The South West Coast Path has launched its annual drive to encourage people to go for a walk and raise finds for one of the world’s most beautiful walks
Following the successful South West Coast Path Challenge in 2015, the next great stomp for charity takes place this month to raise funds to help protect this stunning National Trail - voted among the best in the world. Thanks to the charity partnership between the South West Coast Path Association and the National Trust, last year’s inaugural event saw more than 700 people clocking up around 9,000 miles and raising thousands of pounds in sponsorship.
The association hopes that even more people will take part this year to help beat the record set for the number of miles walked in one month and to help raise vital funds. It costs at least £1,000 to maintain just one mile of the coast path and an additional £2,000 for the National Trust to take care of the countryside that surrounds it: so every mile counts.
Stepping up to support the challenge this year, Alex Polizzi and her mother Olga who runs the Hotel Tresanton in St Mawes, will be walking a 10-mile stretch of the Roseland peninsula on 10 October.
I am so looking forward to a day walking the wonderful paths of the Roseland Peninsula in good company and for a good cause,’ she says.
It will be led by Steve Crummay of Explore in Cornwall (exploreincornwall.co.uk) who will be pointing out the wildlife and other features of interest to be found along this stretch of the Coast Path.
The route takes in a ferry crossing and then follows the South West Coast Path around St Anthony Head, Porthmellin Head and Killigerran Head to Gerrans, before returning back to Place via a short inland track to the Percuil River and along the creek side paths though woodland to the ferry landing site.
Registration for this event includes fundraising a minimum amount of £100 in sponsorship.
The Challenge month kicks off on 1 October when you can start your own South West Coast Path adventure by joining a 10 mile organised walk from Minehead. You can also help celebrate the end of the month-long challenge event by walking the last 10 miles of Coast Path to Poole on Saturday 29 October.
Or you could organise your own event at any time during the month-long charity challenge as a great excuse to get family and friends together to enjoy an afternoon beside the sea.
It is as easy as choosing a date in October, a location on the path and the number of miles – then register your chosen challenge via the event website at or call 01752 896237.
Registration costs from £10 per person, and the fruits of any sponsorship for your challenge which all goes towards path improvements and repairs. Without this funding the association would not be able to such great work to protect the path for future generations. Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive a registration pack containing tips and hints on how to fundraise, a sponsorship form and your 2016 Challenge t-shirt to help you show your support.
So get your boots on and ask yourself: what will your challenge be?
Factfile:
It costs at least £1,000 to maintain just one mile of coast path - and with more than 300 miles of coastline in the South West owned and care for. The National Trust spends £2,000 on maintaining each mile of surrounding countryside.
South West Coast Path National Trail was originally a means for the coastguard to track and pursue smugglers and today it provides access to 630 miles of stunning coastal scenery from Minehead to Poole.
The South West Coast Path Challenge aims to set the record for the number of times the Coast Path can be walked in the month of October. The event is organised by the South West Coast Path Association in partnership with the National Trust.
The National Trust cares for ten per cent (a total of 772 miles - 300 miles in the South West) of the coastline of England, Wales and Northern Ireland – including the White Cliffs of Dover, Rhossili beach on Gower and the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.
Established in May 1965 the Neptune Coastline Campaign has been backed by tens of thousands of people, enabling the National Trust to acquire 550 miles of coastline in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. From the first ever site acquired with Neptune funds at Whitford Burrows on Gower to the most recent acquisition of a one-mile stretch of the White Cliffs of Dover, Neptune has allowed the Trust to buy and care for special coastal places loved by millions of people in the UK.
