Coast path improvements welcomed by visitors

The thousands of visitors walking the South Devon coastline this summer are benefiting from several improvement projects as part of the South West Coast Path 40th Anniversary.

Thanks to funding from the Great South West Walk, Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and the National Trust, several projects have been completed, with more to go ahead later in the summer.

National Trust Head Ranger Simon Garner says:  “We were very pleased to secure this funding. Without it, we would have struggled to complete all the projects. The winter really took its toll on the coast path, with many of the areas needing work to make them safe again.”

At Bolberry Down work has been carried out to create an easier walking route around the steep Cathole Cliff area, and other sections of this path have had drainage improved in preparation for the winter, and sections widened to make them easier to walk on or use a pushchair. This is part of a wider programme of improvements to footpaths in this area that the National Trust has been working on throughout last winter.

The access to Millbay car park, on the opposite side of the estuary to Salcombe, has also benefited from the funding. This route, which is part of the Coast Path, had become washed away and was getting dangerous to drive and walk on.

Steve Church from the South West Coast Path Association says: "The Association is delighted that funds raised from our 40th anniversary sponsored event, the Great South West Walk, have gone towards these improvements. Bolberry Down is a stunning location, and the work done will make it easier to access in winter and by a wider public, which will be appreciated by many. Improvements at Millbay are also welcome, as this estuary-side location is very popular with walkers of a wide range of abilities and will now be easier for them to use."

These projects have been very well received by members of the public, both regular walkers and visitors to the area. Roger Ferris visiting Bolberry with his family commented: “I have an elderly mother who still enjoys walking where she can, she is with us today heading to Soar Mill Cove and this path has made this much easier to manage.”

The National Trust South Devon team is looking forward to completing other improvement work around Soar Mill Cove and Bolt Head in the next month.