Date: Thursday, 23 July 2026
Day: 16
From: Grosmont To: Robin Hood’s Bay
Start Walking: 803am End Walking: 206pm
Distance (Planned): 24km Distance (Garmin): 24.4km
Progress: 301.1/306km
Ascent: 626m Descent: 655m
Weather: Warm from the get-go. Sweating buckets!
Stayed At: The Victoria Hotel
General Comments:
• And that’s a wrap on another wonderful adventure. We could hardly believe it today as we walked into Robin Hood’s Bay that after 16 days of walking, we had actually done it.
• I find that when I do these kind of walks, I am only looking at the day in front of me, not at the overall distance. So, it sneaks up on me every single time.
• Just in case you are wondering, we did walk every step of the Coast to Coast Path so I’m not sure why the distance numbers above don’t marry up. I suspect there may have been some small realignment when it became an official National Trail.
• First off though to start the day we had to tackle the VERY steep departure from Grosmont. I could tell you it was a vertical ascent, but that would be fibbing. Let’s just say it was very steep and my heart rate went through the roof. Nothing like a few last UP memories to take with us. 😁
• From there we were back on the moors for a little while, before dropping down into the very pleasant Little Beck Forest and Falling Foss. Very picturesque.
• Unfortunately we also had to walk through some moors that had been severely damaged by wildfires. It was very desolate and not all that attractive, but a good reminder of the power of Mother Nature.
• The piece de resistance though was reaching the coast and the stunning views up to Whitby and Whitby Abbey, and finally Robin Hood’s Bay. We had arrived!
• We made a beeline down to the water and searched around our backpacks for the pebbles we had carried all the way from St Bees on the Irish Sea. Dipping our toes in the North Sea, we tossed our pebbles and then headed to Wainwright’s Bar at The Bay hotel for a celebratory beer! We had done it!
• This has been a truly enjoyable adventure. We have met some wonderful hikers and locals, and the friendships we have made really added to the experience.
• Special thanks to my Partner in Crime for being happy, patient and fantastic hiking company.
• The real star has been the ever-changing landscape with its contrast and at times, challenging terrain.
• And the faultless weather! Yes, a tad warm to start in the Lake District, but to stay dry for 19 days straight is a minor miracle!
Top Tips:
• Services: There is a café at Falling Foss that comes highly recommended and serves delicious cream teas. It opens on weekends in Summer…not Thursdays.
• Waymarking: the guidebook says this stage is poorly signed. We did not find that at all. Sometimes the style of sign changes – you just need to keep your eyes open.
• Thinking about walking the Coast to Coast Path?: Just do it!😊
Thank you to everyone who sent fair-weather wishes. You did an outstanding job of keeping us dry and mud free! Well done, everyone.
And now for the next adventure…😁
Life...one big adventure 
I love that bit of coast! Robin Hood’s Bay can be a bit busy and commercial, but Whitby and Runswick Bay and Staithes… You should keep going, Mel- there’s much more to see. No, seriously- well done, mate xx
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Thanks so much, Jo. We are really seeing it at its best under these glorious blue skies. Yes, we are regretting we didn’t allow a few extra days to explore the area, but it’s so hard to know these thi gs in advance. Thanks for your support along the way. Melxx
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What Jo said.
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And thanks to you too for your support and interest. X
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Congratulations! Well done to you both.
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Many thanks, Anabel. It’s been a true joy.
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Well done ladies !! Again more lovely photos and so pleased you got you a creamed tea on the last day of hiking 😍
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It was hard to take a bad photo on this hike. So much beauty in such a relatively small space. I hope all is well with you both and I look forward to catching up when I get home. X
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Congratulations, awesome twosome 🙂 It’s been a pleasure to see a few places we have been to again from a different viewpoint. By the way, Mel, you are my inspiration to keep that dream of one day doing long walks overseas alive. Thanks for that xx
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Oh Suz, thanks for your kind words. I can tell you that the end of most walking days I feel less than inspired, but am more than happy to get up and do it all again the next day.😁🙃 Keep on, keeping on. Xx
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Congratulations to you both.
I certainly enjoyed coming along. Thanks for the blog Mel.
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That’s my pleasure, Kay. I am looking forward to your next adventure too. Hopefully that is soon?
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Yay!! Congratulations!!
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Thanks so much. This trail is possibly a bit tame for you guys, but it’s still lots of fun.😁
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Well done! Great achievement.
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Many thanks. It was a cracker of a walk.
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Yay! Congratulations on finishing! Love the cliffs at the end. I’m surprised to see the wildfire remnants – I think of the UK as getting so much rain that it wouldn’t burn.
