South West Coast Path Association

Community Engagement Summer Update

From insect walks and coastal history tours in Torbay to butterflies and sea swims in Dorset, our walking groups are making the most of the summer. The Coast Path Connectors project, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, continues to bring people together on accessible, supported walks across our five area hubs in Torbay, North Devon, Dorset, Plymouth and Cornwall. In this latest update, our Community Engagement team give an update on their community walks and what’s to come.

SWCP Journeys

Transformative Journeys on the South West Coast Path – Rose and Dennis’ Story

Walking the South West Coast Path isn’t just about miles. Transformative Journeys is our new blog series sharing real, powerful, and life-changing stories from people whose lives have been enriched by walking this iconic trail. Our next story follows one couple’s unforgettable seven-year journey along the Path and the challenges they faced along the way. From blazing heat to heart surgery, the Coast Path becomes their shared purpose, facing each mile with incredible resilience and determination.

SWCP Journeys

Transformative Journeys on the South West Coast Path – Glynis’ Story

Transformative Journeys is our blog series sharing real, powerful and life-changing stories from people whose lives have been enriched by walking this iconic trail. Our next story began with the discovery of a hidden diary from the 1990s written by Glynis’ late father. What started as a personal tribute became a journey of reconnection, discovery and transformation. Over 53 days spread across seven years, Glynis retraced the route and found along the way a renewed sense of purpose, passion and belonging.

Community Engagement Explore Wildlife

Celebrating National Insect Week – Spotting Insects in Dorset

In celebration of National Insect Week (23rd – 29th June), Catherine Mason (Community Engagement – Dorset) shares highlights from a misty but magical community walk over Ballard Down with the Loft community group. Despite the drizzle, the chalk grasslands gradually revealed a buzzing array of wildlife, from marbled white butterflies to bush crickets and red-tailed bumblebees. As the sun broke through, the wildflower meadows burst into life with thirteen butterfly species and countless other pollinators making an appearance.

Environment Inspired by the Coast

Inspired by the Coast – John Dixon

John Dixon, a pollution artist, emphasises the environmental themes in his work derived from collected plastic debris on beaches. Inspired by nature and other artists, he highlights the detrimental effects of plastic waste on oceans and ecosystems. He advocates for changing consumer habits and regulatory reforms to combat plastic pollution.

Explore

A Taste of The Salt Path: Westward Ho! to Bude 3-Day Walking Itinerary on the South West Coast Path

Welcome back to our blog series, ‘A Taste of The Salt Path’, where we share 3-day walking itineraries featuring filming locations from The Salt Path, with quotes from Raynor Winn’s best-selling memoir. This third walking itinerary is not for the faint of heart, taking in dramatic cliff-top views, ancient woodland, hidden coves, plunging valleys and some of the most remote and rugged coastline of Devon and Cornwall.