History
The route was first described by Alfred Wainwright in his 1973 book A Coast to Coast Walk, and for decades it was an unofficial, largely unsignposted trail from St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay. The Wainwright Society began campaigning for National Trail status in 2007.
On 12 August 2022 the government announced it would become a National Trail, with £5.6 million for a three-year upgrade led by Natural England, including new rights of way and gates in place of stiles where possible. The new National Trail officially opened on 26 March 2026.
It crosses the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors national parks. For the first time a Trail Partnership is responsible for the route, with annual grants from Natural England.
Sources: National Trails: Coast to Coast Path; The Wainwright Society: National Trail; grough: Wainwright's 'unofficial' Coast to Coast Walk to gain national-trail status (12 Aug 2022); Wikipedia: Coast to Coast Walk
Facts
- Code
- UK 044 (provisional)
- Distance
- 190 miles (306 km). We measure 189 miles
- Sections
- 3
- Type
- Linear
- Opened
- 26 March 2026
- Designation
- National Trail
- Looked after by
- Natural England / Coast to Coast National Trail Partnership
- Nations
- England
- Total ascent
- Still to be measured