What makes a National Trail?

As Parliament marks the launch of the King Charles III England Coast Path, National Trails UK Chief Executive Polly Martin explains what makes a National Trail, how new National Trails are created, and why these remarkable routes are unlike any other public rights of way in the UK.

Today marks an important milestone for our National Trails network as Parliament celebrates the launch of the King Charles III England Coast Path. It's also a timely opportunity to answer one of the questions I'm asked most often: what actually makes a route a National Trail?

The founding vision for National Trails was set out in legislation over 75 years ago.

‘.....that the public should be enabled to make extensive journeys on foot or on horse back or on a bicycle…along a particular route, being a route which for the whole of the greater part of its length does not pass along roads mainly used by vehicles’ National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949

Have you ever been on a walk, noticed the acorn or thistle on the signpost, and asked yourself what that means? Welcome to the National Trails network! These are likely to be routes that you love. Maybe as part of your family’s favourite walk, or a challenge event you’ve prepared for, or perhaps the location of your favourite bench or picnicspot. But you might not know what being a National Trail means, who looks after them, and how you can support them.

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What are the National Trails?

The 21 National Trails in England, Wales and Scotland are enjoyed by millions of people each year. These routes, covering over 5000 miles of the UK, are designated by law thanks to either the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Country Act (England and Wales) or the 1961 Countryside Access Act (Scotland). Those Acts gave Ministers the power to create these designated long-distance routes, routes which would allow people to travel to and through some of the most wonderful areas of our countryside.

How are National Trails different from other public rights of way

The original vision for the National Trails was to create the best possible routes; well signposted and maintained so that they could be enjoyed by a wide range of people. The National Trails are the only routes that are managed to a set of quality standards, setting them apart from the wider public rights of way network. To this day, in England and Wales the National Trails receive their core maintenance and repair budget from Government in recognition of the importance of maintaining this highest standard of access.

Can you walk, cycle, wheel and ride on National Trails?

While many people might assume that all the National Trails are footpaths, the network is a mixture of paths, bridleways and other types of public rights of way. This means that in many places, you can walk, wheel, cycle, horse ride or carriage drive along sections of National Trails. (And this is why we talk about National Trail users, not walkers).

If you want to know if a route you love is a National Trail, in England and Wales you should look out for the Acorn; in Scotland, follow the Thistle.

Who decides what routes become National Trails?

A new National Trail can be designated by the responsible Government Minister.

To decide whether or not to approve a new National Trail, the Minister would review a report provided by Natural England or Natural Resources Wales, depending on where the route is. This report will recommend the route(s) of the new National Trail. It  should be the result of consultation with any interested parties like the Ramblers, Cycling UK, British Horse Riding Association, Local Planning Authorities and Councils, any National Parks or National Landscapes that the proposed route goes through, as well as landowners and members of the public. This report would also have information about the estimated cost of getting the route up to National Trail standard, and of how much ongoing funding the route will need.

Assuming that the Minister approves the creation of a new National Trail, perhaps after suggesting some changes or requesting more information about parts of the report, Natural England or Natural Resources Wales would then work with the various Local Authorities which the National Trail passes through to upgrade the route as needed. They would also support the formation of management for the National Trail, as well as support on the official launch once the National Trail was completed.

Can anyone propose a new National Trail?

There isn’t a set process for nominating a route to be considered as a National Trail; nor is there a short or long list you can add to. There aren’t any criteria that a proposed route must meet. Almost all of the National Trails we have, are the result of years of tireless campaigning by charities, community groups, and individuals.

The Campaign that started the National Trails movement and led to the Pennine Way

The idea for the first National Trail, the Pennine Way, is widely  credited to journalist and campaigner Tom Stephenson. In a 1935 article for the Daily Herald, he reflected on  receiving a letter from two Americans asking for advice on a walking holiday in  England. Disappointed that there was nothing here to  compare to the long distance routes such as the Appalachian Trail or the John Muir Way, he argued that access to the countryside was too often limited by  private land ownership, and a lack of joined-up routes.

