Wainwright's Coast-to-Coast route saved by crowdfunding campaign

A crowdfunding appeal to raise money to repair a damaged stretch of Alfred Wainwright’s iconic Coast-to-Coast walking route has been a success.

The online campaign, run by The North Pennines AONB Partnership in collaboration with the Friends of the North Pennines, has so far raised £21,405 – well over the original £15,000 target.

Now that the money has been raised the team will set to work on repairing the historic route that attracts thousands of walkers to the north every year. Them money will go directly into flagging the part of the route that runs between Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria and Keld in North Yorkshire with stone. Preparations have already begun and it is expected the practical work will begin in the autumn.

Julie Bradbury who lent support to the campaign, said: “This is, without doubt, one of my favourite walks in the UK. All the people who have supported this campaign should give themselves a pat on the back because without them, Alfred Wainwright’s intended route could have been lost for ever. Well done to everyone involved, especially the team at the AONB Partnership for kicking it off. It goes to show just how important our countryside is to people and for me, as a champion of our great outdoors, that’s particularly heart-warming.”