Celebrating two years of championing National Trails

National Trails UK was created in 2021, thanks to the hard work of many dedicated individuals who wanted an independent champion for our precious network of National Trails. Our first member of staff joined in 2023.

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Our mission: to strengthen the UK’s National Trails so they can sustainably deliver more for people and nature, to advocate on their behalf, and to inspire more people to use them as a gateway to the great outdoors.

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Over the last two years, NTUK has already made a significant impact. We've co-created and tested our purpose-built membership model, strengthening and unifying National Trails. We've secured capital funding for major access improvements, developed the National Trails Manifesto, and built strong relationships with key government departments across the UK. We’ve forged national partnerships with businesses, NGOs, other Protected Landscapes, and grassroots organisations, and we’ve raised the profile of National Trails on the global stage.

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Through the Protected Landscape Partnership, we’re putting the National Trails at the heart of nationally significant nature and access projects: unlocking the potential of England’s coastline for people and nature, demonstrating the incredible value of National Trails for nature connectedness, improving inclusive and accessible visitor information, and strengthening collaboration across Protected Landscapes.

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For an organisation that started with just one staff member two years ago, we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together.

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To celebrate these milestones, we’ve published an interactive 2023/2024 Impact Report—filled with compelling stats, videos, case studies, and stories from National Trails, along with links to some of the great work we’ve done with our partners. Click here to explore the Impact Report online or download it below.

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None of this would be possible without the invaluable advice, guidance, and support of our volunteers, partners, and allies: our Board of Trustees, corporate sponsors, sector experts, and, of course, the National Trails teams themselves. Together, we can achieve our vision: a network of high-quality, nature-rich National Trails that are valued and used by everyone.

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Photo credit: Whitby Abbey, on the Cleveland Way National Trail. Credit: Malcolm Hodgson.