coat drying room with boot warmers, hearty Cumbrian breakfasts, packed lunches for the trail, and walking maps and guides available to borrow on request.
We’re dog-friendly too, and Rosthwaite is an established collection and delivery point for Coast to Coast baggage transfer services.
You don't need to walk all 190 miles to experience the splendor of the Coast to Coast path. Individual stages can be completed as day walks or over several separate trips, making Rosthwaite a useful base.
One of the best options is the route from Rosthwaite to Grasmere - roughly 9-10 miles / 14.5-16km, with around 530m / 1,740ft of ascent, this provides a proper taste of Lake District without committing to the full end-to-end route.