Alfred Wainwright's coast-to-coast walk to become a National Trail

From Cumbria to Yorkshire, the new status for the popular long-distance trail means a £5 million upgrade with improved accessibility for walkers...

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Outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy UK walks will be delighted with the announcement of a new National Trail, passing through some of the country's most beautiful National Parks.

The 317 kilometre walk – beginning at St Bees in Cumbria and ending at Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire – is already a popular route, with more than 6,000 people trekking the entire unofficial trail every year.

Known as Alfred Wainwright’s coast-to-coast walk, it passes some of the most spectacular landscapes in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire Moors, with highlights including views of lakes, mountains and castles.

Wainwright, a fellwalker and guidebook author, first published the route in his Coast to Coast book released in 1973. He created the trail by piecing together sections of already-existing footpaths, bridle paths and minor roads.

The path passes through some of the Lake District's most picturesque sights (Shutterstock)

The path passes through some of the Lake District's most picturesque sights (Shutterstock)

On Friday 12 August, Nature England announced the coast-to-coast path will become a government-recognised National Trail.

It becomes the 16th National Trail in the UK, now in good company with Glyndŵr’s Way, England’s South Coast Path, and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

The official title for the path also means a large funding boost: £5.6 has been pledged to upgrade the route.

The investment will make the trail suitable for people of all abilities; For example, existing stiles will be replaced with gates.

For walkers who want to complete smaller routes, new signs will be put in place to help those navigate smaller, circular trails.

The enhancements will be made over the next three years, with the shiny new route officially opening in 2025. 

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