Yes you can. Luggage Transfers is an independant company set up to offer just this service along the entire South West Coast Path. Please see their website for details.
Alternatively, some B&Bs will move your bags (for a charge) - ask when booking.

The Path is well signed at main access points, junctions with other paths or roads and other places where the route would not be obvious. Coast Path signs have the acorn waymark, common to all National Trails, and the words ‘Coast Path’. The distance to the next destination will also be shown at main access points.

The South West Coast Path has something to offer all the year round and many people prefer to walk when it’s cooler in spring or autumn, or even on exhilarating winter days. The best time depends very much on you, your interests (see below) and whether you enjoy the busy holiday season or would prefer to come during the quieter months. In summer it can be difficult to find accommodation especially for single nights, so you are advised to book well in advance.

Seasonal activities you may want to include in your South West Coast Path itinerary include:

Wild flowers - spring and early summer
Migrating birds - spring and autumn
Breeding birds – spring and summer
Archaeological features – can be more noticeable in winter when the vegetation has died down.
Festivals – mainly from spring through to the autumn

As the South West Coast Path is in a popular holiday area, in summer, spring and autumn there is plenty of choice when it comes to eating, no matter what your budget. Generally you will have no trouble finding shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants in the towns and villages along the route, and in some areas, these are further apart than others. You can either buy supplies for a picnic or plan to stop off along the way - either way, look out for the wide range of locally produced food and drink. If you are relying on reaching an eating place by a certain time, do check how far you will have to walk and allow plenty of time to get there.

In winter you will need to plan more carefully as cafes and snack bars are often seasonal, especially away from larger towns.

You should always carry enough water for your needs and something to eat in case the unexpected happens!

Generally speaking no - most of the South West Coast Path is only available to people on foot. This is because nearly all of it is a public footpath rather than a public bridleway.

You are welcome to walk your dog along the Coast Path, but please make sure it is on a lead or under close control at all times, taking extra care when you are walking close to grazing livestock. Cattle may react aggressively to dogs, especially if they have calves. If this happens, let your dog off the lead. Remember also that a dog may not be aware of the cliff edge if, for example, it is chasing a rabbit. Always clean up after your dog and dispose of the mess responsibly. Make sure your dog is wormed and don’t forget to carry enough water for it.

These are the key safety messages:

• Staying safe is your own responsibility.
• Keep to the path and stay away from cliff edges.
• Take special care of children and dogs
• Dress sensibly for the terrain and weather.
• Stay within your fitness level.
• In an emergency dial 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.

The Countryside Code will help you and everyone else to get the most out of your visit now and in the future. Remember the three key messages: Respect, Protect, Enjoy.

• Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs
• Leave gates and property as you find them
• Protect plants and animals and take your litter home
• Keep dogs under close control
• Consider other people

Please CLICK HERE for information.

You are likely to meet livestock in the countryside, and sometimes they may react to your
presence, particularly if you have a dog with you. When you enter a field that contains livestock
move carefully and quietly, if possible walking around them. While sheep and lambs may run away,
cows and heifers are naturally inquisitive and may follow you across a field.
Cattle, particularly when accompanied by calves, can be suspicious of dogs and on occasion may
react aggressively to them. If this happens and you feel threatened, you should let go of your dog’s
lead and move quickly to safety, taking the shortest route to a suitable exit along the field
boundary. Whether you are walking a dog or not give farm animals a wide berth, and avoid walking
between cows and their young, or among groups of cattle.

As it skirts the coastline, the South West Coast Path meets a lot of river estuaries. Most of these are crossed by ferries, some of which are seasonal – for full details please CLICK HERE.

River Torridge - the Appledore -Instow ferry no longer operates and there is at present no ferry service across the Torridge. However the route of the South West Coast Path follows around the edge of the estuary.

Out of season, the options for getting around the estuaries with a summer-only ferry service are as follows:

• to take public transport where available. For information phone the Traveline +44 (0) 870 608 2 608 or CLICK HERE to visit the Traveline website.
• to take a taxi (phone the National Taxi Hotline 0800 654321)
• to book overnight accommodation which provides a pick-up and drop-off service for walkers (Ask when booking. There will be an additional charge where this service is available).
• to walk round the estuary using footpaths where available or roads. The approximate lengths of these detours are as follows.

