Coast path improvements complete in Cornwall

Coast path improvements throughout Cornwall have been completed.

The much-loved path around Cornwall’s coastline is further enhanced today (Wednesday 4 June) with the completion of improvement works along it all the way from St Agnes Head and around to the Tamar at Cremyll.

These works form part of a national programme to create a coastal path around the whole of England. Once completed this will be the longest managed coastal walking route in the world and the UK’s longest National Trail.

Earlier this year the 75-mile stretch from Marsland Mouth on the North Cornwall coast down to Newquay was completed. This follows the route of the existing South West Coast Path (SWCP) National Trail. Now the remaining 228 miles of path are completed: heading west from Newquay, down to Land’s End and back along the south coast to Cremyll on the banks of the Tamar.

For anyone walking the path, there is plenty to see, with towns and villages such as Falmouth, Penzance and Polperro, along with popular spots such as Land’s End and The Lizard. For those interested in the county’s heritage, there are castles in abundance, like St Mawes and St Michael’s Mount, alongside remnants of Cornwall’s industrial past at Botallack engine houses and the Levant mine and beam engine – to say nothing of the famous cliffside Minack Theatre! There’s also plenty for lovers of wildlife to spot, including choughs, grey seals and peregrine falcons. And, of course, there are glorious sandy beaches to stop off at throughout the route.

In establishing the new trail, Natural England has sought to improve the alignment of the coast path where possible or move it closer to the sea. For example, a new route has been created on the western side of the Lizard at Porthkerris, instead of the old inland route along country roads. And at Millendreath the new path has been moved away from the road to allow for more scenic views and a safer walking route. Other changes include at Downderry where the main route is impassable during high tides, so an alternative follows the coastal road.

While walkers will still encounter steep climbs and descents - as well as gently undulating walking along the cliff tops – there are now more accessible areas, including the path between Swanpool and Gyllanvase Beach and the path around Tregantle Fort. Another change is a new legal provision for the trail to ‘roll back’ in response to coastal erosion, thereby securing people’s rights into the future and protecting the investment being made now.

Andrea Ayres, Deputy Area Director for Natural England said: "This huge stretch of path along two coasts takes in some of the best views in the South West. These much-loved places have been wowing visitors for many years, as well as being loved by local residents.

“We hope the improvements to the path, and the additional access rights, will mean even more people will get out and enjoy nature. This will provide vital health and wellbeing benefits for local communities, as well attracting visitors to the county, with tourism playing a vital role in the South West economy."

While much of Cornwall’s 300-mile section of the South West Coast Path is owned by private landowners and organisations, the path is managed by Cornwall Council. The Council and Cormac, together with the National Trust have worked to deliver the improvements around the county.

Julian Gray, Director, South West Coast Path Association (SWCPA) said: “It’s great to see the final sections of the King Charles III England Coast Path open in Cornwall, which creates new open access rights around the coast to help connect people to nature.

“The establishment of the KCIIIECP has brought significant investment and improvements to the route of the Coast Path and also gives us new powers to manage the National Trail in the face of coastal erosion. We will continue to work with our trail partners to protect, improve and champion the South West Coast Path as one of the world’s great trails.”

The film “The Salt Path”, released last week, which is about one couple’s walk around the South West Coast Path, was partly filmed in Newquay, as well as Whitsand Bay and Rame Head on the south east coast of Cornwall, and could lead to the area attracting a whole new wave of visitors. It stars Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs and is based on the memoir written by Raynor Winn.

The King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP) is a National Trail around the entire coast of England. Existing coastal national trails will retain their branding and alongside other promoted routes form part of the KCIIIECP.

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