Numbers Up On Cleveland Way

More walkers are tackling the Cleveland Way National Trail - which celebrates its 40th birthday this year - than ever before with hidden footfall counters showing a 26% rise in users in the first six months of 2009 compared to the previous year.


The footfall counters were hidden at four locations on the 110-mile long route which crosses the North Yorks Moors before heading along some of England's most stunning coastline. The average rise across all four counters was 26% from January to June, 2009 compared with the same period in 2008.

The biggest increase in numbers was at Saltburn on the coast which saw a 34% rise and between them the four counters clocked some 37,213 users. The National Park Centres at Sutton Bank and Danby have also seen an increase in visitor numbers of around 10% between January and July 2009 compared with the same period last year.

The Cleveland Way was the second National Trail in England and Wales to be designated 40 years ago and one of 15 National Trails. It's funded by Natural England, the North York Moors National Park Authority, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and Scarborough Borough Council.

Malcolm Hodgson, National Trails Officer for the Cleveland Way, said:
 
“Walking is not only a great way to keep fit but it’s also relatively cheap and it would seem that in our current cash-strapped climate, more people are pulling on their boots and enjoying the local countryside. With a great diversity of landscape and heritage in a relatively small space, the North York Moors is a walkers’ paradise offering everything from a short stroll to longer distance routes such as the Cleveland Way.”

The increase in numbers, we reckon, tends to support theories that the credit crunch has led to more people holidaying in the UK rather than going abroad.

It's a stunning walk and well worth tackling either in a single lump or broken down into shorter, cicular walks. Details of both options at www.nationaltrail.co.uk/clevelandway