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Unfortunately there are some terrible wildfires burning up in Scotland as we speak and there has been so little rain, they are talking about drought conditions. The weather is changing everywhere. And Yes, the cliffs and sea views were the perfect way to finish.
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Oh no! I guess amidst all the wildfires here, I hadn’t heard what’s happening elsewhere. I hope rain is on the way.
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Apparently there are large fires in France and Spain too. It’s going to be a long, hot Summer!
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You’ve done it … and that without a single raindrop – awesome! I think the next adventure (maybe next year) should be a trail where you can hike and get a cream tea at each endpoint – that would be a good challenge. Well done on completing yet another long-distance hike.
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Thanks so much, Corna. It’s lovely to have a personal cheer squad! And another adventure is just around the corner, not next year!😁
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Yes, I remember you mentioned that the next adventure is coming up soon. I was actually referring to a cream tea hike that you might plan for next year (to make up for the lack of cream teas on this hike 😉).
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🤣🤣 you really do like to plan ahead!
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Congrats, Mel! The Husband and I did near-daily pole walking in California and I developed a blister on my foot. Amazing how something so small can cause so much pain. Makes what you do all the more impressive. Can’t wait to see what your next adventure is. Safe travels back to Australia.
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I reckon when the weather is hot, the blisters are worse. So you did well to get away with just one! I had a couple in the Lake District, but fared better after that. Ah, the joys of hiking.🚶♀️🚶♀️
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Well done Mel and congratulations. Believe me, the weather is NEVER this good in the UK (although good is the wrong word with fires and floods throughout Europe) but you know what I mean and like you say to stay dry and sunny for sixteen days walking is indeed a minor miracle. You’ve just walked through some of the best landscapes in the country, I’m glad you enjoyed it and I enjoyed following along 😀
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Thanks, Jim. I get what you do now and I get Wainwright. I was always a little confused with all the Wainwright walks you did, but now I understand how prolific he was. Quite the legend.🥾🥾
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Thanks Mel, I think you can be excused as an Australian for not knowing who Wainwright was! I suspect there are plenty of people walking the Wainwrights today who have no idea that they were the life’s work of a rather curmudgeonly man from Blackburn who fell in love with the Lake District and wrote seven books listing his favourites. Fond memories of the Bay Hotel by the way, first time in 1987 my mate and I were in a lock in and staggered out about 3am, second time in 2013 I was with my daughter so slightly different! but just as memorable
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🤣🤣 Yes, I can imagine how easy it would be to settle down for some serious beverages at The Bay hotel! 🍺🍺 It’s a magic spot made even more magical by what we had achieved. Have a good weekend.🍻
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Brava! Thanks a million for sharing this wonderful adventure – it’s been such a pleasure to travel vicariously with you. You’ve seen much more of that amazing countryside in two weeks than I did in all the years I lived in England! Safe journey home. x
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Thanks, S. So glad you enjoyed the stroll. I have another little adventure on the boil and I’ll share that shortly. I hope you are keeping well and your plans are still on track. Xx
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Well done Mel & PiC. You can tick that one off. Stunning scenery and I can’t believe you encountered not a drop of rain! Now for the next adventure ……
(Apologies for my delayed comments. For some reason your blogs are not coming through to my emails regularly and I’m only receiving the odd one. Modern technology 😦
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Nice to hear from you, Di. I have been thinking of you. Xx
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congratulations Mel. What a joyful walk you appear to have experienced. Beautiful countryside. Look forward to hearing more soon 💕
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Thanks, Kerry. It was a very special experience, made even better by the fabulous weather. Talk soon. Xx
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Well done to the two of you, Mel. I am amazed you had no rain, lucky you. Seems like Raw Travel set you up well. We used them when we walked the Kumono Kodo back in 2016. Have loved the photos and look forward to reading about your next adventure. Cheers, Mark
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Thanks, Mark. Yes, we were incredibly lucky with the weather. Even the locals couldn’t believe it. Interestingly. Half of the UK is now drought declared! No such thing as normal weather anymore…
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Aww congrats Mel! What a wonderful achievement, and I love that you enjoyed the walk so much 🙂 Whitby Abbey is quite impressive isn’t it!
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Thanks, Han. I’ve had a fantastic time walking in your patch!
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Thank you for all the lovely photos and informative and entertaining commentary. We walked it 18 years ago and your photos brought back some lovely memories, although the fabulous weather you had made some places totally unrecognisable.
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Yes, I think it was a once in a lifetime experience weather-wise. I doubt I could ever jag such a consistently good run again. Thanks for walking down memory lane with me.
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