Two decades on the right path
20th anniversary milestone for 62-mile coastal pedestrian route. Tony Henderson reports
A path which opens up the spectacular Northumberland coast to thousands of walkers is celebrating a major milestone.
The Northumberland Coastal Path was officially opened on July 17, 2006.
Stretching 62 miles (100km) from Cresswell in the south to Berwick in the north, the path has become one of the country’s favourite walking routes, with its beaches, rocky headlands, castles, two national nature reserves and coastal villages offering a constantly changing landscape.
It is estimated that the whole path is completed by around 3,500 walkers a year, although many thousands more visit one of the six stages, ranging from seven to 13 miles, into which the route is divided.
It is regarded as a leading example of sustainable tourism which also boosts the coastal economy.
The path was established through the North Sea Trail Project, a European initiative that brought together 27 regions across seven countries to create some of Europe’s finest coastal walking routes. Before the project, there was no continuous walking route along the Northumberland coast.
Funding secured in 2002 supported the development of the trail, including route improvements, signage, waymarking and the production of a guidebook. The Northumberland Coast Path was officially opened on July 17 by Cllr Pat Scott, then chair of the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership, and Allan Garvie from Aberdeenshire Council, who led the North Sea Trail Project.
Jude Leitch, Northumberland Coast National Landscape Partnership member for tourism and businesses and a B&B owner from Howick, said: “The Northumberland Coast Path is one of Northumberland’s greatest tourism assets, attracting visitors while encouraging people to explore our spectacular coastline.
“At our B&B we welcome walkers from around the world who consistently remark on the warmth of the welcome they receive in Northumberland, the quality of the route and the natural and cultural heritage that they encounter along the way.”
The Northumberland Coast Path Passport encourages walkers to visit businesses along the route, with users collecting stamps from participating “Welcome Ports” to receive an official completion certificate.
Iain Robson, National Landscapes manager, said: “As we celebrate 20 years of the Northumberland Coast Path, we can reflect with pride on the positive impact it has had for both local communities and visitors.
“Long-distance walking routes such as this are exemplars of sustainable tourism, encouraging people to explore the landscape at a slower pace.
“Walkers completing the whole trail often arrive by bus in Cresswell, spend five to eight days exploring the coast and finish in Berwick before catching the train home. They tread lightly on the landscape, leaving only footprints in the sand, money in the local economy and a deeper connection to the landscape and seascape of the Northumberland Coast.”
People are encouraged to join the celebrations by sharing their favourite Northumberland Coast Path memories and photographs on social media using #NorthumberlandCoastPath20.