The weather over the last few weeks has been challenging for some of our groups, and we have had a few postponed walks during these wintry months. However, it has been amazing to see just how many groups have been keen to keep walking and we have even set up some new ones, including our new weekend programme in Plymouth – entirely lead by our trained volunteers. See below to read more in our different hub areas.
Dorset
After a lot of wet weather recently, there is quite a lot of mud on the coast path at the moment! To try to avoid the worst of this, our groups have been making the most of the paved and gravelled sections of the path around Weymouth and at Durlston Country Park. The Rodwell Trail, part of a disused railway line that used to take stone from the quarries on Portland to Weymouth, as well as carrying passengers, made a wonderful walk in the winter sunshine. The bus back meant our group could walk a bit further, and we’re working up to some walks further afield in the spring.
Another highlight of a recent walk was being able to investigate the shoreline after the winter storms. There was a variety of small sea creatures washed up on the sand, including bivalves, sea squirts and sea potatoes, which the participants had not seen before.
Torbay
Winter has brought rain and ice, and with it, some tricky to navigate paths. As a result, we’ve had a few changes of plan in our walks schedule, and some groups deciding to take a short hiatus. It’s therefore been an invaluable time for both review and planning.
At the beginning of December, the volunteer walk team met for a social event. It was a lovely opportunity to cement relationships in the team, but also to say a huge thank you for their amazing work. With over 200 hours of volunteering and nearly 50 walks under their belt, there was much to celebrate. We met at Lupton House and enjoyed a walk of beautiful views in the direction of Greenway and the river Dart, before having lunch at Lupton House Cafe. Thank you, all.
All of our groups are now walking fortnightly in order to make a regular commitment more doable for walkers. It also creates capacity in the project to establish new groups. We have a new Cancer Survivors group confirmed from April, and a new wheelchair-accessible Stroke Survivors group in planning.
Also, our ME/CFS group has now become a wider ‘fatigue management’ group, welcoming anyone for whom fatigue is a life changing part of their condition. Their new season of walks starts 13th Feb, and we can’t wait!
North Devon
Walks have continued through the winter and new groups have started. Healing Steps (walkers who have lost their life partners) walk every other Friday and PCN Wellbeing walk every Tuesday, both groups are well attended despite some poor weather.
The Ilfracombe Friendship and Social Group (IFSG) started monthly walks just before Christmas. The group includes a wide range of people from the Ilfracombe area who engage in a range of social activities. The group receive referrals from the Coastal PCN Social Prescription service and several of their clients are attending CPC walks. The next walk is a circular walk around Great Hangman – a request from the walkers.
Walk This Way is a new walking group in partnership with the Fern Centre at North Devon District Hospital. The Fern Centre supports cancer patients (pre and post op) and their families. The group walks monthly and some walkers have already joined other CPC ND walk groups as they want to be out on the SWCP as much as possible. The next walk for this group is a circular walk around Crow Point and Braunton Burrows.
Plymouth
During January, our Plymouth volunteers delivered their first walk for the Coast Path Connectors project. Despite the very cold temperature, a hardy group joined the volunteers for a 12km walk from Wembury Village to Warren point and onto Heybrook Bay. After a warming coffee break at the Eddystone Inn, they returned to the village via Wembury point to admire the wonderful views of the Mewstone and beyond.
This event marked the start of our free, weekend guided walks which will be ‘open’ for anyone who wants to walk with a group. The walks are designed to support our wellbeing aims and will be of mixed length and difficulty. However, the volunteer team will always allow plenty of time to get everyone around at a gentle pace so that plenty of talking and photo-taking can take place.
Gemma Dunn, Plymouth CPC Project Officer said, “After supporting the volunteers through their training in 2023, it was so exciting to see them in action leading their first walk. They worked really well together to ensure that the walkers felt welcomed and supported and were able to give them loads of information about the route and points of interest along the way. Most importantly, everyone completed the walk together safely and in high spirts. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the volunteer program can develop throughout the year so that more and more people can benefit from supported Coast Path walking experiences.”
Weekend walks are currently scheduled for once a month and spaces are limited, so booking is essential. If you would like to be added to the mailing list for booking information, or to find out more about joining us as a ‘volunteer walk leader’ or ‘volunteer walk assistant’, please email Gemma at Gemma@southwestcoastpath.org.uk.
Cornwall
On the first weekend of 2024, we met a group of SWCPA Volunteers and friends at Pendennis Community Centre, for a walk around Pendennis Head and across Falmouth seafront. We were joined on this walk by Peter, a historian from the History Archive at The Poly, we shared his wealth of knowledge of Falmouth History. From the construction of Pendennis Castle, to the ship building and the packets and more recently tourism, we learnt how Falmouth became the bustling town it is today.
These walks are for our SWCPA volunteers, both our path reps and those who support or partner with us on the Coast Path Connectors Project. Each walk will have an element of learning in a social and welcoming setting. Next month we will be heading to Kennack Sands, on the Lizard, where we will be joined by Natural England, who will be sharing the fantastic work they do to make the area so special.
This article is the sixth bi-monthly update on the Coast Path Connectors project. Read the previous updates here:
Coast Path Connectors Winter Update
Coast Path Connectors Autumn Update
Coast Path Connectors Summer Update
Coast Path Connectors Spring Update
Coast Path Connectors Project Gets Underway
About the Coast Path Connectors Project
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Coast Path Connectors project aims to open up coastal walking to a range of new audiences. This project will help improve equity of access along the South West Coast Path by supporting local people in making the most of our amazing trail, for their health and well-being, through a network of new volunteers.
MORE INFORMATION
Email: Coast Path Connectors Project Manager, Alex Turner at alex@southwestcoastpath.org.uk
Website: www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/Get-involved/coast-path-connectors/
The South West Coast Path 