Walkers and cyclists will be encouraged to visit the coast and countryside this summer by Cornwall businesses hoping to tap into the market for outdoor pursuits. 

The South West Coast Path has teamed up with Newquay for Excellence Training (NfET) to offer a one day course entitled ‘Unearthing Cornwall’s Cultural Coastline on Tuesday 19th June at the Nfet offices at 79, Mount Wise in Newquay. It has been designed specifically to provide businesses with information about the UK’s longest National Trail, almost half of which stretches around the entire Cornish peninsula.

Walking the Coast Path is already a popular feel good free activity in Cornwall and while there’s no shortage of visitors in summer, walkers can provide much needed business for the tourism trade during the shoulder season months. It’s also a great feel good free activity that can attract people beyond the honeypot sites during the height of the season to explore some of Cornwall’s lesser known locations.

Mark Owen, National Trail Officer for the South West Coast Path said:

“By improving visitor information available about the coastal environment and the walks that give access to it, we hope that more people will be inspired to step out on the Coast Path and choose from hundreds of routes available on our website.”

The course will highlight the many features of interest along the coast, from Cornwall’s tin mining industry to the diverse landscapes and wildlife that all help to make the Coast Path so enjoyable.

Ruth Vincent from Newquay for Excellence Training (NfET) said:

“The rural tourism market that is represented by walkers and cyclists visiting Cornwall, is a sometimes overlooked economy but a valuable one for the industry.

With this in mind we have developed training courses especially for businesses within rural tourism that embrace walking and cycling in Cornwall.”

The South West Coast Path is one of 6 projects in the South West that has received funding from the Rural Development Programme for England’s Sustainable Tourism grant to improve their outdoor and active products.

Covering everything from cycling and water sports to coastal walking and exploring heritage, the projects offer huge potential for South West businesses to benefit and be part of new developments within their tourism offering. More information about all the projects is available on the Coast Path’s website.

To find out more about the training courses and to register interest in attending, contact Claire Evans at Newquay for Excellence Training, Email: claireevans@nfet.co.uk or Tel: 01637 871067