A celebration marking the Coast to Coast Walk’s new status as one of the UK’s National Trails has been held in Swaledale.
The event took place in Fremington, near Reeth, at The Dales Bike Centre, bringing together key figures who helped secure official recognition for the famous 192-mile route.
Among those attending was Rishi Sunak, MP for Richmond and Northallerton, who launched a campaign for National Trail status shortly after first being elected.
Representatives from Natural England, along with local authorities and national parks, also attended the event celebrating the transformation of Coast to Coast Walk into a recognised National Trail.
Opening the event, David Butterworth, chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, credited Mr Sunak with giving the long-discussed ambition “real impetus and traction”.
He said the idea had been talked about for years, but progress was only made after Mr Sunak took up the cause, which later featured in his party’s 2019 General Election manifesto.
Mr Butterworth also paid tribute to National Park staff, led by Alan Hulme, for their work upgrading the route, including extensive waymarking and laying thousands of flagstones across boggy sections in upper Swaledale.
Hazel Thomas was also recognised for her contribution to the project.
Speaking at the event, Mr Sunak described the achievement as one of his proudest as an MP.
“National Trail status for what I believe is a national treasure is among my proudest achievements,” he said.
He highlighted the importance of the route to the rural economy, recalling how a conversation with a local pub landlord in 2015 helped spark his campaign.
Mr Sunak also praised the support of the Wainwright Society and presented a commemorative waymarker sign to former secretary Derek Cockell.
The event also heard from Brenda Price, co-owner of the venue, who said the trail was vital to local businesses and described National Trail status as “a huge boost”.
The campaign to secure recognition for the route was first launched in Reeth almost a decade ago, gaining backing from more than 70 parish councils and organisations.
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