Gannel 2 to 6½ miles –the route depends on the state of the tide.
Fal 9¼ miles
Helford 12 ½ miles
Yealm 9¼ miles
Avon 9¼ miles
Exe 10 miles

Three estuaries (one of which has no ferry service) can be either forded or crossed by bridge at low tide:

• River Gannel, near Newquay, North Cornwall – When the ferry is not operating, there are several alternative routes around this estuary using footpaths and roads. Their availability varies with tidal conditions and the length of the detour ranges from just under 2 to 6½ miles – the higher the tide the further you need to go upstream to cross.
• Gillan Creek, South Cornwall - ferry available at high tide during the summer season and can be forded for about an hour before and after low tide. The easiest place to cross is a short distance upstream from where the creek splits into two channels.
A waymarked route around the creek is available at all stages of the tide – a detour of just over 2 miles.
• River Erme, South Devon - can be forded for about an hour before and after low tide. Alternatively you can walk around the estuary – mainly on roads – involving a detour of just over 7 miles.

Please CLICK HERE for information about tides around the region including times of low water.

The Coast Path meets a small number of military training areas where use by the public is sometimes restricted. Details of these are given below. Care must be exercised within these areas at all times – you must keep to the footpath, stay away from all installations and avoid approaching or touching any objects lying on the ground.

• Penhale Sands, south of Newquay, north Cornwall. The South West Coast Path is seaward of the training area and is always available.
• Tregantle Fort east of Downderry, south-east Cornwall. When the red flag is flying, firing is taking place and you must use the waymarked route around the landward side of the military ranges. When firing is not taking place, a more seaward permissive route takes you through the ranges.
• Chickerell, near Weymouth, Dorset. Two alternative routes are available, both of which are official routes of the South West Coast Path. When the red flag is flying, firing is taking place and you must use the waymarked route around the landward side of the military ranges. When firing is not taking place, a more seaward route takes you through the ranges.
• Lulworth, Dorset. The South West Coast Path follows a permissive route through the Army Ranges and this route is only available when firing is not taking place. Normally it is available during school holidays and at weekends. In 2008 this section of the Coast Path is open between 21-30 March, 3-5 May, 24 May-1 June, 26 July-31 August and 20 December - 4 January. Weekends when the Coast Path will not be available are 26-27 January, 15-16 March, 5-6 April, 19 and 20 July, 4-5 October, 15-16 November.) However you should always phone the 24 hour answering service 01929 404819 to check that the route will be open. When the route through the Ranges is closed, two lengthy inland detours (of either 13½ or 12 miles) following paths or roads are available.

There are lots of official campsites within range of the Coast Path. Away from these, you should ask the individual landowner whether you may pitch a tent. Landowners may give permission for camping to individuals but not usually to large groups. A small fee may be charged.

The basic requirements for any event are to ensure the participants (and bystanders) are kept safe, no damage is done and you are covered for any liabilities. For a small scale event, this is relatively straightforward, but as the number of people attending increases, it will get more complex, and so will require more planning.

Generally the risk to participants of most events on the Coast Path will be low, as the Coast Path is managed to ensure that it is safe for people to use, however we would recommend that participants are at a minimum made aware of our safety guidance, wear suitable clothing and footwear, have opportunities for refreshments and know how far and strenuous the walk will be. If the event involves running, or is at night the risks will be greater and so will need to be assessed in more detail. You should also have insurance, contingency plans for emergencies and a system for communications during the event (note that mobile phone coverage along the coast is patchy, with no signal in many of the valleys).

If the event involves more than about 20 people, than it is advisable to stagger the start, as this will avoid ‘traffic-jams’ on narrow sections of paths or at stiles and kissing gates, and will be less off-putting to other users of the path. For this reason it is also wise to set an appropriate maximum number of participants.

The majority of the Coast Path is robust enough to handle large numbers of walkers. However please try and avoid busy sections and peak times, as the path being over-crowded could spoil the enjoyment of your event and other people’s experience of the Coast Path.

Whilst not obligatory, for large events it is worthwhile consulting widely beforehand to identify any potential problems, help the event go smoothly and possibly help with promotion. Typical consultees include the highway authority, relevant landowners and land managing bodies, car park owners, local police and rescue services, parish councils, local Tourist Information or Visitor Centres and any relevant user groups. You will also need to get the permission of landowners for setting up check points and refreshments stops, particularly if you would like to take a vehicle where they are not normally allowed.

Finally at the end of the event, remove any signs you’ve put up, litter generated by participants (e.g. empty paper cups) and acknowledge any help, advice and co-operation you have received.

Further advice on organising an event can be found on the Best of Both Worlds website.

This summer between 28th June and 10th July 2010, Harry Elias is walking from Newquay to Minehead to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. His aim is to raise £5000 and you can support him by clicking on this link.

www.justgiving.com/NewquaytoMineheadCoastalwalk


If your favourite charity is planning to raise funds by walking the Coast Path, please let us know and we will publicise it here.

Challenge walks coming up in 2010 we are currently aware of are:

We measured it! GPS (Global Positioning System) equipment allows us to accurately plot the line of the Path and measure its exact length. The 630 mile/1014 km route takes in the towns along the way and follows the Path around the Isle of Portland rather than the inland route from West Bexington to Osmington Mills. It does not include diversions needed when seasonal ferries are not operating, or when military firing closes the Path through the army ranges at Lulworth. See the distance calculator to find out how far it is between places along the route.

Most of the land that the South West Coast Path crosses is privately owned by many different individuals and estates. The Path itself is mostly a ‘right of way’ - this means that you have a legal right to walk across the land as long as you keep on the Path.

The following organisations manage the South West Coast Path via their Countryside and Ranger services, and also provide services to manage the landscape, wildlife and heritage:
Cornwall County Council, Devon County Council, Dorset County Council, Exmoor National Park Authority, Plymouth City Council, Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust and Defence Estates (MoD). Contact details will be found on their individual websites which can be reached from our Useful Links page under the heading 'Path Management and Landowners'. By agreement with the relevant highway authority, the National Trust manages the Path on land that it owns. Both the highway authorities and the National Trust also contribute to maintenance costs.

There are approximately 65 rangers and wardens who look after the Coast Path on a day to day basis, undertaking tasks such as cutting back brambles and nettles, repairing sign posts or stiles, and clearing drainage ditches.

The South West Coast Path Team looks after the interests of the whole Path (whereas each of the path managing organisations looks after its own section). The Team:
• has an overview of the entire route
• encourages consistently high standards of path management and promotion along the whole route
• is an independent voice for the Coast Path
• develops and manages Coast Path projects that individual organisations cannot do by themselves.

75% of the money needed to keep the Path in good condition comes from Natural England and the other 25% from the managing organisations. The annual cost of this maintenance work is currently approximately £560,000. Other work such as developing a new section of Coast Path or reinstating the route after a cliff fall requires additional money, which is sought from a variety of sources.

The South West Coast Path Association is a charity with nearly 4000 members world-wide. It has two aims
• to work with others to secure the ongoing completion and improvement of the South West Coast Path and ensure, where possible, that the footpath is aligned on the coast
• to educate and inform all users of the Coast Path.

The Association provides advice about walking the Path and publishes an annual guide (which includes accommodation information) and a series of local path descriptions. If you are looking for advice or want to join, you can contact them in any of the following ways:

• by phone or fax: +44 (0)1752 896237
• by email
• by writing to: The Secretary, South West Coast Path Association, Bowker House, Lee Mill Bridge, Ivybridge, Devon, PL21 9EF, UK
• by visiting their website.

Yes – the South West Coast Path Association has set up a fund for this purpose. This means that even small donations can help to make a big difference. The fund will be used to fund special development projects that have been recommended by the South West Coast Path Team, based on its regular survey of the condition of the path.

If you would like to make a donation, contact details for the Association are given in the previous question.