The weather has been mixed for June and July but we've still been out exploring the Coast Path with local communities. As the weather (hopefully!) improves, some walks are pausing over the school summer holiday period, and some walks will be adapted due to increased footfall and traffic in some areas. Sadly, we've said goodbye to Stuart, our Torbay PO, but walks in Torbay will be continuing from September.
Dorset
The summer holidays have begun in Dorset, (although, as I write this, nobody seems to have told the weather!) and the coast path is starting to get noticeably busier. There are still some hidden gems of routes to be found though, and we've been exploring some of the quieter places looping out from the path with our Dorset groups this summer. One of these is Ballard Down in Swanage, which was awash with wildflowers and butterflies on our recent walk. The chalk downland is the perfect habitat to spot species such as marbled white, common blue and six-spot burnet moth, all of which participants from The Loft community group can now identify. We took the opportunity to carry out a Big Butterfly Count for Butterfly Conservation, contributing to one of the biggest citizen science projects in the country and adding another layer of interest to our walk.
The Loft group above Swanage
Six-spot burnet moth, Ballard Down
Plymouth
Over the early summer, we have been busy delivering weekly walks to service users from the The Mustard Tree Macmillan Cancer Support Centre, visiting various locations around Plymouth Sound and beyond for walks and talks. This has been a brilliant peer support group, and I am so proud of the friendship and support shown to each group member. Our final programme has now come to an end, but we look forward to exploring more opportunities for walks in the autumn.
Devon Mind group at Mount Batten
Mustard Tree group at Mount Edgecombe
We have also finished our taster sessions for Devon Mind service users, which provided opportunities for local group walks during the week, weekends and evenings. All 5 walks were well attended, with many participants joining us for multiple walks. We are very pleased to be able to continue developing this partnership between SWCPA and Devon Mind with more walks planned from September.
Cornwall
Holiday season in Cornwall has arrived and our Coast Path Connectors walks will be continuing as usual. Many across tourist destinations tend to stay indoors during this period, the thought of getting out on the path or roads just doesn't sound appealing. It's such a fantastic time to be out on the path however, with the wildlife on full display.
Our tips:
Whilst the popular tourist destinations are bound to be busy, there are many hidden gems across the coastline waiting to be explored. Grab a map and see if you can find somewhere new. If you do want to head to a busy spot, think about taking the bus or train, otherwise make sure you get there early so you can park.
Image: Summer walks at Botallack
We will be adapting many of the CPC walks in Cornwall to meet at train stations and bus stops, reducing the cars on the road. We may even divert from the Coast Path occasionally, exploring the footpaths and viewpoints that showcase our wonderful trail.
Torbay
At the beginning of June, Torbay hub volunteers welcomed Plymouth volunteers over to Torbay for a walk and insect identification training session at Berry Head, Brixham lead by the Life On the Edge Project team from South Devon National Landscape. We ended up with a celebratory lunch at Berry Head Hotel as a thank you to all the amazing work of the volunteers, and it was a great opportunity for volunteers to catch up with each other and explore the area, and we were also joined by volunteer Area Rep Tino, who showed us the improvements works that have recently taken place on the Path.
Volunteer thank you at St Mary's Bay
All walking groups have continued until mid-July where we have said good-bye to Torbay's Project Officer Stuart Riddle. It has been great having Stuart on the CPC team for the last 15 months and we wish him all the best for the future. Walks in Torbay will be pausing over the summer period, and re-starting in September 2024.
North Devon
One of the first walks in June was to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Braunton Burrows was the location of the American Assault training Centre where over 10,000 GI's trained for the Normandy Landings. Part of the walk included visiting the concrete landing craft and memorial wall.
June also saw the initial walk of the Carers group from Bude. This walk, from Bude up to Northcott was in beautiful sunny weather. The second walk around Morwenstow in July was a different story. A small group battled the weather to visit Hawkers Hut, the smallest dwelling owned by the National Trust and where the Reverend Hawker wrote the words to Trelawney.
The Ilfracombe Friendship and Social Group walked around the Valley of the Rocks near Lynton. The group went to the secluded Lee Abbey beach, then tried to spot the White Lady and finished around Rugged Jack, where there were plenty of guillemots, razorbills and fulmars showing.
Image: Ilfracombe Friendship and Social Group at Lee Abbey
The Healing Steps group went on a butterfly walk to coincide with the Big Butterfly Count, hoping to spot a high brown fritillary, one of the rarest butterflies in the UK. Unfortunately, it was dull and overcast and the group did not manage to spot any butterflies until refreshments in the gardens at The Hunters Inn! Although it was a fabulous walk along Ladies Mile.
This article is the eighth bi-monthly update on the Coast Path Connectors project. Read our latest updates below:
Coast Path Connectors Late Spring Update 2024
Coast Path Connectors Spring Update 2024
About the Coast Path Connectors Project
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Coast Path Connectors project aims to open up coastal walking to a range of new audiences. This project will help improve equity of access along the South West Coast Path by supporting local people in making the most of our amazing trail, for their health and well-being, through a network of new volunteers.
MORE INFORMATION
Email: Coast Path Connectors Project Manager, Alex Turner at alex@southwestcoastpath.org.uk
Website: www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/Get-involved/coast-path-connectors/
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