The stretch of the England Coast Path in North Yorkshire and East Riding of Yorkshire between Easington and Filey Brigg has received approval from the Secretary of State. Work will now commence on a fifty-nine mile section of the coast to prepare the new footpath for public use.

The first step is to contact owners and occupiers of the affected land to discuss the design and location of any new infrastructure which is needed, such as signs and gates. The plan allows a ‘roll back’ of the path as the coast erodes. It was hoped that the fifty-nine mile section between Filey and Easington would open in October 2020, but it suffered a delay in part due to the corona virus pandemic.

Between Steeton and Primrose Valley the trail will essentially be entirely new. The footpath will follow the cliff tops before diverting inland to avoid the Old Beck. A new footpath will carry the route around the landward side of Reighton Sands Caravan Park, before joining an existing path through Moor Farm. The path will return to the cliff tops at Boat Cliff Road. It will follow the existing footpath to Hunmanby Gap, where a new path will begin near the Gap Cafe. Initially, it was planned to cross Flat Cliff Gill on a new pedestrian bridge, but now the path will come inland to avoid the Gill. A new path will take walkers on the cliff top between Primrose Valley Caravan Park and Flat Cliff itself. At Primrose Valley the route will follow the exiting cliff top footpath, before joining the promenade at Filey to the Coble Landing. Finally, it will go up the steep steps adjacent to the Church Ravine, before following the existing footpath to the top of Filey Brigg. There it will meet the already completed northern section, which leads ultimately all the way to the River Tees.

The new path will link with a route from Easington to the Humber Bridge that is already in development. This will make the entire Yorkshire coastline accessible to walkers for the first time. The northern sections of the route are already enjoyed by walkers and the challenge of walking the entire Yorkshire coastline is expected to become highly popular.

Natural England are developing the footpath that, in concert with the Wales Coastal Path and the Scotland Coastal Way, will become part of a route that will follow the entire coastline of the British mainland.

The full report can be read here.