The Wainwright Society is stepping up its campaign to have the Coast-to-Coast Walk designated a National Trail.

The Society, formed to study and promote the works of the Grumpy Old Fellwalker known to his close friends as AW, to others as Alfred and to his paramour as Red, wants the route he devised classified in the same way as long distance paths such as the Pennine Way.

Designation as a National Trail would bring investment and protection to the route, which runs the 192 miles from St Bee’s Head on the Cumbrian coast to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire. The society is proposing to survey the whole length and compile a book to accompany a petition to the Minister for Rural Affairs.

It is asking its members to volunteer to walk five-mile sections and record their observations. There are 38 sections. The society is currently selecting team leaders for the exercise, who must be members. It is then envisaged to start the work by next month, with a completion by the end of July.

The survey will look at access, conditions of the route and how well it is signposted. There are also suggestions that alternatives to road-walking sections be found.

Details are on the Wainwright Society website.