Walking the Wainwright Way: A Journey of Discovery Along England's Coast to Coast Path
Soft breezes danced across Innominate Tarn, sending ripples through its tranquil waters. From my rocky perch atop Haystacks, I gazed out at the breathtaking beauty of Buttermere and Crummock Water, with Pillar and Great Gable looming majestically in the distance. It was a moment of serene contemplation, broken only by the indignant croaking of ravens, who seemed to disapprove of my presence on their eyrie.
As I pondered the majesty of this Lakeland landscape, I found myself drawn to two very different figures: Alfred Wainwright and Rishi Sunak. While one is a legendary hiker and cartographer, the other is a modern-day politician. Yet, in a surprising twist, both men have brought me to this same spot.
Wainwright's Coast to Coast path, which he first sketched on a map over half a century ago, has become Britain's most popular multi-day trail. Spanning 190 miles through the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors national parks, it attracts thousands of walkers each year. Despite its popularity, however, the route was previously marked on OS Maps only partially and not always following public right-of-way paths.
Enter Rishi Sunak, whose constituency encompasses part of the route. He campaigned for its designation as a national trail, which has now been granted. With £5.6m funding from Natural England, the project aims to upgrade infrastructure, improve signposting and waymarking with the distinctive acorn symbol, appoint dedicated trail officers, and address legal issues related to land access.
As I set out on my own journey along the Coast to Coast path, accompanied by my partner Sarah, we embarked on 12 days of walking, sleeping in different B&Bs each night. We faced exhilarating hills, exhausting valleys, and breathtaking scenery at every turn. The improvements made to the route were evident from the start, with repairs to trails around Ennerdale Water and Honister Pass.
We also discovered new features such as heavy-duty stepping stones protecting precious peat and delicate moss ecosystems on Nine Standards Rigg. In Swaledale village of Keld, we followed a newly realigned path to lead-mining relics at Gunnerside Gill, an enchanting place where the remains of pit buildings, channels, and smelters only added to the magic.
Beyond Richmond's castle, we traversed the flat Vale of Mowbray, entering the North York Moors national park. As we climbed through Scarth Wood, tracing the northern scarp of the Cleveland Hills, improvements such as new National Trail signs and replaced stiles with gates benefited not just long-distance hikers but also local people.
Perhaps the most poignant moment came on my final day in Little Beck Wood, where I followed May Beck to Falling Foss waterfall. In this tranquil Arcadia of mossy boulders, ferns, soaring shale cliffs, and chiming birdsong, I joined laughing families on stone paths laboriously laid by Bernie and volunteers.
As I reflected on the journey, Angela Hobson, Yorkshire Dales Coast to Coast project manager, beamed with pride. She recalled taking her daughter to White Mossy Hill and saying, "You'll be able to walk over this with your children, and they'll be able to walk over it with their grandchildren." And she added, "I helped build it."
Wainwright's legacy has been refreshed, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for the role he played in bringing me to this stunning landscape. As for Rishi Sunak, his efforts have made a tangible difference, ensuring that walkers can enjoy the beauty of England's Coast to Coast path with greater ease.
For those considering tackling the Coast to Coast path, there are various itineraries available, including a 14-day option from £1,579, which includes B&B accommodation, luggage transfers, and route information. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just starting out, this incredible journey has something for everyone.
Soft breezes danced across Innominate Tarn, sending ripples through its tranquil waters. From my rocky perch atop Haystacks, I gazed out at the breathtaking beauty of Buttermere and Crummock Water, with Pillar and Great Gable looming majestically in the distance. It was a moment of serene contemplation, broken only by the indignant croaking of ravens, who seemed to disapprove of my presence on their eyrie.
As I pondered the majesty of this Lakeland landscape, I found myself drawn to two very different figures: Alfred Wainwright and Rishi Sunak. While one is a legendary hiker and cartographer, the other is a modern-day politician. Yet, in a surprising twist, both men have brought me to this same spot.
Wainwright's Coast to Coast path, which he first sketched on a map over half a century ago, has become Britain's most popular multi-day trail. Spanning 190 miles through the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors national parks, it attracts thousands of walkers each year. Despite its popularity, however, the route was previously marked on OS Maps only partially and not always following public right-of-way paths.
Enter Rishi Sunak, whose constituency encompasses part of the route. He campaigned for its designation as a national trail, which has now been granted. With £5.6m funding from Natural England, the project aims to upgrade infrastructure, improve signposting and waymarking with the distinctive acorn symbol, appoint dedicated trail officers, and address legal issues related to land access.
