A new 'walkers’ passport has been launched to mark one of the UK’s most iconic long-distance footpaths — the 300km Coast to Coast Path from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire.
The 140-page passport - something like the ones you get walking a Camino - encourages hikers to collect unique stamps from 29 locations along the trail, including shops, pubs, and visitor attractions. The initiative, developed by volunteers from Richmond Yorkshire Community Interest Company (CIC), aims to provide walkers with a lasting memento of their journey while supporting local businesses along the route.
Devised in 1973 by renowned author and fellwalker Alfred Wainwright, the route attracts thousands of walkers each year and passes through three of England’s most picturesque national parks: the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, and North York Moors.
“This is a wonderful way for people to track their journey and celebrate what they’ve achieved,” said Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council. “It also brings a welcome boost to the local economy.”
The passport project was funded by local councils, national park authorities, businesses, and the Wainwright Society. It comes ahead of the Coast to Coast being officially designated a National Trail in 2025, following a $12 million investment by Natural England.
Richmond and Northallerton MP Rishi Sunak, who campaigned for the trail’s designation, called the passport “a brilliant addition,” adding: “It will form part of a walker’s memory of this unique trek across the North of England and unlock great benefits for their journey.”
A Wainwright Society spokesperson echoed the sentiment, quoting the trail’s creator: “Surely there cannot be a finer itinerary for a long-distance walk.”
The passport is now available to the public and is expected to become a cherished companion for walkers for years to come.