07 Jan New walks for a new year!
To celebrate the start of a new decade 19 new circular walks have been created for people to enjoy the coast around South Devon.
The walks, which are located between Wembury and Berry Head, take in the stunning and diverse landscape of South Devon, which features an array of wildlife such as resident seals at Peartree Point and the rare Cirl Bunting. The routes also take walkers through busy fishing ports, picturesque villages and offer unrivalled access to the coastline, rich in maritime history and natural beauty.
To help inform walkers about the local area and points of interest along the new routes, 12 interpretation boards have been installed along with 22 smaller signs to help guide people on their way and digital resources accessible via smart phones. It is hoped that these signs will encourage local residents and visitors to explore further afield, spending more time enjoying the unique natural landscape and benefitting from spending more time outdoors being active.
The walks have been created for local residents and visitors to the area by the South West Coast Path Association (SWCPA) and the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (National Landscape) Unit. By creating new routes which better connect inland towns and villages to the National Trail the walks will also be of benefit to all the businesses who rely on the hugely popular South West Coast Path as a key tourist attraction.
Julian Gray, Director of the South West Coast Path Association said, “There is a real resurgence in the love of walking right now, and people are growing more and more passionate about protecting the special places we are so fortunate to have access to. We are delighted to be able to provide this improved access in South Devon and hope that people living in the area, and those visiting will be able to reap the benefits, physically and mentally, that come with walking.”
Julian added, “With the upcoming extension of the South West Coast Path around the rest of England, this really is a milestone year when it comes to access to our natural landscapes. The creation of the England Coast Path (ECP) will allow for more public access along a wider coastal margin, permitting greater access to our beaches, dunes and cliffs as well as improving management of the Trail when it needs repositioning due to coastal erosion.”
Roger English, South Devon National Landscape Unit Manager commented “We are thrilled to have been part of this project, which expands the opportunities for people to enjoy the special landscape of the National Landscape. We are celebrating our Diamond anniversary of designation in 2020 and this special landscape is our ‘Natural Health Service’ helping people feel better physically and mentally.”
To find out more about the new routes available, please visit: Walks
These new walking routes were made possible thanks to support from the South Devon Coastal Local Action Group and funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas LEADER programme.