As I set out on my own journey along the Coast to Coast path, accompanied by my partner Sarah, we embarked on 12 days of walking, sleeping in different B&Bs each night. We faced exhilarating hills, exhausting valleys, and breathtaking scenery at every turn. The improvements made to the route were evident from the start, with repairs to trails around Ennerdale Water and Honister Pass.
We also discovered new features such as heavy-duty stepping stones protecting precious peat and delicate moss ecosystems on Nine Standards Rigg. In Swaledale village of Keld, we followed a newly realigned path to lead-mining relics at Gunnerside Gill, an enchanting place where the remains of pit buildings, channels, and smelters only added to the magic.
Beyond Richmond's castle, we traversed the flat Vale of Mowbray, entering the North York Moors national park. As we climbed through Scarth Wood, tracing the northern scarp of the Cleveland Hills, improvements such as new National Trail signs and replaced stiles with gates benefited not just long-distance hikers but also local people.
Perhaps the most poignant moment came on my final day in Little Beck Wood, where I followed May Beck to Falling Foss waterfall. In this tranquil Arcadia of mossy boulders, ferns, soaring shale cliffs, and chiming birdsong, I joined laughing families on stone paths laboriously laid by Bernie and volunteers.
As I reflected on the journey, Angela Hobson, Yorkshire Dales Coast to Coast project manager, beamed with pride. She recalled taking her daughter to White Mossy Hill and saying, "You'll be able to walk over this with your children, and they'll be able to walk over it with their grandchildren." And she added, "I helped build it."
Wainwright's legacy has been refreshed, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for the role he played in bringing me to this stunning landscape. As for Rishi Sunak, his efforts have made a tangible difference, ensuring that walkers can enjoy the beauty of England's Coast to Coast path with greater ease.
For those considering tackling the Coast to Coast path, there are various itineraries available, including a 14-day option from £1,579, which includes B&B accommodation, luggage transfers, and route information. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just starting out, this incredible journey has something for everyone.
! It's awesome to see how Rishi Sunak's efforts have improved the trail infrastructure and waymarking 
. I mean, who wouldn't want a dedicated trail officer to help with navigation? 
But seriously, it's great that they've added those heavy-duty stepping stones for protecting sensitive peat ecosystems 
. As an avid hiker myself, I can attest that this kind of attention to detail makes all the difference on long-distance walks. However, I do wish they'd invested more in bike lanes and facilities for cyclists 
- we should be able to enjoy both walking and cycling together on these beautiful trails! 
Just when you think the Wainwright Way is all about hiking, it's actually about conservation too 
I'm literally dyin' over here thinkin' about takin' on the Wainwright Way 
. And can we talk about how awesome it is that Rishi Sunak's constituency is part of the route? 
. The £5.6m funding from Natural England sounds like, um, a LOT of love for the environment 
. I'm defo checkin' out those itineraries and gettin' ready for my 12-day adventure with Sarah 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to walk along Alfred Wainwright's original route and take in the breathtaking views of the Lake District? The improvements made by Rishi Sunak are a game-changer for hikers like me who want to enjoy the scenery without having to navigate through dodgy terrain.
. And let's be real, £5.6m is a pretty sweet deal for such an amazing project 
.
.
. It's amazing how small changes can make such a big impact on the hiking experience.
.
it's amazing to see how the route has been upgraded with new signs, stepping stones, and stiles with gates 
especially buttermere and crummock water... and wow, those raven warnings 
I think it's so cool how the Coast to Coast path is getting a major upgrade, with £5.6m funding from Natural England! It's amazing that Rishi Sunak campaigned for its designation as a national trail and now we get to enjoy better infrastructure, improved signposting, and waymarking 
. And can you believe Wainwright's original map is still inspiring walkers all these years later? 
I'd love to try the Coast to Coast path out myself, but £1,579 for a 14-day trip with B&Bs and transfers sounds like a pretty penny 
. Anyone else planning on tackling this epic route? 
. The new stepping stones in Nine Standards Rigg, for example, saved our legs from getting trudged all over! And the waymarking with that iconic acorn symbol is such a nice touch – it's like a little badge of honor for walkers.
. It's a great reminder that we're not alone out there on the hills and moors – there are so many amazing people (and organizations) working hard to make our outdoor spaces more accessible and beautiful.
!
. It's amazing how a trail like the Coast to Coast path can bring people together, even if it is from different walks of life (literally!) 
. The improvements made to the route are a huge testament to the efforts of people like Rishi Sunak and Bernie, who just want to make sure everyone can enjoy this beautiful landscape without any hiccups 
The new infrastructure is a game-changer for walkers like me who've been on this route many times. Kudos to Angela Hobson and her team for their hard work 
! And it's heartening to see volunteers and local people laboring behind the scenes to make the path more accessible 
.
!