Coast to Coast Campsites: Where To Stay From St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay

Why I Chose Coast to Coast Campsites Over Wild Camping

The Coast to Coast winds its way through the Lake District National Park, where I had planned to wild camp in the mountains — but the weather had other ideas. It was wet, foggy, windy, and cold, and when night-time temperatures dropped, I knew my sleeping bag wouldn’t be warm enough. I had to camp on lower ground.

Once in the mountains, I was walking with another solo hiker, and since we’d decided to tackle one of the higher routes together the following day, I pitched up with him at the Fox and Hounds – the first of many friendly campsites on the Coast to Coast. That said, my most memorable night on the trail was a solo wild camp in the Yorkshire Dales. Read about it here:

• Coast to Coast Through the Yorkshire Dales: Sheep, Drystone Walls, And The Best Wild Camp
• Guides To Wild Camping In The UK

12 Coast to Coast Campsites From St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay

Here’s a handy list of all the campsites I stayed at, in order, from east to west. Below this, you’ll find the full details and reviews.

The Best Coast to Coast Campsites: My Recommendations

Friendly Campsites – Meeting Fellow Hikers on the Coast to Coast

The Coast to Coast walk turned out to be surprisingly sociable, attracting hikers from the UK and around the world. As a solo walker, I decided to lean into the experience and see what this friendly trail had to offer. I quickly discovered that the key is the campsites, where backpackers naturally meet up – whether you arrive with a friend or on your own. The best places to stay are those with great communal areas, where walkers can chat, swap tips, and share a drink or two:

• Ennerdale: Fox and Hounds
  • While facilities are minimal – just the toilets inside and an outside water tap – the pub was very friendly and the small garden means it’s easy to chat to other hikers.
• Borrowdale: YHA Borrowdale
  • The camping field is mostly filled with backpackers, and the large communal area in the hostel makes it a natural hub for chatting, sharing route tips, or swapping stories from the trail.
• Grasmere: YHA Grasmere
  • If you don’t want to use the hostel, be aware that this YHA only has room for five tents (including family camping, so book in advance during busy times of year). The atmosphere inside the hostel is buzzing with walkers. The kitchen and large dining room are ideal for meeting people, and there’s also a lounge for more relaxed conversations.
• Shap: New Ing Lodge
  • This is a sociable place with plenty of options to connect with others – have a chat over breakfast in the refectory-style dining room, or spend the evening in the bar and lounge.
• Grinton: YHA Grinton Lodge
  • The large self-catering kitchen and dining room are prime places to hang out — I had some great conversations over breakfast in the restaurant dining room.
• Danby Wiske: Church Holme Camping
  • This is one of the friendliest stops on the trail. The owners are incredibly welcoming, the backpackers’ camping field has picnic benches perfect for chatting, and the campers’ barn – with a good-sized dining table – makes socialising a breeze.

Farm and Pub Campsites I Loved

I’d highly recommend these two places if you’re after a simple, relaxed camping experience on the Coast to Coast. Each has space for just a handful of tents, which not only guarantees a peaceful night on the trail but also makes it easy to strike up a chat with fellow walkers. There’s something special about sharing stories in the warmth of a cosy village pub or sitting around a picnic table as the sky fades to dusk – I did both, and they’re some of my favourite memories from the walk.

• Ennerdale: Fox And Hounds Inn
  • This was easily my favourite pub campsite. While facilities are minimal – just the toilets inside and an outside water tap – the pub was great and I loved the village atmosphere and the riverside setting. If you’re after a shower, the fantastic café just around the corner has you covered!
• Chop Gate: Beak Hills Farm
  • Just off the trail, I stayed in the small field beside the farmhouse. It’s a peaceful place that feels a million miles away from everything. There’s a simple, spacious shower room and toilet, and an outside washing up sink, but that’s about it.

Campsites On The Coast To Coast With The Best Facilities: Showers, Laundry, and Essentials

Sometimes, when you’re camping on a long-distance trail, you just want all the bells and whistles – a piping hot shower, a drying room big enough to hang your tent, a washing machine for those stinking socks, and maybe even a break from dried camp meals. I tried them all… and went home smelling of roses!

