Work to make the Coast to Coast Walk an official UK National Trail is on schedule – and Rishi Sunak has met business owners who are set to benefit.

The upgrade of the walk – which starts at St Bees on the Cumbrian coast and finishes at Robin Hood’s Bay, near Whitby – is expected to be completed in 2025.

Mr Sunak, MP for Richmond and Northallerton, visited business owners in Danby Wiske – a key stopping point on the 197-mile trail – to brief them on the importance of National Trail designation.

He said: “For the pub and the bed and breakfast accommodation providers in the village, the walk is their major income stream. The walk becoming a National Trail will boost their businesses and the also the hundreds of similar enterprises that depend on the walk in Swaledale, Richmond and the North York Moors.”

(Image: Contributor)

Designation of the walk – devised by the renowned fell walker Alfred Wainwright 50 years ago – will mean better maintenance, signposting and marketing of the trail’s unique qualities. A solution is still awaited regarding improving the safety of the route's crossing of the A19 at Ingleby Arncliffe, near Osmotherley.

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Mr Sunak started a campaign to have the walk made one of the UK’s National Trails. In 2022 it was announced that work would start – funded by £5.6m from the Government – to bring the route up to standard so it could be part of the official UK National Trails network.

Mr Sunak said: “The walk already brings 6,000 walkers a year through the heart of the area I represent, generating £7m for the economy of the north of England.

“National Trail designation will serve to increase that and also recognise the genius of Alf Wainwright in creating a walk that has become so popular.”

During his visit to the village, Mr Sunak was shown Church Holmes Camping site which was opened in 2021 by Steve and Vicky Cotter. It provides a range of facilities for walkers as well as camping pitches.

Danby Wiske B&B owner Jean Norris, of Ashfield House, said: “We much appreciated Rishi coming to talk to us about progress on designation of the walk. It is vital for our business and we look forward to the benefits National Trail designation will bring.”