A photo essay of the 2025 Photographer of the Year winning images PLUS the runner up images. Discover the story behind the lens and read about the photographers who have inspired our judges, and captured some truly stunning images of their time on the South West Coast Path in 2025.
There’s a saying that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. While that may be partly true, leading community walks in poor weather requires far more than a good waterproof. As we’ve seen this year, unsettled weather has meant staying flexible and keeping a hopeful eye on the forecast.Â
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.
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.
Behind The Lens provides insight from each photographer about their image displayed in the South West Coast Path Photographer of the Year Exhibition at Paddington Station, London from 3rd – 30th July 2024.
In the sixth instalment of our series on the ‘History Around the Coast Path’, guest writer and SWCPA Chair, Bob Mark, explores the evolution of architecture through the Georgian and Victorian periods and the impacts of the Industrial Revolution on the South West coastline.
The South West Coast Path 