I’m planning on doing the coast to coast in July (the route by Tim Woodcock) but would like to do it in 6 days rather than the 7. I was planning on doing St Bees – Eskdale, Eskdale – Ambleside, Ambleside – Kirkby Stephen, but not sure where to stop for the next 2 nights. Any ideas?

Once you get into the moors your options are limited.

YHA in Eskdale is reasonable
YHA in Troutbeck is fantastic
YHA in Kirkby Stephen is horrible avoid if you can.

We then stayed at the Dales bike centre in Reeth and then finished from there as accomodation afterwards is limited.

The road section between Reeth and Osmotherly can be bashed out easily in a couple of hours. I’d think about doing a mamouth day from Osmotherly to Robin Hoods Bay, unless you get lucky on the couple of pubs you may pass on the way, and rearrange your route to suit.

Reeth Dales mtb centre then bnb in Glaisdale