Wildwood Research

A recent survey revealed in May 2012 by YouGov and the walking charity Ramblers has shown a high level of support by the British public for continuous and legal access to a coastal walking trail around England’s coastline.

The survey sampled over 2000 British adults in March 2012 in representative stratified random samples for all the British regions. Proportional age, gender and socio-economic profile splits were also integrated into the sampled ranges.

Unsurprisingly for a Region invested in the spirit and history of the outdoors, residents in the North of England revealed the greatest support for a continual walking trail.

• 75% of Residents in the North agreed that the public should have access to walk along beaches of the entire coast of England.
• 9% disagreed with this opinion

This survey has further encouraged the Ramblers in their campaign to deliver a continual coastal trail open to all brought about initially by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

Further signs of progress in this light are to be seen in the announcement of a public consultation opened by the government advisory group Natural England. Here they have announced the next five stretches of coastline which will become part of this new “National Trail”. The goal is that by 2017 walkers will be able to go all the way from Hull to Dorset – via Hadrian’s Wall and the Wales Coastal Path.

Natural England has set out proposals for an enhanced walking route from Whitehaven to Allonby to be created along the 36km of coast to provide greater access for local residents and visitors where they can walk, rest and admire the view. The route will run close to some of Cumbria’s most populated areas and pass through a variety of coastal habitats and cliff scenery.

Further details of the public consultation for the Allonby to Whitehaven trail can be found at:

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/about_us/news/2012/100512b.aspx

The results of the YouGov survey can found at:

http://yougov.co.uk/news/2012/05/18/lifes-beachwalk/