Access for all
on the National Trails
Accessing the outdoors isn’t easy for everyone. A huge amount of work is being carried out to make the National Trails accessible to more people, including removing gates and stiles, improving surfaces and providing information in more accessible ways.
This page brings together access information about the National Trails including easy access walks and sources of further information.
If you have a question relating to access on any of the trails please contact the Trail Officer. You can do this from the Contact Us page.
Follow the trail using Google Street View
Viewing a route or location before you go can help you determine whether it is suitable for you.
The Cleveland Way, Cotswold Way, North Downs Way and Pennine Bridleway have been recorded using Google Trekker and this allows you to follow the trail in the same way that Google Street View allows you to follow roads. Links for these trails are provided below.
Some of the other trails have sections available to view and you can find these by going to Google Maps, searching for the location you’re interested in and clicking on the yellow ‘pegman’ to display Street View (if it isn’t already displayed). If the trail is represented by a blue line (to indicate Street View) you can drag and drop the pegman on to the trail to start exploring.
Find out more: The Cleveland Way on Google Street View
Find out more: The Cotswold Way on Google Street View
Find out more: The North Downs Way on Google Street View
Find out more: The Pennine Bridleway on Google Street View
Trail teams are continually working to ensure as many people as possible are able to enjoy the trails. Information about each trail is provided below.
The last stile has been removed from the Cleveland Way, which is now stile free.
Some stile and step-free sections of the Cleveland Way are promoted as Accessible Walks. You can find these on the Circular and Linear Walks page. More are being developed and added to the site.
Easy Access walk leaflets are available to download on the Leaflets page.
All-terrain mobility scooters are available to hire (subject to membership) from Sutton Bank National Park Centre, Ravenscar Visitor Centre, Dalby Forest and Cropton Forest. Visit the North York Moors National Park Authority’s website to find out more.
Several sections of the Cotswold Way have been improved to provide access for people with restricted mobility, including at Leckhampton. View a 2.25 mile mobility scooter route, which was designed and executed by the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens as a 50th Anniversary project, on the Friends of Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common website.
An off road mobility scooter is available for hire to explore the Cotswold Way around Crickley Hill Country Park, through Countryside Mobility.
The King Charles III England Coast Path has been designed to be as accessible as possible with minimal use of barriers such as stiles. However the nature of the coast means that there are steps in places, often long flights of steep steps. In other places the path may follow paved promenades or other land suitable for wheelchair users, including people using most types of mobility vehicles or people with reduced mobility. Other motor vehicles are not permitted.
The Allonby to Whitehaven stretch has been designed to be as accessible as possible. There are 2 stiles, these are at a railway crossing on Network Rail land.
The video below shows the Maryport to Allonby section of the King Charles III England Coast Path. This stretch of path is approximately 5 miles and can be walked in either direction, it is mostly along flat, tarmacked path but the video also shows two extra paths that can be taken around a nature reserve and to a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The video highlights parking, path surfacing, accessible toilet provision and suggests some places where you can stop for a rest or picnic lunch. The film can be used by anyone to give them all the information they need before visiting to enable the to decide where they can go and how far they can get along this stretch of coast. It was produced by Solway Coast National Landscape with Natural England.
Information about the Maryport to Allonby section can also be viewed on the Phototrails website.
The local authority should be able to advise on which stretches are barrier and step-free. You can find local authority contact details for the King Charles III England Coast Path in the North West on the Contact Us page.
From early 2022 new accessible signage is being trialled on new stretches of KCIIIECP in the north west. Some of these signs have Braille stickers and QR codes, allowing access to a digital version of sign text for use with mobile phone screen-reading software. You can view these pages in advance here:
An Easy Access Walks Leaflet for Arnside and Silverdale AONB is available to download on the Leaflets page.
The King Charles III England Coast Path has been designed to be as accessible as possible with minimal use of barriers such as stiles. However the nature of the coast means that there are steps in places, often long flights of steep steps such as down to the denes in County Durham. In other places the path may follow paved promenades such as in Hartlepool or other land such as the riverside in Sunderland, suitable for wheelchair users, including people using most types of mobility vehicles or people with reduced mobility. Other motor vehicles are not permitted.
The 32km South Bents to Amble stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path is stile free and has no flights of steps (a flight consists of 10 or more steps).
The 26km Skegness to Mablethorpe section is stile free. Much of the trail follows promenades and is accessible to most people.
The local authority should be able to advise on which stretches are barrier and step-free. You can find local authority contact details for the King Charles III England Coast Path in the North East on the Contact Us page.
A 3km section of King Charles III England Coast Path from the marina follows the pavement from Seaham to Nose’s Point and beyond, has been improved to provide access for all.
The King Charles III England Coast Path has been designed to be as accessible as possible with minimal use of barriers such as stiles. However the nature of the coast means that there are steps in places, often long flights of steep steps. In other places the path may follow paved promenades or other land suitable for wheelchair users, including people using most types of mobility vehicles or people with reduced mobility. Other motor vehicles are not permitted.
