A POPLAR walking route in North Yorkshire is to be upgraded after being awarded National Trail status today (August 12).

The Coast to Coast route from St Bees, in Cumbria, to Robin Hood’s Bay, in the North York Moors National Park, has been awarded National Trail status by Natural England.

Natural England will now work with partners to improve the route, with the upgraded path expected to open in 2025.

The upgrades to the route will include:

  • The path being made more accessible, with improvements possibly including the removal of stiles and using accessible gates where possible
  • High-quality signage, waymarking, path surfaces and infrastructure
  • Developing circular paths and link routes
  • Working with local businesses to ensure they are aware of the economic opportunities
  • A long-term commitment to funding to help local authorities maintain the path

Executive member for highways and transportation, at North Yorkshire County Council, Cllr Keane Duncan, said: “This announcement will unlock government funding to establish and maintain the trail, which could include improving surfacing to make the walk as accessible as possible.

“It would also provide an opportunity to address long-standing issues on the route, such as the erosion of riverside paths.”

The Coast to Coast walk was published in Alfred Wainwright’s 1973 guidebook, and usually takes walkers two weeks to complete the route.