We couldn’t imagine a better way to celebrate 50 years of the South West Coast Path Association than the year we’ve had. Our fiftieth celebrations have highlighted to us why we hold the Path dear – they have inspired challenge, creativity, wellbeing, friendships, and celebrations for our wonderful volunteers… the list goes on! With our spring Trailblazer Walk, our team have had the time to reflect on the benefits of walking the Path, and were grateful to meet so many supporters all the way from Minehead to Poole and share our trail experiences. We reached out to you for your reasons for being on the Path, and the responses poured in! So here we have it, 50 reasons for why we love Britain’s longest National Trail – the South West Coast Path.
Challenge
- “Overall it’s for the outstanding scenery, but it’s also for the challenge and achievement! Aiming to complete the whole 630 miles with my husband over the next 2-3 years” – Naomi Bourke
- “We are walking the path with a small tent to re-engage with wild nature, move out of our comfort zone and hopefully raise awareness and maybe some funds to support mental and emotional wellbeing” – Paul Standbrook
- “A sense of freedom, of seclusion, of wonderment. The physical challenges, the feeling of achievement after finishing a difficult section. The joy of a pot of tea with a sea view.” – Diane Thompson
- “It’s beautiful and challenging and inspiring and brilliant in every way.” – Mike Haslam
- “Challenging terrain, beautiful scenery, fresh air, crashing waves, endless blues; my happy place.” – Roz Ford
- “Exhilarating in every way – you get immersed in the elements. Every hard ascent rewards you with as astonishingly sublime view.” – Mariella Reina
- “Having walked several long-distance footpaths in the UK and Europe, the SWCP is the favourite & the one I keep coming back to for its stunning coastal diverse scenery. Much of it is challenging but that adds to the allure.” – Mary de Ville
Inspiration
- “For art inspiration to create my paintings. To be connected to the elemental energy of the Coast. To feel free and alive and to keep my mental health in check” – @rachel.stanton.artist
- “I walked the Cornish coast path from Cremyll Ferry to Marsland Mouth 296.2 miles. Stopping to take two images every mile. One looking back, one looking forward. This was a project I worked on to turn the images into a book to show the differing terrain along the South West Coast Path.” – @cornwallcoastpath
- “It’s my happy place. I forget all my troubles and worries. The raw beauty always inspires me!” – Liz Cox
- “For me – freedom, inspiration and the endless possibilities suggested by the horizon that disappears into the distance. I now have a novel written inspired by walking the Devon and North Cornwall sections, and a non-fiction daily account of walking the path about half-written, that will be finished after we return from Tasmania in April to complete the Path.” – Jillian Brady
- “Freedom, expansion of thought, time to observe, energy of the elements and the exhilaration of place.” – @sarahballartist
Connection
- “To escape. Full time working in an office in the Midlands… we escape to the coast to reconnect 💚” – @girl_allison
- “I love walking the path to see the significant colours green, yellow and violet. And blue. To feel relaxed by the colours, the sea breeze, to breathe. To feel the ups and downs. And balance myself.” – @faunauge
- “Connection with nature. A kind of meditation when following the path to leave everyday life behind. The salty air, wonderful landscape. I miss the path greatly!” – @quiet_lady_mm
- “Connecting to the beautiful surroundings while breathing in the fresh air along the SWCP is sort of an addiction. You’ll always keep going back for more.” – North Devon Farm Holidays
- “Because watching waves crash against rocks, as they have done for thousands of years and as they will continue to do so for thousands more, puts present day into perspective” – Shirley Roberts
- “Peace and tranquillity, no phone, no laptop, no deadlines, no traffic. Just crashing waves, challenging climbs and a feeling of joy at being alive.” – Julian Head
- “It gives us a chance to talk; about the trivial things; about the important things; about the future and the past without interruption. Time to talk is so important.” – Clare Baker Halton
- “To be near the sea, to breathe, and to have my breath taken away at almost every turn.” – @keepingtheseaontheright
- “My happy place, walking between sea, sky and countryside, restorative for my soul.” – Nicki Watson
- “It’s the path that never fails to deliver. I can’t think of anything more rewarding than time spent out there walking it. It most definitely brings me back to myself & feeds my soul!” – Katie Stuart
Health & Wellbeing
- “For peace, serenity, freedom and restoration from daily grind. I don’t care whether it’s sunny or raining it’s wild and grounding.” – Andie How