The 105km section of the King Charles III ECP in Kent is stile free.
The local authority should be able to advise on which stretches are barrier and step-free. You can find local authority contact details for the King Charles III England Coast Path in the East on the Contact Us page.
The King Charles III England Coast Path has been designed to be as accessible as possible with minimal use of barriers such as stiles. However the nature of the coast means that there are steps in places, often long flights of steep steps. In other places the path may follow paved promenades or other land suitable for wheelchair users, including people using most types of mobility vehicles or people with reduced mobility. Other motor vehicles are not permitted.
The 93km of King Charles III England Coast Path from Minehead to Brean Down is stile-free.
The local authority should be able to advise on which stretches are barrier and step-free. You can find local authority contact details for the King Charles III England Coast Path in the South West on the Contact Us page.
The Brean Down to Minehead team have produced a series of Circular Walks with pocket guides and a series of King Charles III England Coast Path Storywalks that are accessed using the internet.
There are 15 Circular Walks, and each has a Pocket Guide that includes information about gradients and barriers. You can access details of the walks and download the Pocket Guides here King Charles III England Coast Path Circular and Linear Walks – South West – National Trails.
There are also Storywalks in 15 locations on the King Charles III England Coast Path (some locations having more than one walk). Of these, 12 walks include audio narration allowing users to complete the walks without having to read from the screen and walks in eight of the locations are suitable for wheels. All Storywalks have information about accessibility included in the description. You can access links to the Storywalks here King Charles III England Coast Path Circular and Linear Walks – South West – National Trails.
You can download leaflets about the Circular Walks and the Storywalks here King Charles III England Coast Path – Leaflets – National Trails
In Somerset, the Brean Seasonal Riverside Walk is open each year between 16th May and the 15th July. It connects Brean Cross Sluice with Brean Down and has RADAR controlled gates on the route.
The King Charles III England Coast Path has been designed to be as accessible as possible with minimal use of barriers such as stiles. However the nature of the coast means that there are steps in places, often long flights of steep steps. In other places the path may follow paved promenades or other land suitable for wheelchair users, including people using most types of mobility vehicles or people with reduced mobility. Other motor vehicles are not permitted.
The local authority should be able to advise on which stretches are barrier and step-free. You can find local authority contact details for the King Charles III England Coast Path in the South East on the Contact Us page.
Essex Local Access Forum are working to produce guides to sections of the King Charles III England Coast Path that are suitable for wheeled users, including users of manual and motorised chairs (independent and accompanied), and users of mobility scooters and all-terrain vehicles. The guides may though also benefit parents with young children in pushchairs, and older or mobility-restricted walkers.
The sections identified are step-free, level or mostly level, and free of man-made barriers. They are however mixed in character, terrain and length, and not all will suit all wheelers. The focus is to provide good quality information enabling users to make their own informed choices.
Visit the Natural Resources Wales website for information on accessible trails, trail for users of adaptive equipment and visitor centres with accessible facilities.
You can find information on accessible attractions, viewpoints and picnic sites in the National Park on the Northumberland National Park Authority’s website.
Making the North Downs Way National Trail a safe, inclusive and accessible destination where all are welcome. Putting Down Routes is a collaborative project between Kent Downs National Landscape and the North Downs Way National Trail to encourage new audiences from under-represented communities, as well as upgrading and enhancing parts of the trail so they are more accessible to a wider range of people. To find out more go to: Putting Down Routes website.
The Kent Downs National Landscape website and Surrey Hills National Landscape has a range of easy access trails.
There are three Changing Places toilets in the Kent Downs National Landscape, you can find them at Shorne Woods Country Park, Brockhill Country Park and Lullingstone Country Park. Visit the Kent Downs National Landscape website to find out more.
The Wild with Wheels project offers free, safe and accessible guided, interactive nature walks and experiences for people with disabilities and impairments. Find out more on the Wild with Wheels website.
Offa’s Dyke Path is working to improve accessibility. Stiles are being removed where possible.
Visit the Natural Resources Wales website for information on accessible trails, trail for users of adaptive equipment and visitor centres with accessible facilities.
There is only 1 stile left on Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path. Long stretches of the trail area accessible to most people. Surface improvements to widen and level out the surface has been carried out at ~Brancaster, Skelding Hill and Thornham.
A guide to wheelchair access to the Norfolk Coast Path is available to download from the Leaflets page.
A range of Access Tested walk leaflets are available from Norfolk County Council’s website including several for the Norfolk Coast Path. Each booklet contains key logistical details and a route map with a description of the route. They also include a map showing audit points with associated photos and details, illustrating the conditions you are likely to encounter on your walk.
Most of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path has been captured for Google Street View so you can determine for yourself if you could manage various sections of the trail.
A selection of downloadable wheelchair accessible walks along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path can be found on the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s website, just select Coast Path (Walks for All) under the walk location.
