Walking the Coast to Coast is a fantastic experience to tick off, with incredible scenery, memorable villages and some of the UK’s best-known landscapes along the way.
It is also a demanding long-distance walk, with consecutive days on foot, changing weather and plenty to organise. Planning your overnight stops, meals and food for the following day can take some of the pressure off and leave more time to enjoy the journey itself.
For walkers travelling from Grasmere towards Shap, Patterdale is a natural place to stop, refuel and reset before the next stage.
Reaching the village gives you the chance to put down the backpack, enjoy a proper meal, stay overnight and prepare for the following day. With accommodation, breakfast and packed lunches available locally, Patterdale can make this part of the Coast to Coast much easier to plan.
Arriving in Patterdale on the Coast to Coast
The journey into Patterdale is one of the memorable Lake District sections of the Coast to Coast.
Leaving Grasmere behind, the route climbs towards Grisedale Tarn, surrounded by high fells including Seat Sandal and Dollywaggon Pike, before beginning the descent through Grisedale towards Patterdale.
As you make your way down the valley, Helvellyn rises above one side of the route while St Sunday Crag dominates the other, with the landscape gradually opening up as you get closer to Patterdale.
After hours spent crossing the fells, reaching the village can feel like a real milestone — and a welcome opportunity to take off the backpack, rest tired legs and properly refuel.
Walkers arriving in Patterdale can call into The Patterdale Hotel for food and drinks whether they are staying overnight or simply passing through.
For those staying at the hotel, dinner, accommodation, breakfast and a packed lunch for the following day can all be arranged in one place, giving you time to relax before preparing for the next stage of the Coast to Coast.
Where to Eat After Arriving in Patterdale
Long-distance walking usually comes with a healthy appetite.
The Patterdale Hotel is open to both residents and non-residents for all-day dining, so walkers passing through the village can stop for food even if they are staying elsewhere.
There is plenty of choice depending on when you arrive and how hungry you are, from all-day breakfast options and light bites to hearty meals, pub classics and fresh sourdough pizzas. If you are after something smaller, there are also sweet treats and hot drinks for a quick pick-me-up before carrying on.
The bar and lounges have a relaxed, informal feel that works well after a day on the fells, and on warmer days food and drinks can also be enjoyed outside in the beer garden. Pizzas are available to take away too, which is handy for walkers who simply want something easy after a long stage.
If you are staying overnight, you can also settle in for a three-course dinner before getting some well-earned rest.
Where to Stay in Patterdale on the Coast to Coast
Choosing accommodation carefully is an important part of planning a multi-day Coast to Coast walk.
After a full day on the trail, somewhere comfortable, relaxed and walker-friendly can make all the difference.
With the Coast to Coast route passing through Patterdale, The Patterdale Hotel could hardly be more convenient for walkers looking to stop in the village, rest overnight and continue their journey the following morning.
The Patterdale Hotel offers good-value accommodation in the village, with a welcoming atmosphere where muddy boots are very much part of the scenery. Some rooms look out towards Place Fell, giving you a reminder of the landscape you have been walking through even after you have put your feet up for the evening.
If you are walking with a dog, selected dog-friendly rooms are available too.
The team are used to welcoming walkers and will be happy to help with practical questions during your stay, whether you need information about breakfast, packed lunches or preparing for the next stage.
Walking the Coast to Coast with a Dog
If you are tackling the Coast to Coast with a four-legged companion, it helps to know where you can both stop comfortably at the end of a long day.
At The Patterdale Hotel, dogs are welcome in the bar and lounge throughout the day, as well as the beer garden, so you can relax together after a day exploring the Lakes.
Selected dog-friendly rooms are also available for walkers staying overnight, so your dog can stay with you before you both head back onto the Coast to Coast the following morning.
There is no need to fill your backpack with extra dog gear either. Dog beds and bowls are available, helping to keep the amount you need to carry on the trail to a minimum.
Packed Lunches for Coast to Coast Walkers
Preparing enough food for a long day on the trail is especially important when walking between more remote sections of the route.
Guests staying at The Patterdale Hotel can order a freshly prepared packed lunch the night before their walk.
Simply choose the items you would like, place your order and collect your packed lunch from the team from 7.30am the following morning.
That means you can enjoy breakfast, collect your lunch and head straight back onto the Coast to Coast route.
Please ask at reception for more information.
Preparing for the Patterdale to Shap Stage
Before leaving Patterdale, it is worth checking the weather, reviewing the route ahead and making sure you have enough food and water for the day.
Use the evening to dry kit, organise your backpack and give tired legs a chance to recover.
Guests staying at The Patterdale Hotel can enjoy breakfast before departure, collect a pre-ordered packed lunch and get straight back onto the Coast to Coast, ready to crack on with the next stage.
Coast to Coast Patterdale FAQs
Where can I stay in Patterdale on the Coast to Coast?
The Patterdale Hotel offers accommodation in Patterdale for walkers completing the Coast to Coast, with food and drinks available at the hotel and breakfast for overnight guests.
Can non-residents eat at The Patterdale Hotel?
Yes. Non-residents are welcome for all-day dining, with meals, pub classics and sourdough pizzas available in the bar, lounges and beer garden.
Can I get takeaway food in Patterdale?
Fresh sourdough pizzas are available to take away from The Patterdale Hotel, which can be useful for walkers staying elsewhere in the village.
Is The Patterdale Hotel dog-friendly?
Yes. Dogs are welcome in the bar, lounge and beer garden, and selected dog-friendly bedrooms are available for overnight stays.
Can I stop for food or a drink without staying overnight?
Yes. Coast to Coast walkers passing through Patterdale are welcome to stop at the hotel for food and drinks without booking accommodation.
What should I organise before leaving Patterdale for the next Coast to Coast stage?
Check the weather and route, organise your walking kit, make sure you have enough food and water and get a good night’s rest. Guests staying at The Patterdale Hotel can also arrange a packed lunch the night before and collect it from 7.30am.
Your Patterdale Stop on the Coast to Coast
If you are planning where to stop and stay on the Coast to Coast, it is worth getting the practical details sorted before you arrive.
With accommodation, food, breakfast and packed lunches available in one place, The Patterdale Hotel gives walkers an easy way to rest, refuel and prepare for the Patterdale to Shap stage.
Whether you are arriving tired from the previous section, looking for somewhere to eat in Patterdale, or getting organised for the next morning, a well-planned overnight stop can make a long-distance walk feel that little bit more manageable.
Then it is simply a case of breakfast, packed lunch collected, boots on and back onto the Coast to Coast.
