Coast to Coast across England
 

Hello,
My husband and I are interested in doing the coast to coast walk across England. I think it is about 190 miles. We were interested in taking our 1 and a half year old son. Are we crazy or is there a family oriented trip available?

Thanks,
Julia

Is that walk or drive? I think you'd be mad to consider walking. One year olds are bad enough on a five minute shopping trip.

As for the general idea, it's a lovely thought. However, I'd recommend perhaps starting in Land's end, working your way along the South Coast, then driving further north if you so desire. Hire a drop-head coupe to enchance the experience.

I have never heard of a coast to coast walk, but there is a well-known coast to coast cycle route - see www.c2c-guide.co.uk/. A friend of mine who is a keen off-road cyclist did it a few years ago but even he found parts of it quite hard going : I don't think you'd be able to do it with an infant.

On the other hand... I've just had a quick look at that site & discovered a link to a company who faciliate coast to coast walking & cycling holidays, including transporting baggage - www.coasttocoast-holidays.co.uk.

Presumably you are hardened walkers ? :-)

There is a coast to coast walk across the north of England but I see the Ramblers Association describes it as challenging, and it hardly sounds child-friendly:
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/paths/coasttocoast.html
Their site should be a useful source of contacts for more specialist advice than we've been able to offer here.

If you search Fodors for information on Hadrian's Wall, you see links to a range of companies that will set up walks, accommodation and baggage transport for you on a range of walks, some coast to coast and some only part of the way. I believe there are bus routes that would enable you to combine day walks along and around the wall with a stay at a single base, too.

I sometimes have difficulty remembering yesterday but I did remember reading an article in the Smithsonian Magazine about walking across England. This long address will get you to the article:

http://www.google.com/custom?q=walk+...nianmag.si.edu

Enjoy.

Hello
I think you are referring to Wainwright's coast to coast walk which goes from Cumbria to North Yorkshire, across Northern England including the Pennines. To call this walk 'challenging' is an understatement - definitely NOT suitable for children, and really for serious and fit walkers only. I have seen people complete the walk in Robin Hoods Bay, in North Yorks. The late Mr Wainwright arranged for them all to receive a certificate and free pint of beer on completion, at the pub in the village next to the beach. A google search of 'Wainwrights coast to coast walk' will bring up plenty of info.
M