Coast to Coast Walk emergency & health guide: hospitals, mountain rescue, 999 and 111

Emergency numbers

If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired, register for emergencySMS before you go: text "register" to 999 and follow the replies. Mobile signal is weak or missing in many Lake District valleys and on the moors, so carry a map and compass and tell someone your plan.

Rules to know

• The Coast to Coast Path became a National Trail in March 2026. It follows public rights of way and is signed with the National Trail acorn and the trail name in both directions. Stay on the path across fields and farmland.
• There is no general right to wild camp in England. Use campsites or ask the landowner. In the Lake District a discreet one-night camp high on the fells, above the highest fell wall, with one or two tents, no fires and no trace, is normally tolerated; landowners can still ask you to move on.
• Dogs: keep them on a short lead near sheep and cattle. On Open Access land (most fells and moors) a lead is required by law from 1 March to 31 July and at all times near livestock. If cattle threaten you, let your dog go.
• Lake District high fells: Kidsty Pike (780 m), Greenup Edge and the climb from Black Sail are high and exposed. In mist, strong wind, snow or ice keep to the main valley routes, skip the high alternatives (Red Pike and High Stile, Helm Crag, Helvellyn, St Sunday Crag) and wait for better weather before crossing Kidsty Pike.
• Bog: Nine Standards Rigg, the Pennine moors and the North York Moors are peat bog in places. On Nine Standards use only the flagged red route, and expect wet feet after rain.
• Diversions in 2026: the start at St Bees is diverted because of cliff falls on St Bees Head, and at Ingleby Arncliffe the signed route crosses the A19 on the Black Swan bridge (about 7 km longer). Never cross the A19 dual carriageway on foot.
• Countryside Code: leave gates as you find them, use gates and stiles, take your litter home, and do not light fires.

Before you go, check current diversions on the National Trails website and the Met Office and MWIS mountain forecasts. Book rooms and baggage transfer early: small villages have only a few beds.

Nearest hospital for each stage

Hospitals

Urgent treatment centres

Urgent treatment centres treat sprains, simple fractures, cuts and burns. Opening hours differ: Penrith 8am to 10pm, Whitby 8am to 8pm, the Friarage in Northallerton 24 hours, Kendal until 10pm with limited cover at night. They are not emergency departments. Call NHS 111 first: it can book you in.

Pharmacies, cash and supplies

• Pharmacies: Grasmere, Kirkby Stephen, Richmond
• ATMs: Grasmere
• Shops: Ennerdale Bridge, Grasmere, Reeth, Richmond, Ingleby Cross, Glaisdale, Robin Hood's Bay
• Bus stops: St Bees, Rosthwaite, Grasmere, Patterdale, Shap, Kirkby Stephen, Keld, Reeth, Richmond, Ingleby Cross, Glaisdale, Robin Hood's Bay

England has no duty-pharmacy rota. Use the NHS "Find a pharmacy" service on nhs.uk to check opening hours, or call 111 if you need medicines urgently at night. On the route there are pharmacies in Grasmere, Kirkby Stephen and Richmond; there are none in Ennerdale Bridge, Rosthwaite, Patterdale, Keld, Danby Wiske, Ingleby Cross or Glaisdale, so carry a first-aid and blister kit.

Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.