Yorkshire Makes Walking History As Coast To Coast Becomes A National Trail

Alfred Wainwright's iconic 190-mile Coast to Coast route has officially been designated as a National Trail following a £5.5 million investment.

Some of Yorkshire's most beloved destinations have helped write walking history, as the Coast to Coast is officially launched as a National Trail.

The milestone comes more than half a century after the famous fell walker, Alfred Wainwright, first imagined the route in 1973. The 190-mile trail stretches from St Bees on the Irish Sea, through three National Parks, and ends at Robin Hood's Bay.

Robin Hood's Bay, already one of Yorkshire's most iconic coastal destinations, now makes history as the first place in England where three great long-distance National Trails meet. At the dramatic North Sea finish line, the Coast to Coast joins the Cleveland Way and the King Charles III England Coast Path.

A £5.5 million investment has brought the route up to National Trail standard, with improved signage, better surfacing, and opportunities for cyclists and equestrians across suitable sections.

Joel Brookfield, Director of Recreation and Wellbeing for the North York Moors National Park Authority, says being designated as a nation trail brings a number of benefits to the route.:

"It's an investment of considerable amounts of money to ensure that what is otherwise just an undefined walk becomes something that has got very clear standards in terms of the surface but also access through things like gates, no stiles, and ensuring that any steep gradients are well maintained, but also wherever possible enhancing the access so that people on bikes and horses can also make use of paths that go through landscape of very special quality."

Joel says that being a national trail will mean the route gets enhanced maintenance, ensuring it's future.

 

"When Alfred Wainwright wrote his book a Coast to Coast walk back in 1973, he was literally picking his way through some areas and just trying to work out where a viable path might be, and sometimes probably he got absolutely up to his knees in mud. And we obviously don't want that experience for most people. We want to provide at least a minimum level of standards and a clear route that people can find.

And over the many decades that have followed, then of course the route has been very popular. That also has its management challenges, erosion and mud and other things that we have to manage. And so this is a way of ensuring that we've got the resources and the technical know-how to mean that whenever you walk it, whenever you walk it, you're going to be guaranteed a good time, other than obviously if it's raining and windy."

The North York Moors section offers miles of wooded river valleys and sweeping moorland. It has shown real resilience after a wildfire in August and September last year damaged approximately one mile of the trail.

Bruce Cutts from Natural England says creating the new national trail has been a challenge:

"The challenges have been immense. We were helped by the fact we've got a fantastically well-established route anyway that was really popular. But of course it had never had that sort of level of end-to-end management. So being able to bring this sort of support, this sort of management to a well-loved trail that is the most popular walking route in the country has been a real pleasure.

We've spent so much time and effort working with partners, upgrading the route, protecting the land over which people are walking, improving the waymarking. It's been a triumph for all the partners involved, and hopefully something that will be valued by people in the future."

Bruce says the trail has been well loved by local people and visitors over the last 50 years but now has a solid approach to it's management for the first time:

"When we initially did the survey looking at what we were going to do and how we were going to upgrade the currently used route to the National Trail, one of the things we noticed was the number of homemade signs on farm gates and things. And that was a clear indication to all of us that the level of use was just not matched by the level of management.

Now hopefully the level of management will match that level of use. Because I think 44% of the people that walk the Coast to Coast path National Trail are from overseas. There's Canadians, there's Americans, there's Germans, there's people from Holland, as well as a massive number of local people that use it as part of their everyday walks. So it's a real trail for everybody, and it's superb."

More than 6,000 people complete the full Coast to Coast every year, bringing significant benefits to local communities. A 2025 survey found 99% of walkers used local food services during their journey, with 77% staying in local accommodation.

Marian Spain, Chief Executive of Natural England, said:

"The Coast to Coast Path National Trail showcases some of Northern England’s most treasured landscapes and today marks the completion of four years of work to give this iconic route the status it deserves.

The Coast to Coast has inspired walkers since Wainwright first walked it over fifty years ago. As a National Trail with improved accessibility, paths and signage it will offer a new generation of walkers, wheelers and riders the chance to enjoy the route and bring new tourists to businesses along the way."

Tom Hind, Chief Executive of the North York Moors National Park Authority, said:

"For more than five decades, the North York Moors section of the Coast to Coast has provided some of the most memorable moments of this remarkable journey, from sweeping heather moorland and peaceful woodland, to the unforgettable first glimpse of the North Sea. Generations of walkers have experienced that sense of achievement as they reach Robin Hood’s Bay.

We’re delighted to see the route officially recognised as a National Trail and to have played a part in caring for the landscapes it crosses. This designation reflects years of partnership working and will help ensure the trail remains accessible, well-maintained and inspiring, so that new generations of walkers can create their own Coast to Coast memories here in the North York Moors."

Cllr George Jabbour, Chairman of North Yorkshire Council said: 

“The Coast to Coast Path is one of our region’s greatest natural assets, and its designation as a National Trail will only amplify the social, economic and environmental benefits it brings to residents, visitors and local businesses. 

“Having walked the route myself last year, I saw first-hand just how valuable it is to the communities it connects. That is why, on becoming chair of North Yorkshire Council last May, I made it a priority to champion the path at every opportunity. 

“Working closely with neighbouring councils and our three National Parks, we have strengthened joint efforts to promote the trail and, through our locality budget programme, secured significant funding to support the Coast to Coast Passport scheme. This has helped showcase the many attractions and enterprises along the route while enriching the experience for those who walk it. 

“I look forward to seeing the Coast to Coast Path continue to grow in profile and popularity as one of the country’s truly great National Trails, inspiring many more people to explore and enjoy the landscapes that make our region so special.”