Heritage General

None saved

Unlocking Our Coastal Heritage Project

The ‘Unlocking Our Coastal Heritage’ project, led by the South West Coast Path Team, is well under way with £2.1m in European grant aid through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) to be invested by 2013.

Its aim is to increase the economic value of the South West Coast Path by protecting and enhancing heritage features, improving the quality of the route and working with businesses to improve the facilities and information provided to visitors.

It’s one of six projects in the region to share a total grant worth over £14m, all of which have a common agenda - to make the most of the region’s landscape and features as part of a Sustainable Rural Tourism theme.

It will be delivered in partnership with The National Trust and local Highways Authorities to improve the information provided about the coast, and so increase enjoyment and understanding of its environmental, historic, cultural and natural features.

Key to this project’s success will be closer working with the tourism sector, so that visitors are made more aware of what the Coast Path gives access to. By encouraging links with private investors to raise additional funds, it intends to improve the overall experience at specific tourism businesses along the Coast Path and thus increase their dwell time and visitor spend.

The coast and countryside are the main reasons people visit the South West according to research by South West Tourism. Their latest Visitor Survey (2009) cites walking as the most popular activity (37%), while the beach and coast came second (18%) on their list of things to do in the region.

Combining the two, the South West Coast Path is the jewel in the region’s crown, providing a continuous trail around the South West peninsula and giving access to some of the best coastal viewpoints in the country. It’s estimated to be worth more than £222m to the regional economy and this is set to increase.

”This project has the potential to bring significant benefits to rural economies and to visitors, without damaging the environment that they have come to enjoy,” said Mike Johns, RDPE Programme Manager for the DEFRA, the organisation responsible for delivering RDPE investments in the region.

 

Latest News

  • Oddicombe improvements

    Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust have just completed work to improve a flight of 80 steps on the South West Coast Path at Oddicombe, thanks to the support of businesses and individuals from Babbacombe and the surrounding area.

  • Dry Stone Walling in Dorset

    A team of volunteers has employed the traditional skill of dry stone walling to rebuild a crumbling section of old dry stone wall that runs along the cliff edge at Durlston National Nature Reserve in Purbeck to improve safety for local walkers and residents alike.

     

  • Safety First in Polperro

    A popular walk beyond the net loft at Polperro and out to the headland to the west of the harbour is being given a spring makeover with the replacement of old handrails that have come to the end of their life. Major funding for the work has come from John Fowler Holidays, which owns both Trelawne Manor Holiday Park and Killigarth Manor Holiday Park between Looe and Polperro.

  • Cornish schoolgirl pledges to walk entire Coast Path in Cornwall

    A 17-year-old student from Truro High School is walking the entire Cornish section of the South West Coast Path to help raise £7,500 towards much-needed repair work on the Coast Path.

     

  • Walk this way to boost rural tourism

    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.

     

  • Running into the record books

    In June, Tom Bland and Mal Law will attempt an as yet unachieved feat (we think!): to run the entire length of the South West Coast Path in less than 2 weeks.

  • Enter the annual photo competition to win top prizes

    The annual South West Coast Path photo competition has been launched once again to find all the best photographs taken of the beautiful landscapes found along our coastline.

     

  • A fundraising family adventure

    A Treasure Trail is a family affair as Steve Ridd and his mum Pauline are set to prove as they embark on an epic walk covering all 299 miles of the South West Coast Path in Cornwall for two charities close to their hearts.

     

     

     

  • Path improvements near Falmouth

    A scenic stretch of the South West Coast Path between Falmouth and Maenporth has been improved after extensive work including tree and scrub clearance was completed this month.

  • New for Easter… find the missing treasure

    Ahoy me hearties! Grab the kids and head down to Cornwall to enjoy a new series of Treasure Trails along the South West Coast Path

Tweets

  • thanks @coastmag
  • The South West Coast Path has today been voted Britain’s best National Trail at this year’s Coast magazine awards in London. #coastawards
  • The South West Coast Path is 'arguably Europe's greatest seaside walk' according to the Indie on Sunday and us!... http://t.co/TCe6SgtO
  • Linda Loder has asked.. "Has there been anyone from Ottawa doing the path?"

Facebook

  • The South West Coast Path has today been voted Britain’s best National Trail!!! We beat four nominees, including the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail and the South Downs Way, to be crowned most spectacular coastal path at this year’s Coast magazine awards in London.
  • The South West Coast Path is 'arguably Europe's greatest seaside walk' according to the Indie on Sunday and us! http://ind.pn/LNuBZH
  • Linda Loder has asked.. "Has there been anyone from Ottawa doing the path?"
  • Who's hitting the coast path tomorrow?!
  • Don't miss Spotlight news tonight to see special feature on revealing the historic hillfort at Embury Beacon - a project supported by the Coast Path
  • Visit us at www.hotelsinnewquay.co.uk or find Kenton Hotel on facebook for accommodation right on the coast path between Watergate bay and Newquay, prices from £30.00 pppn
  • Has there been anyone from Ottawa doing the path?
  • We're from Ottawa, Canada. This year we are hoping to finish it up after our first taste in 1994, and a yearly trek from 2008. It is a wonderful experience, thoroughly enjoyed by my husband and I.
  • Good luck Julia!!!
  • Have you voted for your favourite picnic spot yet?