- “To have an adventure! To improve my mental health. To get perspective with those beautiful views. To exercise.” – @veganvix
- “Just to walk in solitude, no worries.” – Christopher Vernon
- “To meet the personal challenge (physically, spiritually, mentally) of completing each section with joy, gratitude and amazement.” – Wendy Hess
- “Seemed like a good challenge and a way to get strong after beating cancer.” – Mark Stanton
Memories
- “To make memories with wonderful friends ❤️” – Lottie Carey
- “It is simply ‘good for the soul’. The Path ranges from the sublime to the scary to the steep and the slippery, it’s the one Path that fulfils all the emotions, and tricks you into thinking that you’re further along than you actually are! Wonderful memories are created, never to be forgotten.” – Ditcheat Thoroughbreds
- “The #SWCP is an experience of all nature’s offerings, each #walk is a new adventure and memory to treasure with those you share it with.” – @tarmacsurfing, Twitter
- “We started our SWCP journey in 2020 as our lockdown hobby and 3 years on and we have nearly completed all 630 miles!!! It has been a special journey of amazing memories and has done wonders for our mental, physical and spiritual well-being.” – Sue TG
- “The sea, the air, the views, the lovely people I met on the way. The plan was to revisit some beautiful areas but with an arthritic hip the memories are a treasure. I’m SO pleased I did it all.” – Sue Goddard
Commemoration
- “To celebrate MY 50th year!” – @kitty_bryn
- “Walking the path this year with an old mate will be our special birthday present/highlight to our own 2 × 50th anniversary.” – Si Mone
- “I am walking 50 miles of the coast path this year with my friend to celebrate her 50th birthday” – Hannah Bessell
- “My Mum, Pam loved the Cornish coast, this year it will be 30 years since she died of pancreatic cancer. I was inspired last summer, whilst walking near Sennen cove, to walk the whole SWCP in memory of Mum. I will be thinking of her, imagining her walking with me. 💗” – @clairgoeshiking
- “I am coming to the UK from Canada to walk a few sections of the path as a tribute to my late father. He walked many parts of the path and kept telling me that I had to go one day too.” – Jillian Haight
Experience
- “We love being near the sea. The smell of the sea air, the sea gulls calling and the waves crashing, beautiful views in all directions, the freedom. The ocean makes me feel happy. Always planning our next trip to the sea 🌊 ❤️” – @ourlittleadventures.photo
- “I have many reasons but my favorites are when you stumble upon a completely secluded beach, the stunning scenery and also the history…particularly the military history like the old gun placements around Dartmouth, still complete with the rail tracks down to them!” – Moor Fitness and Nutrition
- “When I came across the path for the first time I felt like: Wow, how wonderful, I must do it all, because ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’!” – Anja Ebell
- “Beautiful views, sea vistas, and places you can only see by walking the path.” – Carol Blackburn
- “Walking each stage of the path is the most wonderful and uplifting experience, breath-taking views and the bestest company, hands down it is the best.” – Nicola Davies
- “I live just a few miles from a part of it, which I walked regularly, but I never thought much about it being part of one huge trail. One day, when Covid lockdown was easing, I was reading about the path and the idea popped into my head. Teenagers were willing, so we started in Minehead doing day trips. I’m now addicted. I just love being by the sea. And the idea of seeing every single bit of our local coastline is so exciting.” – Lucie Redwood
- “Good for the soul, with nature, no phone signal, the challenge, the sense of achievement, the views, the sea swims, the friendship and the ice creams” – Catherine Holt
- “Seeing things and going places that you could never do with a car or any type of transport.” – Bill Middleton
- “Coming from NZ in June to walk part of the path because of the amazing scenery and ability to move along the track each day while staying in lovely accommodation and having our bags moved” – Caroline Cross
- “Adventure” – Catherine Bach
- “The stunning views of the coast of course! Only walked part of the Torbay coast path but it’s a very enjoyable (and sometimes challenging) walk with spectacular views of the bay and local wildlife!” – Lindsey Roberts
- “The natural delights around every corner!” – @RisingRibbons, Twitter
- “Treading that line between land and sea, solid earth, waves crashing free, far away the horizon glow, sky above, ocean below, taste of salt, drop of rain, not another hill again! If I could choose any place to be, the South West Coast Path every time for me” – Jo Earlam
50th Anniversary header images photographed by Mike Newman, featuring bespoke handcrafted walking sticks by Peter Bailey of Rusticks Cornwall.
The South West Coast Path 