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| South West Coast Path Association | |
|---|---|
| Name | South West Coast Path Association |
| Formation | 1973 |
| Type | Charitable organisation |
| Location | South West England |
| Headquarters | Devon |
| Region served | Cornwall; Devon; Dorset; Somerset; Isles of Scilly |
South West Coast Path Association
The South West Coast Path Association is a charitable membership organisation supporting the South West Coast Path in South West England and advocating for walkers, conservation, and access rights. It works alongside local authorities such as Dorset Council, Cornwall Council, Devon County Council, and Somerset County Council and partners including National Trust, Natural England, English Heritage, and Forestry England to promote sustainable recreation, wildlife protection, heritage interpretation, and trail maintenance.
Founded in 1973, the association emerged amid campaigns for coastal access that followed precedents like the creation of Countryside Commission initiatives and the passage of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Early supporters included figures and organisations from the walking movement such as the Ramblers, the British Mountaineering Council, and regional groups like the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and the Devon Wildlife Trust. The association played a role in debates around the Rights of Way Act 1932 legacy and in conservation responses to events like the construction controversies at Gatcombe Park and proposals affecting sites such as Lundy Island and the Isles of Scilly.
The association is structured as a charity with a board of trustees drawn from volunteers, professional conservationists, and representatives with expertise relevant to coastal heritage, including former staff of English Heritage, Historic England, and officers seconded from councils such as Plymouth City Council. Governance aligns with charity law overseen by Charity Commission for England and Wales and adheres to standards promoted by bodies like the Institute of Fundraising and UK Register of Charities. Operational delivery is coordinated through regional volunteers, salaried staff in administrative hubs near Exeter and Truro, and liaison roles with agencies such as Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Environment Agency.
The association organises practical maintenance, waymarking, and beach clean events often in partnership with Marine Conservation Society, Surfers Against Sewage, and local volunteer groups in communities such as St Ives, Padstow, Salcombe, Lyme Regis, and Ilfracombe. It provides information services including route guides for sections through landmarks like Land's End, Dartmouth, Tower Hill, St Michael's Mount, Cheddar Gorge, Baggy Point, and Portland Bill. The association collaborates on safety campaigns with RNLI lifeboat stations, promotes access arrangements with National Trust rangers, and contributes to visitor management strategies used by authorities such as Cornwall Council and Dorset Council.
Membership is offered to individuals, families, and affiliated organisations including local chambers like Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council business groups, tourism partnerships such as Visit Cornwall and Visit Devon, and national charities like Wildlife Trusts Partnership. Funding sources include subscriptions, donations, legacies, grants from trusts such as Heritage Lottery Fund and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, and trading income from shops located in towns including Barnstaple, Brixham, Falmouth, Weymouth, and Torquay. Corporate partnerships have been established with outdoor brands and retailers, and occasional project funding is secured from the European Regional Development Fund historically and from local enterprise partnerships.
The association campaigns on coastal access, footpath protection, and habitat conservation alongside organisations like RSPB, Plantlife, Buglife, and the Somerset Wildlife Trust. Campaigns have addressed coastal erosion at sites such as Dawlish Warren, cliff safety at Croyde Bay and Westward Ho!, and pressures from development near Portishead and Weymouth Bay. It contributes to management plans for protected areas including Exmoor National Park, Dartmoor National Park fringes, North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and several Site of Special Scientific Interests. The association engages in policy consultations with national bodies like DEFRA and regional boards such as Local Nature Partnerships.
The association produces guidebooks, maps, and leaflets for the coast path, contributing content to publishers and partners including Ordnance Survey and regional guides sold via outlets in Penzance and Ilfracombe. It issues newsletters, an annual journal, and digital resources such as GPX tracks and accessibility information covering routes to landmarks like Tintagel Castle, Corfe Castle, St Austell Bay, and Kynance Cove. Educational materials support schools and groups including those linked to Duke of Edinburgh's Award, youth organisations such as Scouts (The Scout Association), and walking clubs like Exmoor Caving Club and regional branches of the Ramblers.
The association is widely cited by travel writers and organisations including the BBC, The Guardian, The Times, and guide authors who cover long-distance trails such as the South West Coast Path and related routes like the England Coast Path. Its conservation work has been recognised by awards and commendations from bodies like VisitEngland and regional heritage trusts, and it is often referenced in academic studies of coastal recreation by institutions such as the University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, and University of Bristol. Local communities from Mousehole to Minehead acknowledge the association's role in promoting sustainable tourism, trail safety, and the protection of coastal landscapes.
Category:Charities based in Devon Category:Walking in England Category:Environment of Cornwall