A 190-mile coast-to-coast path has officially launched as England’s newest National Trail today (Thursday 26th March), aptly named the ‘Wainwright Way‘. The path starts at the beautiful St Bees Head on the Irish Sea, traverses three National Parks, before ending in the picture postcard Robin Hood’s Bay – the route’s dramatic North Sea finish line.
What is the National Trail standard?
A £5.5 million investment has seen Natural England and partners bring the route up to National Trail standard, with improved signage, better surfacing and opportunities for cyclists and horse riders across suitable sections.
The route will also receive annual maintenance funding to keep it in excellent condition for generations to come, and to make sure that sections where there have been accessibility improvements, with resurfaced paths or new bridges, stay accessible.
Upgrading the route to a National Trail has involved working with the challenges of climate change. This has been at its most extreme in the North York Moors, which last year experienced significant wildfires.
Why is it called the ‘Wainwright Way’?
The move comes more than half a century after famous fell walker, Alfred Wainwright, first imagined the route in 1973. Wainwright is best known for his pictoral guides to walks around the Lake District, and you might recognise the name from Michael Portillo‘s railway adventures that are perpetually on TV.
The coast-to-coast route described in his work became one of his most famous, and he described it effusively in his guide, saying that “the countryside is beautiful almost everywhere, yet extremely varied in character, with mountains and hills, valleys and rivers, heather moors and sea-cliffs combining in a pageant of colourful scenery.”
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.”
What is the route of the Wainwright Way?
The route takes walkers through some of England’s most dramatic landscapes from the fells and lakes that define the Lake District, dramatic limestone scenery and tumbling waterfalls of the Yorkshire Dales, and the sweeping moorland and wooded river valleys of the North York Moors.
The Coast to Coast Path also passes through historical villages such as Bolton-on-Swale, Danby Wiske, and St Bees, helping to provide a boost to the visitor economy as visitors enjoy great local food and hospitality businesses along the route.
More than 6,000 people complete the full Coast to Coast every year, with thousands more enjoying shorter sections. Local communities feel the benefit of the trail’s popularity, with a 2025 survey finding 99% of walkers used local food services during their journey, with 77% staying in local accommodation.
Natural England has worked closely with partners in the Lake District to improve the accessibility of the path, including through the creation of an accessible lakeside route with new surfacing and bridges around Ennerdale Water, and initiatives such as Fix the Fells, which seeks to repair upland routes damaged by erosion.
5km of new flagstone path has also been laid to help walkers tackle Nine Standards Rigg and White Mossy Hill – one of the most remote and challenging stretches.
Walkers can also choose to extend their walk as the Coast to Coast intersects with the Cleveland Way and King Charles III England Coast Path at Robin Hood’s Bay.
The official launch is being celebrated at an event at Reeth in North Yorkshire today, where a new stone marker will be unveiled. The marker will be permanently installed at Keld to mark the point that walkers are halfway between the North Sea and Irish Sea.
Find the full Wainwright Way route and accessibility information here.
