Our amazing volunteers have been supporting more activity across our hub areas, while the team has been exploring different approaches to tackling the long-standing challenge of transport to the Coast Path, as well as finding less busy areas to explore.
Torbay
It’s been a busy summer in the Torbay hub with Paul settling into his new role as Community Engagement lead, meeting volunteers, recruiting new volunteers and trying to get new walking groups up and running…or walking at least. Over the summer we’ve had a pretty regular group out every week in our Live Longer Better group including new members, one who said, “The walking was so enjoyable but what impressed me most was how friendly everyone was. Sometimes groups aren’t always so welcoming and that can feel quite intimidating, not so yesterday, it was lovely.” We’ve also started a new weekly walk through the Thrive Project in Paignton and expect to have new groups in the Autumn for cancer and Fatigue Management. We are also investigating new walks with Rowcroft Hospice and Arthritis Action. Our Brixham Theatre volunteers continue to walk fortnightly.
North Devon
Despite the heat all groups completed some walks this summer and where possible alternative walks were designed to avoid long exposure to the sun. In partnership with the North Devon Coast National Landscape (formerly North Devon AONB) we have recently secured funding for minibuses to take more vulnerable people to the coast. Walkers are referred by several local community groups such as Encompass, Flourish in Nature, Devon Mind, Freedom Centre and patients from the Oceanview Ward at North Devon District Hospital. The minibus has a series of pick-up points on route to the coast. A schedule of walks has been planned for the next six months and feedback from participants and peer support workers has been very positive. The Ilfracombe Friendship and Social Group has also benefited from the partnership, and recently walked from Mortehoe to Lee Bay. As there was a low tide, we were able to take the smugglers path through the rocks from Sandy Cove through to Lee Bay.
Cornwall
Our volunteer team here in Cornwall continues to grow, which allows us to offer more walks for more communities. For example, over the past 6 months we have been supporting Helen in becoming a SWCPA Walk Leader, joining our team of volunteers in the Penzance area.
After completing training in April, Helen then went on to plan and lead a number of walks around the Penzance and Lizard areas. Helen heads up about one Community Walk a month; these are free to join and for anyone from the local community who is interested in joining a social walk. In August she led a team on a circular walk from Lizard Green to Lizard Point, exploring the wonderful coves and wildlife the area has to offer. In September, an evening walk from Penzance to Marazion, which offers amazing views across Mounts Bay – before stopping for refreshments and returning by bus.
Plymouth
Despite a lot of disruptions to our planned walks over the summer due to the extreme heat, we still had plenty of opportunities to walk with our groups on the Coast Path around Plymouth. Where possible, we like to encourage people to use public transport options from the city centre and so meet our groups at a bus stop or local ferry. Our group for people living with cancer, which is supported by the Mustard Tree cancer support centre, enjoyed using bus services to explore Wembury and Rame Head, and took the ferry to Mount Edgcumbe where there is a bit more shade under the trees. Our Devon Mind group also hopped on the bus to visit Rame Head and Whitsand Bay, and used the temporary service from Plymouth to walk from Bovisand to Mount Batten, which is only available during the summer months. Our weekend volunteer team organised a walk in South Devon, taking a bus from Plymouth to Averton Gifford and walking to Bantham and Thurlestone. We also hosted a fantastic day out for young adult carers from Plymouth and Torbay, walking from Cremyll to Cawsand, using the ferry from Stonehouse and returning on the ferry from Cawsand beach to Plymouth Barbican. It’s great to be able to show people how accessible these locations are using public transport and also travel in a sustainable way.
Dorset
Summer is always a busy time on the Dorset coast, with tourists adding to the numbers of local people walking the path. To avoid the crowds we have tried to select walks in the less busy areas, or taking circular routes inland from the coast path. Some of our groups took a break for the busiest part of August, especially as the extreme heat meant that some walks had to be cancelled for safety reasons. But the walks that went ahead were successful, with participants commenting on how nice it was to see familiar faces and explore some new parts of the trail that they didn’t know so well.
Now that the children are back to school and the weather has started to cool down we are back up and running with our monthly Wellbeing walks taking place in Weymouth, Bridport and Lyme Regis. We also have regular walks with the Lantern Trust and the Loft community centre, as well as plans in place to host some trial walks with 2 other local charities. We are looking forward to continuing our regular walks through the Autumn, and are always happy to hear from local groups who would like to collaborate with us.
If you’re interested in joining our Coast Path Connectors walks head to our website where you can find details of upcoming walks.
Each hub has a page that lists the walks specific to each area.
https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/coast-path-connectors
