National trails

National Trials are long distance routes along footpaths and bridlepaths in England and Wales used for walking, cycling and horse riding. In Scotland, equivalent routes are known as Scotland’s Great Trails. There is a total of approximately 400km of National Trail.

National Trails are designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The Pennine Way was the first National Trail to open in 1965 and there are now a total of 15 National Trails, all of which are accessible to walkers:

• Cleveland Way.
• Cotswold Way.
• England Coast Path.
• Glyndr's Way.
• Hadrian’s Wall Path.
• North Downs Way.
• Offa’s Dyke Path.
• Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path.
• Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
• Pennine Bridleway.
• Pennine Way.
• South Downs Way.
• South West Coast Path.
• Thames Path.
• The Ridgeway.
• Yorkshire Wolds Way.

National Trails are managed locally by Trail Partnerships made up of the local authorities responsible for the path. Each trail has a National Trails Officer responsible for the overall coordination of maintenance of the route.

Natural England and Natural Resources Wales provide support for National Trails at the national level, with funding provided by the government and also by local highway authorities and other partners.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in December 2024, defines national trails as: ‘Long distance routes for walking, cycling and horse riding.’

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Areas of outstanding natural beauty.
• Bridlepaths.
• Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
• Cycle path.
• Designated sites.
• Green belt.
• Hadrian's Wall Path and the national trails.
• National nature reserves.
• National nature reserves.
• National parks.
• National Planning Policy Framework.
• National Trust.
• Natural England.
• Natural Resources Wales.
• Promoted routes.
• Right of way.
• Scottish Natural Heritage.

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