Take a virtual tour of Cornwall’s South West Coast Path
One of the joys of the South West Coat Path, is the pause you make to take in the incredible views. With the Covid 19 lockdown, the path is eerily quiet, but the team who look after the 630-mile trail along the south west coast have put together a series of stunning video shorts sure to satisfy your coast path urge. Bird’s eye views and underground tours add a new dimension to the routes. And you can link to Google Earth for the ultimate aerial views. Originally designed to inspire visitors to discover the secrets of the coast path, the videos are the perfect way to enjoy the path from your armchair.
Slippers on? Let’s go
The Coast of Legends walk takes you on a breath-taking tour of this popular walk – which includes Clovelly and Bude and on to Tintagel and Boscastle. The three-minute video feature bird’s eye views of the coastline combined with sweeping views of the coast and the highlights along the way. youtube.com/watch?v=LhOhvWzvlM8&t=8s
The Wild West Coast walk features rugged coastlines and the engine houses that have become such a big part of Cornwall’s visual heritage, taking in St Mount’s Bay and some lovely aerial views of St Michael’s Mount and its ancient fortress. You can discover Mousehole, home to the Stargazy pie and beloved by poet Dylan Thomas, and the stunning Sennen beach. You can go off the beaten track and head underground for a few heart stopping seconds at the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site Geevor Tin Mine and then back out into St Ives Bay and aerial views of Porthmeor and Porthminster.
youtube.com/watch?v=lv8GdH-vph0&t=188s
And for those of you with a virtual reality app/headset, you can explore Porthcurno Beach and the Minack Theatre in all its 360-degree glory through the programme which allows you to look around the beach as though you were really there. With the sounds of the seagulls and the sea washing up on the empty golden sands, you can (almost) smell the ocean. u
youtube.com/watch?v=orJINflxmjE
If these views don’t get you planning your walks once the lock down is lifted, nothing will. Find out more at southwestcoastpath.org.uk
You can also get a bird’s eye view of the path via earth.google.com and explore some the treasures along the way at artsandculture.google.com
Armchair Challenge
We have all had a lot of time recently to reflect on what matters most to us. And access to beautiful outdoors spaces is topping the list for many. Here in the south west, the 630-mile coast path provides health-giving happiness to millions of people every year, it connects hundreds of coastal communities, helps the region’s economy thrive and is one of our most precious wildlife corridors. It is a vehicle for change, that if supported, could help repair the growing disconnect between us and our environment. Yet less than one per cent of people who use the path, give back to it regularly and its long-term future is under threat.
Severe storms, rising sea levels, coastal erosion and increased footfall are just some of the challenges the charity that looks after the path is facing. And the cost continue to soar. Over the past five years, the South West Coast Path Association has invested an extra £2 million to keep the path in good condition, and yet it remains vulnerable to the damaging effects of climate change. In addition to this, the charity is facing significant funding losses due to the impact of coronavirus. But despite these challenges, the charity is looking to the future. Through the Every Mile Matters campaign it hopes to raise £100,000 to help increase the path’s resilience against the onslaught of extreme weather; conserve the trail corridor’s rich biodiversity and distinct cultural heritage; support the south west tourism economy and demonstrate the real, positive impact it has on people’s health and wellbeing.
To kick things off, they want to hear from all users of the trail about where you’ll be heading after lockdown and why the coast path is important to you. Simply post a picture of your special place with the hashtags #EveryMileMatters and #WhenTheCoastIsClear to show your support.
For more information about the campaign, and about ways that you can donate or fundraise southwestcoastpath.org.uk/everymilematters
This feature first appeared in the June 2020 issue of Cornwall Life
