The Ravenber Way

Long distance walkers know that planning is an essential part of any adventure, and part of the fun. From setting the dates, getting the guide book and maps, plotting the route, booking overnight accommodation, working out how to pack lightly - and maybe a bit of shopping for a new piece of kit.

The Ravenber Way is no exception. Planning is essential. The route is long and can be done over fourteen days. It is wild and remote, with many stretches where you'll most likely be alone. Accommodation is available on route, but limited in places - so always book your spot.

As well as taking in diverse countryside and topography the route passes through lovely towns and villages, with many historical places of interest not too far from the Ravenber Way route. If you are not planning on marching from start to finish then you may wish to stop off along the way - maybe split one section into two, stay a couple of nights in one place, or just take a couple of hours out of walking to enjoy what is on offer.

The Ravenber Way guide book provides a full description, from West to East, and hand drawn maps of the route. It also outlines alternative routes.  You may wish to deviate slightly from the main route to take in a few peaks - especially in the Lake District and Cheviots - or visit historical sites to add to the experience of your walk. The route on the .gpx file provided is 210.5 miles, but with alternative routes, visiting interesting places and leaving the route to reach overnight accommodation you could walk considerably more.

Each end of the Ravenber Way is connected to the rail network. Ravenglass is between Barrow-in-Furness and Carlisle, and Berwick-upon-Tweed is directly connected mainline stations including: Edinburgh, Newcastle, York, Sheffield, Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth. If you wish to split the route in two then Hexham is the ideal place. You'll arrive there at the end of section seven (of 14) and it has direct trains to Carlisle and Newcastle.

This website provides a basic overview for each of the sections and useful links to the OS maps you'll need, accommodation and places of interest. You could construct your Ravenber route from the .gpx files and links to accommodation provided, but it is recommended that you also get the guide book. As well as being an interesting read, with descriptions of the geological and historical events that formed that places you'll walk through, it also provides a turn by turn account of the route, highlighting difficulties and providing a commentary of the underfoot conditions.

Note that there are discrepancies between the ascents provided in the guide book and the pages on this website. This is due to the calculation using digital OS maps being more accurate than the manual approach. Discrepancies in route mileage are in part again due to digital versus analogue measurement, but also small variations in the starting and end points for each section.

If you are looking for your next challenge then the Ravenber Way could be it. Enjoy your walk and get in touch so that we can add you to our Wall of Finishers.

The Ravenber Way from Ravenglass to Berwick-upon-Tweed, first recorded by Ron Scholes, provides a challenging coast to coast alternative to the much trodden St. Bees to Robin Hood's Bay, created by Alfred Wainright.

Ron and Alfred were good friends and supported each other's passion for walking. Ron shared many of his new walks and guides with Alfred, who was always enthusiastic and generously offered advice and tweaks.

 Wainright's Coast to Coast route is one of the most popular long distance routes in the country, whilst the Ravenber Way is a classic route through outstanding locations that has been greatly overlooked since it was first published in 1997. It offers its walkers fantastic scenery and diverse walking conditions through historic countryside - and is a little more challenging than its counterpart.

So, if you are looking for a coast to coast challenge that is equally well thought out, less trodden, that little bit harder and that will give you exclusive bragging rights, then the Ravenber Way might be for you!

Both coast to coast routes can take fourteen to sixteen days to complete, this is how they compare: