Route Changes
St Oswald’s Way has changed its route several times over the years. Many of the changes are recent and have been due to aligning the route with a new National Trail, the England Coast Path. Our new Official Guidebook shows the correct line and can be obtained here.
The old route along the coast will also be available for the foreseeable future.
Temporary Diversion
Section 5 (Harwood Forest; see pages 78-80 of guidebook) From August 2026
6. Go through the gate to the right of the cairn and enter Harwood Forest. This is a working forest and subject to large-scale operations such as tree felling and planting. Conditions are liable to change and navigation can be difficult, so follow all signage. Follow the path ahead, turn right at a junction and continue until reaching a gate onto a stone forestry track. Turn left and follow the track for ¾ mile. After crossing a bridge, walk uphill for a short distance, then leave the track on a path to the right. Walk up the path, cross the stone track and go straight ahead into a plantation.