Stephenson imagined a continuous trail stretching north from Edale across the Pennines to Hadrian’s Wall - ‘a Pennine Way’ that would  ‘meet the needs of the growing army of young folk attracted to the healthiest form of recreation.... and provide a route to health and happiness for succeeding generations’. His vision helped inspire a movement that would transform public access to the countryside. Stephenson’s vision was part of a much  wider movement to protect the countryside and improve public access.  Organisations including The  Campaign to Protect Rural England, The Open Spaces Society, the Ramblers' Association, the Cyclists' Touring Club, and the Youth Hostels Association all campaigned for change.

Their efforts helped shape the   1947 reports by Sir Arthur Hobhouse which recommended the creation of National Parks, conservation areas and public rights of way. 90% of these recommendations were later brought  into law as the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, laying the foundations for today’s National Trails.

How campaigning shaped today’s National Trails network

Many of the first National Trails are routes which were suggested to the Hobhouse committee in 1947, including the Pennine Way, the Ridgeway, the Pilgrims Way, (which became the North Downs Way), the South Downs Way, Offa’s Dyke Path, Thames bankside (now the Thames Path) and Roman Wall track (Hadrian’s Wall Path).

Campaigning still shapes National Trails today

The newest National Trail, The Coast to Coast Path, was the result of years of campaigning led by the Wainwright Society, with support from their local MP, Rishi Sunak, along with myriad other individuals and groups.

What’s different about the King Charles III England Coast Path?

The King Charles III England Coast Path, (KC3ECP), will be the longest managed continuously waymarked trail in the world when it is completed. But that’s not what makes it different to other National Trails.

Coastal Margin

Firstly, the KC3ECP is the only National Trail with a designated margin. Every other National Trail is only the width of the footpath / bridleway / etc. The KC3ECP has a ‘coastal margin’ which runs from the inland side of the National Trail and includes nearly all land seaward of the National Trail. If you look at Ordnance Survey maps, this margin is shown in pink. Much of this margin is open access land, meaning that you have access to all of that land, not just the path.

Built to adapt to a changing coastline

Secondly, it also has ‘roll back’, so if the path is washed away or otherwise lost, the right of way can be ‘rolled back’ to the remaining land. For other National Trails, the public right of way is set along one route and doesn’t automatically change if the path is lost. Instead, a variation to the route needs to be approved by Government.

A new legal framework

When the KC3ECP was being created, the sheer scale of the vision for a path all the way around England, with a margin, resulted in new legislation being needed. Section 9 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 puts the duty of coastal access on Natural England and the Secretary of State; this piece of legislation, combined with other public rights of way legislation, enabled the creation of this new National Trail.

How do National Trails work in  Scotland?

In Scotland, four routes are designated long distance routes marked with the thistle; the West Highland Way, the Great Glen Way, the Speyside Way and the Southern Upland. These are National Trails in all but name, as National Trails is actually a brand owned and managed by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales.

There are other important differences in Scotland. Following the passing of the 2003 Land Reform (Scotland) Act, Scotland has a responsible right to access. Also known as ‘right to roam’, this means that people have the right to do non-motorised activities, eg walking, cycling, horse riding, wild camping and water sports in the vast majority of Scottish land, as long as they adhere to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. There are exemptions to this, such as private gardens, visitor attractions which charge, and some farm land, but there is still much more access to land than in England and Wales.

After the passing of this Act, Scottish Government conducted a review of designated long-distance routes, and decided in 2010 that they would not formally designate any further long distance routes, but would instead encourage more locally-based proposals for new routes for long-distance footpaths. These would have to meet some minimum standards, and together are marketed as Scotland’s Great Trails.

A shared national asset

The Westminster launch of the King Charles III England Coast Path is a chance to celebrate not only a remarkable new National Trail, but the wider family of 21 National Trails that connect people with some of the UK's finest landscapes. Each one exists because of decades of vision, collaboration and care. At National Trails UK, we're proud to champion these special routes and the people who look after them, helping ensure they continue to inspire, connect and welcome people for generations to come.

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