Route Overview – or Why You Should Hike St. Cuthbert’s Way
I’ve hiked lots of long-distance trails, in many different countries.
St. Cuthbert’s Way is one of my favorites, for a few different reasons.
Including:
- It ends on Holy Island: this strange unique island has lots of history, and a small secluded population (of 160 people). It’s only accessible at certain times of day (more on that later), and was once a hugely sacred place. A genuinely world-class way to finish a walk.
- Very few people know about it: so you won’t see many other hikers, and you’ll feel like you’re on a ‘real’ adventure.
- Around 15-20% of the hike takes walkers across the boggy, barren, and mysterious Cheviots (one of England’s least-explored mountain ranges): and not *just* the Cheviots, but some of the Cheviots’ most remote and quiet sections.
- Although it’s a big adventure, you can get it done in four days. Many of the UK’s better-known long-distance hikes are a little (or a lot!) longer.
- This is one of the friendliest parts of England, so you’ll meet lots of smiley locals. That means in accommodations, on the trail, and as you’re wandering through towns and villages.
In short, it’s a big old blend of history, nature, and adventure.
It’s best-suited to:
- People interested in religious history
- People who want quiet trails with few other hikers
- Those who want to hit a multi-day hike, but without investing too much time
- Moderately fit hikers. You don’t need to be super fit for this hike, but you need to be capable of a reasonable challenge. If you’ve ever done any multi-day hiking, or even relatively challenging one-day hikes, you’ll be fine with St. Cuthbert’s Way.
Most people tackle the trek in 4 or 5 days. If you choose four days, you’ll need to be careful with tide timings, and whether that matches up with how fit you are.
Because, here’s the thing: the final part of the walk is the hike to Holy Island, which is only accessible when the causeway (the path leading to the island) isn’t covered by the sea.
On the day I wrote this guide, for example (in December 2024, for those who are curious), the safe-crossing times are from 07:25 until 13:40, and again from 19:35 until 02:10. But because the sun will have set by 19:35, you only really have until 13:40 to cross. And because the final day of the 4-day version of the hike is around 19 miles (31 km) that means you’d need to have walked all 19 miles (31 km) by 13:40.
So, plan accordingly. More on that later.
Here’s the best resource for checking safe-crossing times. It’s from Northumberland County Council, the region’s governing body.