Run the Coast to Coast East Section — Contours Trail Running Holidays

Run from Kirkby Stephen to Robin Hood's Bay on Wainwright's Coast to Coast route. We provide accommodation, luggage transfer, maps and guidebooks.

About this route

From the old market town of Kirkby Stephen, the eastern leg of our Coast to Coast trail running holiday skips the harsh climbs of the Lake District in favour of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. But this run still isn’t flat — far from it. Summit Hartley Fell to Nine Standards Rigg, host to incredible views, and explore Yorkshire’s windswept hills and sweeping valleys across two National Parks.

This is the more manageable section of the Coast to Coast, but it’s no less epic. Your holiday will be all about open spaces and big views, with warm pubs and local teashops in between. Your journey finds its end at Robin Hood’s Bay and the North Sea.

This route can be run in the opposite direction upon request. Please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Code	Tour	Duration	Difficulty	Price per person
R-CCWE1	From Kirkby Stephen to Robin Hood's Bay	4 nights, 3 days running	Strenuous	£400
R-CCWE2	From Kirkby Stephen to Robin Hood's Bay	5 nights, 4 days running	Demanding	£470
R-CCWE3	From Kirkby Stephen to Robin Hood's Bay	6 nights, 5 days running	Moderate	£515
R-CCWE4	From Kirkby Stephen to Robin Hood's Bay	7 nights, 6 days running	Easy / Moderate	£600
R-CCWE4-D	From Kirkby Stephen to Robin Hood's Bay Dog friendly	7 nights, 6 days running	Easy / Moderate	£600

Start

Travel to Kirkby Stephen where your first night's accommodation has been booked

Day 1

Kirkby Stephen to Richmond. 35 miles (56km) / 4633 ft (1412 m) ascent

Day 2

Richmond to Clay Bank Top(T). 35.5 miles (57km) / 3957 ft (1206 m) ascent

Day 3

Clay Bank Top(T) to Robin Hood's Bay. 37.5 miles (60km) / 3386 ft (1032 m) ascent

Finish

Depart from Robin Hood's Bay after breakfast

Your Itinerary

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard.

Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers

£37.00 per person / per night

£32.00 per person / per night

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

£55.00 per person / per night

What's included?

4 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail, or a short distance away via taxi provided at our expense.
Breakfast each day.
Door to door luggage transfer.
Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

Richmond is an excellent option for an extra nights stay, with its unique character and beauty which has changed very little through time. The town has quaint cobbled streets and a bustling market place, as well as a fascinating Norman castle, an unusual church and a Georgian theatre to enthral those interested in the local history. Richmond also boast many pubs, restaurants and shops to choose from, including sports and health food shops, leisure centres and health spas for all of your running needs.

Once you have completed your holiday, a popular location in which to celebrate your achievement and rest your legs is Robin Hood's Bay; home to sandy beaches, great places to eat and the intriguing Dinosaur Coast. Also within easy reach of Robin Hood?s Bay is the fantastic town of Whitby. Not only is there an attractive harbour to visit, several fascinating museums to explore and the infamous ruined abbey atop a hill in which Dracula was said to have resided, but there is a variety of shops and some of the most famous restaurants and fish and chip shops in the UK. There are also a couple of sports massage clinics in Whitby, which you can take advantage of to help your muscles recover from your trail running holiday.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

£55.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 108 miles (173 km)
Duration: 4 nights, 3 days running
Minimum daily distance: 35 miles (56 km)
Maximum daily distance: 37.5 miles (60 km)
Code: R-CCWE1 Grade: Strenuous
Season: 14th March - 31st October
Start of holiday: Kirkby Stephen
End of holiday: Robin Hood's Bay

Route Profile

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - The most convenient major cities and international airports are Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester.

By Rail - There is a rail station at the start of the trail (Kirkby Stephen), although this is about 1.6 miles from the town, so a bus/taxi will be needed to complete your journey. The nearest rail stations to the end of the trail (Robin Hood's Bay) are either Whitby (about 6 miles away, but less convenient for most destinations) or Scarborough (about 17 miles away).

By Bus - Various bus services run to Kirkby Stephen and from Robin Hood's Bay.

From London - Trains run from various London stations to Kirkby Stephen.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail is to catch a bus/taxi from Robin Hood's Bay to Scarborough rail station. From there trains run to Kirkby Stephen.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.

Coast to Coast Trail Running - East Section

About this route

Dog friendly tours available

Walking tours available

Holiday highlights

Available tours