At low tide there are a number of walks along some of the finest beaches, to make it easier to enjoy there is a variety of mobility equipment to hire especially designed for use on sandy beaches. For location and booking information visit the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s website.
The National Park has a map on their website showing the location of a number of viewpoints along the Coast Path with parking areas nearby.
The Pennine Bridleway was created for riders and cyclists, so there are no stiles, although in places there are 10 horse stiles that may present a barrier to some people and mobility scooters. Many of these now have gates alongside.
Pennine Bridleway Miles without stiles routes in the Peak District can be viewed here (the link to Parsley Hey is the only route directly linked to the trail) : https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/miles-without-stiles#mwsroutes
Trampers are available in the Peak District National Park for use on the first section of the Pennine Bridleway. They can be hired at Parsley Hay: https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/planning-your-visit/access-for-all/trampers
The Mary Towneley Loop forms part of the Pennine Bridleway. This complete circular route will see you covering 47 miles (76 km).
For more information about this loop, please see Top Tips for Enjoying the Trail by Bike.
The Tame Valley Loop is a 29km circular route, which includes part of the Pennine Bridleway. It is designed for cyclists of all abilities.
Visit the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s website to download their Miles Without Stiles routes.
The Access the Dales website has details of hubs across the National Park where wheelchairs and/or trampers can be hired, there are details of accessible walks and accessible accommodation, places to eat and visit.
The South Downs Way is open to cyclists and horse riders as well as walkers. There are no stiles that don’t have a more accessible alternative alongside.
The South Downs National Park Authority has created a number of Miles Without Stiles. These are routes that are suitable for people with limited mobility. Wheelchair users, families with pushchairs, dog walkers and less agile walkers can choose from a list of routes from across the South Downs on the National Park Authority’s website.
Inclusive equipment is available for hire at several venues across the South Downs National Park. This includes:
Find out more including how to book on the South Downs National Park Authority’s website.
If you would like to explore parts of the South West Coast Path but are looking for flatter and wider paths which may be more suitable for people with limited mobility, please visit the South West Coast Path Association website where you can find routes which are accessible for people with wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and pushchairs.
The Thames Path is a gentle Trail, suitable for people with a wide range of abilities. It is mainly flat, with just a few natural slopes. Many places along it can be accessed by people with limited mobility such as users of wheelchairs or mobility scooters, parents with pushchairs or those using a walking stick.
In recent years the stiles along the Trail have been replaced with gates. However there are still structures which may be barriers for many people with reduced mobility.
To encourage everyone to make the most of the Thames Path, National Trails and the Environment Agency published 12 walks along different parts of the River Thames, all with level and wide paths, gentle slopes and rest areas.
Each walk comes with a handy map and details about distance, type of surface and where to find accessible local refreshments and toilets, so everyone can decide which walks are right for them. Visit the Visit Thames website to download the walks.
Many people visit The Ridgeway in mobility vehicles including wheelchairs, hand-trikes, mobility scooters or off-road mobility scooters such as the Tramper. There are no stiles on The Ridgeway.
The Ridgeway offers miles of wide track without gates or stiles. These more accessible stretches are detailed in an information note which was produced in partnership with the Disabled Ramblers.
The Disabled Ramblers are helping people plan their visits to the Trail using Google Streetview – use the links below to view sections of the trail.
There are no stiles on the Yorkshire Wolds Way and over time kissing gates are being replaced more accessible structures.
Some sections of the Yorkshire Wolds Way are promoted as step and stile-free. You can find these on our Circular and Linear Walks page. They are listed as Accessible walks and more are being added.
The Canal & River Trust website provides details of accessible walks along canal towpaths.
Find out moreFind out more: Canal & River Trust
The Disabled Ramblers website provides information on access, equipment and accessible routes organised by area.
Find out moreFind out more: Disabled Ramblers
Visit the National Trust's accessible walks page to browse routes suitable for buggy walks, wheelchairs and mobility aids.
Find out moreFind out more: National Trust
Natural Resources Wales' website includes information about accessible walking trails, trails for users of adaptive equipment and details of accessible visitor centres.
Find out moreFind out more: Natural Resources Wales
Visit The Outdoor Guide's website to view a selection of walks that the TOG team have carefully selected for families using all kinds of wheels from pushchairs, wheelchairs to bicycles.
Find out moreFind out more: The Outdoor Guide
Visit The Ramblers' website for helpful information and advice on walking with a variety of health conditions or disabilities. You can also find group walks and walking routes.
Find out moreFind out more: The Ramblers
Find a Changing Place toilet using the map on the Changing Places website.
Find out moreFind out more: Changing Places
Experience Community provides films and information about walks and other leisure activities for disabled people and the wider community.
Find out moreFind out more: Experience Community
The listing you have clicked on is located on or close to more than one trail. Please select the trail you are interested in below to view the listing.
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