National Trails
From GPG
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There are twelve National Trails in England and three in Wales crossing some of the finest landscapes the two countries have to offer. They provide a nationally and internationally recognised series of walks and rides. The Trails are marked with the acorn logo representing a hallmark of high quality provision and management.
- The National Trails provide 2500 miles of the nations' favourite rambles and rides.
- National Trails are close to where people live, within 50 miles of anywhere in England and Wales.
- Each National Trail has its own manager looking after the interest of visitors all year around.
- National Trails are the best way of getting to know the countryside and offer spectacular, inspiring views.
- National Trails are designated by Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales.
- They are waymarked with the acorn - a symbol of quality.
- For more information on the family of National Trails visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk
High Quality Routes
The Trails are managed to the highest standards - standards set by the Countryside Agency in Quality Standards for National Trails in England Countryside Agency 2004 (CA183) and the Welsh National Trails Quality Standards handbook for those in Wales. The standards have been set with the aim of maintaining the National Trails to a standard that is consistent and sympathetic to the landscape through which the Trails pass, which meets the needs of users and which is appropriate to their use.
The Trails are surveyed regularly to record their condition and plan improvement works.
Dedicated Trail Managers
To help deliver these standards each National Trail has a dedicated National Trail Officer working with the highway authorities along the route of the Trail to maintain and improve the routes.
Trail officers report annually to Natural England on how the Trails perform against the quality standards. The results of these reports can be seen on the National Trail website under management information.
User satisfaction
Natural England aims to ensure that the National Trails provide an appropriate balance of different experiences for different users.
Regular user and non-user surveys are carried out to record how well the quality standards are being met and whether they are the correct standards in addition to providing information to help steer the setting of local priorities.
The user survey records:
- the profile of each National Trail user
- the duration of their stay
- their motivation for the visit
along with other questions designed to test both the relevance and success of the quality standards.
Seeresults of the last user survey. Key findings include :
- 14% of users are 'ambling' - walking for less than an hour
- 46% are 'rambling' - walking or riding for half a day
- 40% are 'scrambling' - out walking or riding for a full day
- Around one in three users are doing the whole National Trail, although many are doing it in a series of short walks rather then in one trip.
- 95% of users described their experience of National Trails as very good or fairly good.
- 65% of users said nothing had spoilt their experience. A small number of users wanted better signs and waymarking or thought that path furniture should be improved.
Non-users
Non-user surveys are carried out regularly to identify the barriers that are perceived to restrict use of National Trails and ask what else can be done to encourage more visits.
Information
National Trails provide high quality information for users including :
- an official guidebook
- a Trail summary leaflet
- an accommodation guide
- a public transport guide
- a guide to circular walks based upon the Trail.
There is also a national website and each Trail has its own inspirational and informative web presence.
User surveys have shown that users are very happy with the information that is provided but they would like to see more, particularly in relation to interpretation of features along the route and circular walks from the trail.
The National Trails
Cleveland Way - the second Trail to open in 1969 is largely within the North York Moors National Park. The 110 mile route edges the moorland then follows the coast to Filey.
Cotswold Way - just over 100 miles of quintessentially English countryside follow ing the Cotswolds escarpment from Chipping Campden to the World Heritage City of Bath.
Glyndŵr's Way - 135 miles from Knighton on the English border through Machynlleth, which was the capital of Wales in 1404, finishing by the Montgomeryshire Canal in Welshpool.
Hadrian's Wall Path - recently opened 84 mile route follows the line of Hadrian's Wall from Newcastle to the Solway.
Norfolk Coast Path & Peddars Way - 93 miles - starts in Suffolk at Knettishall Heath Country Park and follows the route of a Roman road to Holme-next-the-Sea where the Peddars Way meets the Norfolk Coast Path as it runs from Hunstanton to Cromer.
North Downs Way - runs for 153 miles through the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Offa's Dyke Path - 177miles long following the 1200-year-old Offa's Dyke along the English-Welsh border.
Pembrokeshire Coast Path - twists and turns its way through 186 miles of the most breathtaking coastal scenery in Britain from St Dogmaels to Amroth.
The Pennine Way - the first National Trail opened in 1965. It is 286 miles long running up the Pennines from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish borders.
Pennine Bridleway - is opening in sections; currently 120 miles of route is open, through Derbyshire to the South Pennines, including the 75km (47 mile) Mary Towneley Loop circuit and the 10-mile Settle Loop in the Yorkshire Dales. When fully open it will provide 347 miles of Trail open to horse riders, cyclists & walkers.
Ridgeway - 87 miles(139km) long, much of it following the ancient chalk ridge route used by prehistoric man.
South Downs Way - The 160 kilometre long following the old routes and droveways along the chalk escarpment and ridges of the South Downs.
South West Coast Path - 630 miles of superb coastal walking. From Minehead on the edge of the Exmoor National Park to the shores of Poole Harbour in Dorset.
Thames Path - 184 miles long following the Thames from its source to the Thames Barrier.
Yorkshire Wolds Way - nearly 80 miles long the Trail runs from the banks of the Humber estuary through the chalk hills of the Yorkshire Wolds ending at Filey Brigg.
Promoted Routes
In addition to the National Trails there are hundreds of promoted routes in England and Wales. Some are locally promoted by highway authorities, others by dedicated walking groups or by private authors or publishers. There is nothing to prevent anyone promoting a route but because of this the quality and level of maintenance vary widely with some routes being managed to a very high standard and others not managed at all.
Lists of promoted routes can be found at Long Distance Walkers' Association and the Ramblers' Association.
