A book. A photo. A personal story. So many ways that an idea finds itself in our head. After completing England’s South West Coast Path, I wanted to try another English walk. But where? There are numerous national trails.

Then, I came across Arthur Wainwright and his idiosyncratic book “A Coast to Coast Walk” published in 1973. The trail is in the north where I haven’t walked. The trail can be completed in one walk rather than broken-up into two or three segments. Yet, what grabbed my attention is that the work included his sketches. This man had to love this walk!

In the introduction, he conveyed this love. “Surely there cannot be a finer itinerary for a long-distance walk! … The countryside traversed is beautiful almost everywhere, yet extremely varied in character, with mountains and hills, valleys and rivers, heather moors and sea-cliffs combining in a pageant of colourful scenery.’ A. Wainwright “A Coast to Coast Walk” pp. v & vi

In reading about Wainwright, I learned that from 1955-1966 he published a seven-volume “Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells.” Surely he loved walking and sketching.

I’m hooked. Others have been hooked. Just this past March, the very popular trail, sometimes referred to as the Wainwright Trail, became Great Britain’s seventeenth National Trail. The Coast to Coast Association estimates that approximately 6,000 hikers completed the trail in 2025, and thousands more walk shorter segments.

I’ll walk from St. Bees to Robyn Hood’s Bay. While the official trail is 190 miles and can be completed in speed walks of eight or nine days, I’m certainly taking longer. I’ll be on the trail twenty-one days. In addition to the days of walking, I’m planning numerous rest days. I’m planning two different “rest days” in the Lakes District for some other walks. Who wants to rush through the Lakes?

Similar to most of my other walks, I’ve arranged my own accommodations. As with the South West Coast Path, I won’t be staying at monasteries or hostels. Hotels and BnBs remove part of the spontaneity; however, I want my basic needs met! I also want my backpack transported by someone other than me. Heck, I’m 74! Time to cut a few corners.