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Yorkshire Times
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Phil Hopkins
Group Travel Editor & Theatre Correspondent
@philhopkinsuk
7:00 AM 25th August 2021
travel

England 'Coastal Path' Mapped On Outdoor App

 
Europe’s largest digital outdoor tourism platform, Outdooractive, has teamed up with route finders to make some of England’s most scenic walks, including many in North Yorkshire, more accessible to people.

England’s 2,748 miles of coastline are among the most beautiful in the world and walking the entire route is slowly becoming possible.

Natural England hopes to have all stretches of the England Coast Path approved by the end of the year, including the North York Moors National Park and the stunning route from Filey Brigg to Newport.

Sections of the Yorkshire coast path have also been featured on Kate Humble’s Coastal Britain tv programmes and are already accessible.

However, for those who are too eager to wait for Natural England, route providers have teamed up with Outdooractive to offer their recommended self-guided walks via its app.

Craig Wareham, CEO UK of Outdooractive, says the company has been working with local organisations to bring together a ‘Walking with Kate’ selection of coastal routes, not only ‘mapped’ but with accompanying photographs. They can be downloaded via the company’s app.

He said: “Walking the complete England Coast path will be an ambition for many but it could take many years to complete the entire route. During lockdown walking programmes became really popular so we approached a number of destinations to see if we could bring together a collection of walks people can do now, and we will add more as the path opens.”

The Yorkshire coastline was featured in Kate Humble’s Coastal Britain and Outdooractive’s Walking with Kate series now includes a series of stunning walks chosen by North York Moors National Park View the full selection here: https://out.ac/IIOuwA.

Malcolm Hodgson, National Trails Officer at the North York Moors National Park, said: “It’s good that more people recognise the beauty of North Yorkshire after seeing it on TV – but there’s plenty more to discover on this coastline. By having the local routes on Outdooractive, we’re hoping visitors are able to discover some of our lesser-known trails.”

Outdooractive is used by UK and European destinations to promote their regions to over 10 million outdoor enthusiasts. Some European destinations, such as ski resorts, also use the app to provide timely warnings about route closures and to direct visitors to less well known but equally enjoyable treks.

There are currently six routes in the Walking with Kate series but, for the best experience, you should view the routes on a GPS-enabled mobile phone and select ‘open in app’, to follow the routes with the free Outdooractive route map.

Here’s a taste:

1. The Sailor’s Path – Suffolk – Walking with Kate
The route passes through the Snape Maltings, which rise over the landscape like a great ship, before following along the River Alde and through Snape Warren Nature Reserve. The route wraps around the medieval shipbuilding town of Aldeburgh, whose streets have inspired many a poet over the centuries. The Sailor's path is part of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), one of Britain’s finest landscapes.
2. Robin Hood's Bay to Whitby - North York Moors National Park - Walking with Kate
A route capturing the gothic delights of Whitby and its Abbey, combined with the stunningly scenic former fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay. Whitby is an inspirational town, not least for some literary giants. Charles Dodgson visited several times before he wrote ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and Bram Stoker's Dracula was also set in Whitby. This route follows the England Coast Path and forms part of the magnificent Cleveland Way, a 109 mile (175km) National Trail. There is a regular bus service from Whitby to Scarborough that stops at Robins Hood’s Bay.
3. Runswick to Staithes - North York Moors - Walking with Kate
Staithes in North Yorks. Photo: Tony Bartholomew
Staithes in North Yorks. Photo: Tony Bartholomew
An ambling route along the cliffs from the old fishing village of Runswick bay to Staithes, once one of the largest fishing ports on the North East Coast.
Runswick Bay shelters at the end of an extensive, beautiful beach. Cottages cluster around narrow, winding paths leading down a steep hillside to an expansive bay. The path leads along the cliffs to Staithes, a town filled with beautiful old fishermen’s cottages, arranged around higgledy-piggledy, winding streets. This route follows the England Coast Path and forms part of the magnificent Cleveland Way.
4. Stonebarrow Hill – East Devon – Walking with Kate
A demanding route travelling high above the surrounding landscape, with tremendous views in all directions. It passes the remains of a medieval village, and later St Wite's Well, said to cure eye problems and other ailments.
5. Otterton & Mutter's Moor - East Devon - Walking with Kate
An invigorating hike through the woods and moorland inland from High Peak, with standing stones that moved, a woodcutter who hid contraband beneath his logs when times were hard, and a landscape crisscrossed with ancient pathways.
6. Minehead to Hurlstone Point - Exmoor - Walking with Kate
Spectacular 5-mile section of the north Somerset coast, explorable by trail across the grassy bluffs above the cliffs, or by walking along remote, stony beaches at sea level...

Any of these routes can be followed on a GPS-enabled route map via the free Outdooractive ap