• Grasmere: YHA Grasmere
  • Everything you could possibly need: a hot shower, a proper self-catering kitchen (with two ovens — pick up a pizza from the Co-op down the lane!), and the best laundry and drying room of them all. After days on the trail, it felt like absolute luxury.
• Grinton: YHA Grinton Lodge
  • This is a brilliant stop for weary walkers. You’ll find great showers and toilets, a large self-catering kitchen, a washer/dryer, and a hot, spacious drying room – everything you need to get clean, dry, and ready for the next stretch.
• Danby Wiske: Church Holme Camping
  • A must-stop campsite right on the trail. The small camp kitchen and washing machine, paired with luxurious showers, make this one of the best backpacker-friendly sites on the route. You can even order a cooked breakfast for the morning.
• Robin Hood’s Bay: Hooks House Farm
  • Just what you need at the end of your hike: nothing but a steaming hot shower and a good night’s sleep on a level pitch (you can get a celebratory meal and pint down in the village). There’s even a handy bus stop outside where you can travel to the nearest train stations at Whitby and Scarborough.

The Campsites That Didn’t Quite Make the Grade

Not every campsite along the Coast to Coast lived up to my expectations. Sometimes it was a sloping pitch, sometimes underwhelming facilities, or just a setting that didn’t feel quite right after a long day on the trail. Here are the places that didn’t hit the comfy spot – and why.

• St Bees Seacote Park — a maze of static caravans and very busy with cars into the night. However, there were good facilities, a level pitch and it’s in a great location right beside the start of the trail
• Patterdale Side Farm — stunning views and a very friendly owner, but hardly any level pitches and lots of noise from campervans (music, people drinking well into the night — earplugs needed). I regretted not sticking to my original plan to push on to a wild camp at Angle Tarn, just a couple of steep miles away
• Keld, Rukins Lodge Campsite — beautiful level site, but the facilities felt neglected and weren’t very clean
• Glaisedale The Arncliffe Arms — you’ll be lucky to find a level pitch in the long grass on this steeply sloping field! Barely enough level-ish space for two tents. Made up for by the lovely, friendly owners in the pub

Campsites Recommended By Other Hikers

Looking to fill in the gaps or shorten the distances between the Coast to Coast campsites I stayed at? Here are a few extra options that other hikers recommend to me:

1. Kirkby Stephen: Pennine View Park — between Shap and Keld.
2. Osmotherly: YHA Osmotherly — a short distance off-trail near Ingleby Arncliffe, between Danby Wiske and Chop Gate
3. North York Moors: Lordstones Country Park — between Danby Wiske and Chop Gate.
4. Blakey Ridge, North York Moors: The Lion Inn — between Chop Gate and Glaisdale (backpackers only).

How To Choose The Best Coast to Coast Campsites

After walking the Coast to Coast and staying at campsites most nights, I learned that the best sites aren’t always the fanciest – they’re the ones that make your hike easier (and your nights cosier!).

• Stay close to the trail. After a long day, an extra mile feels endless – even painful! Sometimes you won’t have a choice, but when you can, pick a site right on or just off the path.
• Check for backpacker-friendly touches. Drying rooms, picnic tables, and early breakfasts are small luxuries that make a big difference.
• Plan for a proper shower every few days. There’s nothing like hot water and a bar of soap to make you feel human again!
• Decide if you want quiet or company. Small sites, like Beak Hills Farm, are wonderfully peaceful; pubs and YHAs are great for meeting other walkers.
• Check seasonal opening times. Hostels are usually open year-round, but many campsites close between October and Easter.
• Always phone ahead. The best Coast to Coast campsites are often the smallest – and they fill up fast, especially during high season.
• Mix it up! If I hiked the trail again, I’d take a warmer sleeping bag and do far more wild camping!

Walking The Coast to Coast: Final Thoughts

Walking the Coast to Coast was one of the best adventures I’ve had — not just for the views, but for the people, the pub evenings, and the quiet mornings unzipping the tent to another beautiful landscape. Whether you stay at friendly farm sites, lively YHAs, or the odd wild pitch under the stars, every campsite becomes part of the story.

If you’re planning your own Coast to Coast walk — or have favourite campsites I’ve missed — I’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment or question below, and let’s swap tips for the trail.

Happy hiking