Maintain and promote the Pennine Trails and other recognised long-distance routes, identify opportunities for new multi-user routes, and campaign for the Coast-to-Coast path to become a National Trail by 2024.
How the local partners are doing on this objective
Progress: The Coast to Coast Path National Trail was formally designated by the Secretary of State in October 2022. Implementation of the route has been started, and is scheduled for completion by October 2025.
Press Releases and related articles:
12 August 2022 – New National Trail Status Awarded For Coast to Coast Route
30 July 2021 – Coast to Coast National Trail Proposal To Be Developed
1 September 2020 – New bridge for Cringley Bottom
Rationale: Multi-day routes that pass through the National Park’ include two National Trails (Pennine Way and Pennine Bridleway) and significant regional routes (notably the ‘Dales Way’ and the ‘Coast-to-Coast’). The busiest sections of these routes (e.g. at Malham Cove) are used by an average of over 8,000 people per month at peak times. Between 3,000 and 5,000 people walk the whole of the Coast-to-Coast each year, with around 4,000 people completing the Dales Way. There are opportunities to make better use of these routes by a wider range of users – increasing enjoyment of the National Park and supporting the local economy.
Lead partner: Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
Supporting partners: Natural England; North Yorkshire Council; Westmorland & Furness Council; Lancashire County Council; Dales Way Association; Wainwright Society; Pennine National Trails Partnership
Further information: Dales Way National Trails
Cost over 5 years: £2,200,000 (existing National Trails) £???? (Coast-to-Coast path if designated)
Funding shortfall: £660,000. Each year a significant amount of external funding is raised to assist with the delivery of the maintenance and enhancement of the Pennine Way and Pennine Bridleway. Each individual Authority receiving a grant has to contribute on average a further 30%.
Related objectives: B1; B9; E2
Ecosystem services: Recreation; A sense of place and inspiration; A sense of history.
Trade-offs: The popularity of national trails has the potential to have impacts on tranquillity (A2); priority habitats (C1) and species (C2). Management and mitigation of these are guided by principles set out in the Special Qualities, Special Experiences document.
Baseline: National Trails: Pennine Way and Pennine Bridleway Recognised Regional Routes: Coast to Coast; Dales Way; Dales Highway; Pennine Journey; Lady Anne’s Way and the Ribble Way