A new digital seating map has been launched by the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) to help people plan their journeys with confidence and know where they can stop and rest along the route.
The map forms part of the wider Take a Seat campaign, led by the Centre for Ageing Better, which aims to improve accessibility by building a clearer picture of seating across the Trail. Volunteers from communities along the Trans Pennine Trail have already been playing a key role in the project, heading out onto their local sections to survey and record bench locations.
This initial phase of work has been supported by £2,000 in funding secured by the Friends of the Trans Pennine Trail from Foundation Derbyshire’s Yorkshire Water Old Whittington fund. The funding is enabling a more focused approach in Derbyshire, where efforts are underway to identify and map every seat along sections of the Trail in Derbyshire – creating a more complete and detailed picture for the first time.
The new map has been developed using information gathered by volunteers, who have been photographing benches and recording their What3Words locations along the route. This data has then been reviewed by the TPT National Office and added to a dedicated digital mapping layer, providing an easy and accessible way for people to plan their visits. The project also has a dedicated web page where people can find out more and follow its progress: www.transpenninetrail.org.uk/accessibility/take-a-seat/
Knowing where there is somewhere to stop and rest can make a real difference for many Trail users. The map is designed to support older people, disabled users, families with young children, and anyone who benefits from being able to break up their journey. By improving access to this information, the project aims to help more people enjoy the physical, mental and social benefits of spending time outdoors and will help the National office to identify gaps where additional seating is required and to work with partners to secure funding for additional seating.
While the map already includes information gathered from across multiple sections of the Trail, funding from Foundation Derbyshire will help deliver a comprehensive picture of seating in Derbyshire, while also building the momentum and expertise needed to expand mapping across the wider route.
Commenting on the Foundation Derbyshire funding, Pam Ashton, Chair of the Friends of the Trans Pennine Trail, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured this funding, which allows the National Office to map seating along the Trail in the Peak District and Chesterfield and take a
practical step towards making the Trail more accessible and easier for everyone to enjoy. Knowing where there is somewhere to stop and rest can make all the difference to whether someone feels able to visit, and this project helps remove that uncertainty. We are very grateful for the grant and look forward to supporting the TPT National Office further with the project.”
As the project continues, the TPT National Office will work closely with volunteers, partners and Trail users to expand the map’s coverage, with the ambition of identifying and mapping seating along the full 370 miles of the Trail while pinpointing where additional seating is most needed.
By working together, the Trans Pennine Trail aims to create a more complete, inclusive and accessible route – helping more people feel confident exploring and enjoying everything the Trail has to offer.
