Since my successful campaign to have Alf Wainwright’s internationally-famous walk from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay designated an official National Trail, work has been carried out to upgrade the route.
Securing the £5.8m funding required for the upgrade work is one of my proudest achievements as your MP and I’m looking forward to seeing the benefits that will flow from the walk’s new status.
The work to bring it up to National Trail standard is led by Natural England – the arms-length Government-funded body overseeing the natural environment – in conjunction with the National Parks and local authorities including North Yorkshire Council.
It includes some challenging projects – like the airlifting of hundreds of tonnes of flagstones to be laid across the boggy peatland in Birkdale, north-west of Keld.
It should all be completed by end of this year with an official opening this time next year.
But already we are seeing the benefits for the businesses that cater for the walkers coming through. Interest in the walk is growing with demand for accommodation at an all-time high.
That has spin-off benefits for all the other businesses in the communities the walk comes through – like the pubs and shops the walkers typically use as they make their 197-mile journey across the North of England.
I was delighted to see earlier this month the launch of a project which will further assist businesses and help the 6,000-plus walkers who do the Coast to Coast every year get the best experience from their trek.
The Coast to Coast Passport is a booklet which the walkers can purchase (for just £15) to get ‘stamped’ at 10 locations along the route to demonstrate completion of the trail, to receive a completion certificate and access a series of discounts on everything from accommodation, meals, admission to attractions and ice cream!
It’s a great not-for-profit idea from the Richmond Community Interest Company in association with the Richmond Information Centre. Some of the revenue from sales of the Passports will go towards the Northern National Trails Partnership to help secure the sustainability of the route.
I think it’s really encouraging that more than 30 businesses on the trail in our area have signed up to act as stamping agents this year and I am sure more will follow.
There is, of course, still the issue of the dangerous crossing of the A19 dual carriageway at Ingleby Cross where walkers are faced with crossing four lanes of fast-moving traffic.
I’m still fighting for some form of bridge to be built over the road. But in the meantime, it has been agreed that a temporary diversion of the route to use the existing bridge a mile or so north at Trenholme Bar will still direct walkers back to Ingleby Cross and Ingleby Arncliffe – and the B&Bs, pub and coffee shop for which the trail is a vitally-important source of business.
That means the walk meets the standard to be an official National Trail but the businesses – who I have previously met to discuss this matter – are protected.
