Climate Change and the Path

South West Coast Path Association

April 4

Climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a future that we all must adapt to. The South West Coast Path exists on the edge, the fragile place where land meets sea. It's what makes it so special, but also puts it at the forefront when it comes to extreme weather caused by climate change. Increasing storm damage, combined with rising sea levels are leading to faster rates of coastal erosion which in turn drives up the costs of caring for the Trail, threatening the access which is vital for people's health and wellbeing.

Cliff falls and route diversions

The most dramatic display of erosion along the Path are cliff falls, often resulting in diversions that compromise the accessibility of the route. It doesn't take a catastrophic event for the Path to be impacted though. If weather patterns are disrupted even enough to increase rain fall levels, there can be problems. Anyone who's walked the Coast Path this winter will have been acutely aware of far muddier conditions than normal, making some pinch points along the Trail more difficult to negotiate.

Path maintenance

Since 2013, the South West Coast Path Association has been tracking "exceptional coastal erosion events" with the help of its volunteers and trail partners. For an incident to be officially recorded there needs to have been a direct impact on people's ability to use the South West Coast Path, and a subsequent need for an intervention to repair, restore or even completely move the route of the Trail. Over the last ten years the Association has recorded over 230 exceptional events, which have damaged parts of the Trail. Many events were cliff falls, landslips, or collapses of key infrastructure such as steps or bridges caused by heavy rain fall, flooding, or storm surges. In 2022 we also experienced 2 severe storm events that wreaked havoc in North Devon and Exmoor with significant damage to the Path, especially from lifted root balls of fallen trees, which led to a 3 month clear up operation to re-open the trail. The success of the clear up was aided by the SWCPA Storm Damage Appeal which raised in excess of £12k to help fund the clearance and repair works.

Climate change and natural disasters

It's not just the winter months which are encountering the effects of climate change. In the last 2 years the trail has also experienced 5 wildfires which caused temporary closures to sections of the trail and caused destruction of the unique and fragile coastal habitats. We are also witnessing extended growing seasons which means our trails partners are needing to cut vegetation more regularly than in the past, which is also causing an increase in the maintenance costs for the trail.

The most recent climate change projections confirm we will experience wetter winters and drier summers, with an increased likelihood of more intense rainfall causing a heightened flood risk. Sea level rise and storm intensity increases will lead to increased coastal flooding and erosion. The SWCPA is increasing its resilience to future events by working with our partners to develop a future-proofing plan for the Trail. This includes looking at how we deal with 'roll back' (when the Path is moved back away from eroding coastline), as well as identifying potential future diversions. We also plan to review Path infrastructure, surfacing and drainage to see what improvements could be made to reduce the impact of more varied weather. By identifying issues in advance, we can cost out and plan developments to the Trail to ensure it remains accessible for future generations.

Looking after the Trail

We also have our amazing team of around 75 volunteer Path Reps who undertake a thorough condition survey of the South West Coast Path every year during winter time, using tablets carrying special software. They are also our eyes and ears on the ground, regularly feeding vital data from their assigned section back to us at SWCP HQ. Thanks to their efforts we can respond to Trail emergencies, get an early heads up about threats and channel funding to where it is needed most.

Thank you for your support for the SWCPA as without our members, fundraisers, volunteers and trail partners we would not be able to respond to these challenges to make sure that the SWCP remains one of the Worlds Great Trails.

Making a difference with #EveryMileMatters

We've launched our 2024 Every Mile Matters campaign in response to the increasing threats of climate change and changing weather patterns, which are driving up the costs of keeping our National Trail open. We've supported the Coast Path for over 50 years and the costs to maintain, improve and protect the Trail have now risen to £1,500 per mile each year. If we can't continue to meet this level of investment, the Coast Path will cease to exist in the same way it does now - and the people who rely on access to it and businesses whose livelihoods depend on it will also be under threat.

Help us to protect the Path that you love by donating to our #EveryMileMatters campaign or set up your own fundraising page through our Just Giving platform and take on your own #CoastPathChallenge. Every contribution - no matter how big or small - helps us to raise vital funds to protect the South West Coast Path for now and for future generations.

As part of the EMM campaign, we're kicking off with our Magnificent Seven Walks across the Path in May and June. Each walk has considered access needs and sustainable transport (where available) and are part of our #CoastPathChallenge fundraising initiative. Tickets are £20 adult / £10 child with 100% of ticket sales going to our EMM campaign. We look forward to seeing you on the Path!