2025 has been a great year for walking. Our fantastic Coast Path Connectors (CPC) team has been out in the heat of the summer, the wet of the autumn, and the cold of the winter, creating many opportunities for people to enjoy the wellbeing benefits of coastal walking.
This year, for World Mental Health Day, we reflect on the impact that our Coast Path Connectors programme is having on the groups we walk with and the people we have had join us. Our walks aim to encourage a step away from everyday life, and a step onto the Coast Path and a new environment, that can offer a sense of freedom and space for both mind and body, and boost mental health and wellbeing.
We aim to make our Coast Path Connectors community walks as accessible as possible for as many people as possible. Where we can, we like to use public transport so that everyone can get to the start points easily and so that participants can do the walks by themselves at a later date. Here are a few suggestions of some walks from our hub areas using public transport.
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.
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.
As our initial National Lottery Heritage Funding for Coast Path Connectors comes to an end this month, we are really pleased to share with you our summary videos from each hub, which introduce our excellent staff team and their achievements.
The South West Coast Path 