Sea-to-Sea Cycle Route Upgrades Completed Following £1.2m Investment

Two key sections of the popular Coast to Coast cycle route have been upgraded following a £1.2 million investment aimed at making the network safer, more accessible and more resilient to flooding.

National Highways has completed improvement works at both ends of the iconic sea-to-sea route, with enhancements delivered in Whitehaven, Cumbria, and Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.

The project focused on improving accessibility for a wider range of users while addressing long-standing issues caused by poor drainage and surface deterioration.

In Cumbria, more than £525,000 was invested in upgrading the route between Whitehaven and Cleator Moor. The work included resurfacing sections of the path, installing new wayfinding signage and removing restrictive metal barriers to improve access for cyclists, wheelchair users and people pushing prams or mobility aids.

Further east, a £750,000 programme of improvements was completed at Hylton Bridge in Sunderland. The upgrades included widening sections of the path, resurfacing the route and introducing enhanced drainage measures designed to reduce disruption during periods of heavy rainfall.

National Highways said the investment forms part of its wider commitment to supporting active travel and encouraging more people to choose walking, wheeling and cycling for everyday journeys and leisure activities.

Freda Rashdi, Head of Customer Journeys at National Highways, said the improvements had been designed to deliver benefits for a broad range of users and make the route more accessible for everyone.

The scheme was delivered in partnership with Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, which supports improvements to the National Cycle Network across the UK.

Carole Patrick, National Cycle Network Director at Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, said the route remains one of the country's most popular long-distance cycling corridors and that the completed works would make it easier for people of all abilities to enjoy the network.

The Coast to Coast route, which links the Irish Sea at Whitehaven with the North Sea at Sunderland, attracts thousands of cyclists, walkers and visitors every year and is regarded as one of Britain's best-known long-distance active travel routes.