ALFRED Wainwright won his place in hiking history with illustrated guides to routes through some of Britain's most picturesque landscapes.

Now a section of his coast-to- coast walk is being given legal status, and enshrined as a designated right-of-way.

The 190-mile trail, from St Bees, in Cumbria, to Robin Hood's Bay, winds its way through ancient woodland on the North York Moors.

The stage through Sneaton Forest is getting official status, and will appear on future Ordnance Survey maps as part of a 50-year strategy for the 1,700-acre beauty spot.

"The route has become very popular, but it can be difficult to follow, and negotiates some muddy terrain," said the Forest Commission's chief recreation ranger, Brian Walker.

"We'll tackle those problems while retaining the wild feel of the trek."

In a partnership scheme with the national park, paths will be upgraded, while bridges will be built over streams.

The park's access officer Karl Gerhardsen said: "We will maintain this public footpath to a high standard, so walkers can enjoy their final day on the coast-to-coast walk."

The project is part of a wide-ranging spruce-up for the woodland.

It will include regeneration of native broadleaf trees, such as birch and rowan, and selective felling to break up the landscape of Sitka spruce and lodgepole pine, to create more varied habitats for wildlife