Have Your Say – Creation of Public Footpath at Nannycatch Beck

Please see below a consultation notice I received from the Lake District National Park Authority about the creation of a new public footpath and variation of the alignment of the Coast-to-Coast National Trail near Ennerdale Bridge. Copy me in to your response if you’d like me to be aware of your views: hello@joshmacalister.uk.

Consultation

As I’m sure you’re aware, the 197 mile Coast to Coast is considered one of Britain’s greatest walks, originally described by Alfred Wainwright in his 1973 book ‘A Coast to Coast Walk’, 39, the path runs from St Bees on the west coast, Robin Hood’s Bay on the east coast.

In recognition of its 50 year existence, in the Summer of 2022 the Government asked Natural England (NE) to work with the relevant highways authority partners along the route (Cumberland Council, ourselves, Westmorland and Furness Council, Yorkshire Dales NPA, North York Moors NPA and North Yorkshire CC) to assist in the process of upgrading the route to National Trail status.

There are number of Public Path Orders (PPO) needed to ensure that is the trail follows a legal Right of Way for the entire length of the route through our geographic area. Undertaking these will ensure public access for the future, and enable grants to be awarded toward its ongoing maintenance Aside from the PPO work there will be some focused physical works, and installation of new waymarking. The path is expected to be formally designated and recognised as a National Trail in Oct 2025.

Before we make any decision, we would be grateful to receive any comments or input you would like us to take into account. If you would like to comment, please reply to me (charlotte.kimber@lakedistrict.gov.uk) by 18 January 2025.

We would encourage you to visit the proposed location if at all possible and would very much appreciate if you could let us know whether you have done so when submitting any comments. Parking is available at Scarny Brow or in the small parking area at Nannycatch Road.

Attached are two Maps showing the proposed diversion, annotated with letters, and a Photosheet with the points referred to as P1, P2 etc.

Map 1

The Footpath to be created runs generally north eastwards and northwards from Point A (NY 0552 1298, P1) along Nannycatch.  There are two narrow points on this section – the first (P2) being 1.1m near Raven Crag where there is a steep slope on one side and a drainage channel on the other; and the second (P3) 1.2m wide where the path has been supported by gabion baskets. 

It then crosses Nannycatch Beck through a step through ford (with a footbridge to one side) at Point B (NY 0572 1328 – P5).  The route continues northwards along the narrow path adjacent to the beck and across a series of step through fords (P6).  The route then joins FP 407020 at Point C (NY 0580 1392). 

Map 2

The route leaves FP 407020 at Point D (NY 0585 1395) and runs generally northwards past Point E (NY 0591 1401) shown in P7, along the benched track, crossing the Unclassified Road at Point F (NY 0601 1430) continuing northwards and north eastwards to cross the beck via a step through ford (P8) with a footbridge to the side at Point G (NY 0609 1436) before joining Footpath 407055 through a 1.5m wide kissing gate at Point H (NY 0617 1439) on Scarny Brow (P9,10).

I hope the above information and attached documents provide a helpful overview of the proposed creation.

Please note that this communication is also a consultation on varying the alignment of the Coast-to-Coast National Trail (original approved route here https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5224470032941056).   The proposed route of the National Trail created a short length of footpath running east of Point C, and then took the National Trail along the road to Scarny Brow.  Following an approach from the local community, we feel that it will be better for the National Trail to be realigned onto the proposed created route above allowing walkers to stay off road as far as Scarny Brow, and then joining the roadside path towards Ennerdale Bridge.  Two further maps showing this proposed Variation Order are included.

Natural England is minded to propose that the National Trail is realigned onto the created route by way of a Variation Report submitted to the Secretary of State, and I would be grateful to receive any comments you may have as part of your response.