The 200-mile Coast to Coast Trail is a great way to explore England.

Why not walk around England? Ann, my wife, and myself were both intrigued by this idea. After finishing our careers, long-distance hiking became a rewarding retirement activity. We took on the challenge and packed our bags to fly to London.

The Coast to Coast Walk is a national path that runs from Saint Bees on the west coast to Robin Hood’s Bay on the east. This 190-mile route traverses three National Parks and is a popular long-distance trail. hikes in England.

Our online research had us dividing our route into sections. Except for one, each section ended at a village that offered accommodation and a pub. We had two weeks to travel the distance.

Our journey started at Saint Bees. Surrounded by green pastures. rocky beachesThe bluffs are light brown. Ann and i walked along the Irish Sea shoreline as waves lapped against us. As part of a walk tradition, I put a pebble in my pocket and carried it across the country to the North Sea.

After climbing Saint Bees Head on a reddish brown footpath, we were rewarded with an impressive view of the coastline before continuing our journey to the Lake District.

Lake District National Park

The Coast to Coast Walk features a wide variety of routes and scenery: gravel paths, stone walkways along the lake, dirt trails in the forest and country roads.

I was amazed at how lush and green the landscape was. There were hillsides, meadows, and forests.

We walked along ancient stone walls, some traversing hills or valleys and forming patches. As I followed the rock walls over one hill and then another, I imagined how much work was involved in their construction.

We walked along Ennerdale Water – the westernmost of the lakes in the district. As we climbed above Ennerdale’s rocky shoreline and entered the Beatrix-Potter land, it was magical. We gained altitude, and we could see a ribbon-like trail ahead of us crossing the next hills. The climbing felt gradual, but when we stopped and looked back, we were struck by the view,  spotting picturesque upland lakes tucked in between hills, turning 360 degrees to take it all in.

I could see why the Lake District is a popular destination for Brits looking to enjoy a country holiday. We continued to skirt more mountain lakes before beginning our descent towards the Dales.

Yorkshire Dales National Park

My mind’s eye picture of rural England is shaped by movies such as “Pride & Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility.” I imagined vast emerald scenery rising and falling far away, and the Yorkshire Dales provided that exact scene: rolling green hills and pastoral dales.

The national park is characterized by gently rising hills with low-growing vegetation, as well as forested areas where stone bridges arch over small rivers. The trail meandered through creeks with waterfalls. We passed more farmland. The distance view looked like a quilt, with various shades of green.

Ann and I crossed several sheep pastures by opening wooden gates, or climbing low stone walls when we heard a ewe call after her newborn sheep.

The Coast to Coast Walk does not include any cities. villages we did encounter I felt like I was in a postcard, with homes with slate roofs and stone walls. I was surprised by the transition. Ann and me were walking through a wood or meadow one moment, then suddenly we found ourselves on a street. It was small-scale civilization.

We had entered the Moors.

North York Moors National Park

The Moorish low-growing vegetation is a gray-green color, sometimes rusty brown, but also purple at times. Heathers, mosses and grasses thrive in peaty soil.

Our lodgings on the trail tended to be small country inns, homes offering bed-and-breakfasts, or pubs with upstairs rooms, which made it easy to meet other travelers—some from Britain, others from abroad. Ann and i would have a beer in a local pub after hiking a day. We’d always run into the locals. These pubs were low-lit and friendly places, usually with signs reading “Families welcome, as are four-legged companions.”

Staying at a bed-and-breakfast often meant spending the night in someone’s home, so the experience—the way we were greeted, how we were looked after—felt more intimate and personal than staying at a hotel in London. The option to buy a packed hiking lunch on the morning of our departure was another down-to earth feature.

Experiential learning English countryside Also known as a “fry-up”, a full English brunch is also available. A full English breakfast usually included an assortment of meats, eggs, toast, and tea. It also often came with sides such as baked beans, stewed tomatoes, or fried mushrooms. I was very impressed. However, with a day of hiking in front of us, it was best to reduce the amount of food we consumed.

Ann and I hiked eastwards until we saw the North Sea in the distance. As I felt relief and triumph in my hand, I reached for the stone. We walked along steep, beautiful cliffs which sloped down to the seashore as we approached Robin Hood’s Bay. We did it.

As we look back, the landscapes were varied and beautiful. Once we reached the East Coast, the North Sea was a stunning sight.