Hiking across England

We have done the Wainwright coast to coast walk across northern England starting from the Irish Sea at St. Bees to Robin Hood's Bay. It is a great walk across the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. We used Contours Walking Holidays (http://www.contours.co.uk/) as our booking agent. Contours offers a number of long distance walks in the UK. They may be able to help. Where does the "Sea to shining see" walk start and end?

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/A-Walk-Across-England.html?c=y&page=1

Hi Harold, I have also done the Wainwright Cost to Coast hike in 2006 (I'm assuming that's what you mean by "Sea to Shingin Sea" hike). For planning purposes and general ideas of where to stay I used the Sherpa Van website: http://www.sherpavan.com/ Many of the places my friend and I stayed, we picked from the recommendations on their site. I also found the Coast to Coast forums on the site helpful for having my general questions about the hike answered and to get up to date information on trail conditions and such. For a guide to walking the actual trail and daily directions I used the Steadman book: http://www.amazon.com/Coast-British-Walking-Guides/dp/1873756585 I thought it was well done. I supplemented this with the appropriate Ordinance Survey Maps for the hike (there are several you need). I loved the hike. It was hard and demanding and there where days when I sat down and cried because I was so tired and sore, but those moments made me love the trail even more. It was the first ever long distance hike I'd done and because I enjoyed it so much, I've since done 2 more. The people you meet on the trail are fantastic and the B&B keepers were all wonderful and very accomodating to hikers. My friend and I booked all our own accomodation and undertook the trail without booking through a specific company and we felt completely comfortable doing so. One one particularly long and very hot day I did call Sherpa Van to have them carry my pack for me, which they did for a reasonable fee, otherwise we carried our own backpacks each day. I hope you enjoy your time on the trail! Also, if you can dig it up somewhere, Smithsonian magazine did a cover story article on the hike in about 2004 or 2005 (that's how I found out about it) that gives a good overview. Good Luck!

I have, but it's been too long ago to really help you. But I will say this, you are in for a treat. That trip lasts in my mind like no other. England is small enough to really town hop on foot. I don't know if it is still possible, but once upon a time you could send your luggage forward by bus for a surprisingly small fee. We B&B and youth hostel walked around Wales, through The Lake District, and did a little of The Cotswolds too. The rest of the trip we took the train, but the walking parts were particularly fantastic.