England’s Coast to Coast Walk to become a National Trail

Alfred Wainwright’s Coast to Coast walk, which meanders through the often spectacular countryside of three of England’s national parks, is to be made a National Trail.

The 315km route from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire is one of the UK’s post popular long-distance routes, taking in lakes, mountains, moors, bogs, medieval castles, ancient ruins and a good number of pubs.

Wainwright, a writer and “fellwanderer” who remains a God-like figure to walkers in the Lake District, devised the route and published it in his guidebook Coast to Coast in 1973.

 

 

Despite its unofficial status, the path is walked in its entirety by about 6,000 people every year generating an estimated £7m ($12m) for local economies, reports The Guardian.

 

 

Last Friday Natural England announced it would become a government-designated National Trail, joining 16 others in England and Wales, including Hadrian’s Wall Path, Glyndŵr’s Way and the Pennine Way, the first official trail, which opened in 1965.

The announcement comes with a commitment of £5.6m ($9.6m) to upgrade the route and make it more accessible.

 

 

The broadcaster Eric Robson, who chairs the Wainwright Society, said it had long been one of the society’s ambitions to get National Trail designation for the walk.

So if you fancy seeing what all the fuss is about our 8-day Coast to Coast pack-free guided walk will show you all the best bits!

 

 

Our walk covers a maximum of 131km of the 315km walk with the flexibility to walk shorter days or opt out of any day’s walking and enjoy free time in the villages or towns we visit. Our walk is specifically designed for Australian travellers to maximise their travel time, by showcasing the best sections of this walk and avoiding the mundane parts.

 

Our walks takes us across the country from coast to coast, exploring by foot the spectacular mountains, the stunning Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors National Parks.

We have handpicked stunning locations to stay each night, from a grand castle to quirky hotels with amazing views. Indulge in wonderful dining experiences showcasing local produce and magnificent wines. Another great bucket list walk to add to your ever-growing list!