← Offa’s Dyke North–South Comparison
| Feature | Coast to Coast (St Bees → Kirkby Stephen) | Offa’s Dyke (Knighton → Prestatyn) |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | ~130 km / 81 miles | ~153 km / 95 miles |
| Typical Duration | 6–7 days | 6–7 days |
| Total Ascent | ~3,750 m / 12,300 ft | ~4,200 m / 13,800 ft |
| Terrain | Mountain passes, valleys, lakes, fells | Upland ridges, moorland, farmland |
| Highest Point | Kidsty Pike (780 m) | Foel Fenlli (511 m) |
| Technicality | Rocky paths, bogs, steep climbs | Rolling ridges, field paths, steep hills |
| Difficulty | Challenging | Moderate to Challenging |
| Day | Route | Distance (km) | Ascent (m) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Bees → Ennerdale Bridge | 22 | 600 | Coastal cliffs, farmland, inland hills |
| 2 | Ennerdale → Rosthwaite | 24 | 900 | Remote forest, Honister Pass |
| 3 | Rosthwaite → Grasmere | 14 | 700 | Lining Crag, classic Lake District |
| 4 | Grasmere → Patterdale | 13 | 750 | Over Grisedale Tarn, Helvellyn option |
| 5 | Patterdale → Shap | 25 | 1000 | Kidsty Pike, Haweswater |
| 6 | Shap → Kirkby Stephen | 32 | 800 | Rolling limestone, moorland |
| Day | Route | Distance (km) | Ascent (m) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knighton → Mellington | 22.5 | 1,327 | Very steep climbs, Shropshire hills |
| 2 | Mellington → Buttington | 21 | 500 | Rolling farmland, lower gradients |
| 3 | Buttington → Llanymynech | 14.5 | 200 | Canal paths and river meadows |
| 4 | Llanymynech → Llandegla | 27.5 | 900 | Uplands, old quarries, open ridges |
| 5 | Llandegla → Bodfari | 21.5 | 815 | Deep climbs, Moel Famau |
| 6 | Bodfari → Prestatyn | 19 | 675 | Panoramic ridge, final descent to the sea |
| Factor | Coast to Coast | Offa’s Dyke (North) |
|---|---|---|
| Climbs | Fewer but higher (Kidsty Pike) | More frequent, rolling climbs |
| Length per day | Slightly longer average days | Slightly shorter, but hillier |
| Terrain | Rocky paths, alpine conditions | Grassy ridges, rough pasture |
| Technical trails | More exposed and uneven | Generally smoother but steep |
St Bees to Kirkby Stephen is generally more physically demanding in the short term due to rocky ascents, remote mountain paths, and steeper gradients, especially days 2–5.
Knighton to Prestatyn is longer and cumulatively higher in ascent, but spreads the effort more evenly with rolling terrain and better trail surfaces, making it challenging but slightly less intense.
← Offa’s Dyke North–South Comparison
St Bees to Kirkby Stephen is generally more physically demanding in the short term due to rocky ascents, remote mountain paths, and steeper gradients, especially days 2–5.
Knighton to Prestatyn is longer and cumulatively higher in ascent, but spreads the effort more evenly with rolling terrain and better trail surfaces, making it challenging but slightly less intense.