The new footpath at St Bees Head

Walkers can now embark on the Coast to Coast Walk safely with the reopening of the first section of the path.

A one-year permissive path has been set up with the agreement of the landowner on the St Bees cliff-top after the starting stretch of the 309km (192-mile) route collapsed last month following a landslip.

A 45m (150ft) section of cliff alongside the Coast to Coast path at St Bees in Cumbria slipped into the sea on 14 February, leaving the footpath overhanging dangerously in places and forcing the closure of the path between St Bees and Fleswick Bay. Thousands of walkers undertake the walk, devised by author Alfred Wainwright, each year.

A spokesperson for Cumbria County Council said: “The landowner has kindly agreed to a one-year permissive path arrangement while a more permanent legal solution for the coastal path along this section is explored.

“The actual line of the public right of way along this section was ‘lost’ to the sea some years ago, and the route along the cliff edge created to secure a route.”

Councillor Tony Markley, cabinet member responsible for countryside access, said: “This is a popular path and we didn’t underestimate how important it was to both protect the public from the landslip and get the route back open as soon as possible.

“We’ve pulled out all the stops to carry out the necessary legal and physical work to re-establish the beginning of the coast to coast path. I’d like to thank the team and also thank the landowner for his understanding and co-operation.”