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Welsh THE CHARITY WORKING FOR WALKERS
ISSUE 64
Walking along Wales’ Coast I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; “Sea Fever”, John Masefield
O
ur beautiful coastline is one of our finest natural assets. People from all walks of life feel drawn to the coast and, for many, there’s nothing they enjoy more than walking the cliff tops with wide views of sea and sky. In practice, though, this is often impossible. With no public right of access to beaches and a rights of way network full of gaps and obstructions, coastal walking can often be a frustrating exercise. Walkers love coastal footpaths, but they can be narrow and restrictive, hemming us in with a cliff edge on one side and a barbed wire fence or prickly hedge on the other. This detracts from the openness and sense of freedom that so many of us cherish and thereby reduces the quality of the coastal walking experience. Rather than walking along a narrow, single file route we want a broad band of land set aside for coastal access that lets people really enjoy their surroundings without fear of the cliff edge. A band that lets people look to the horizon and relax with their friends and family in safety. Coastal walking has never been more popular. Nearly 4 million people went walking on the coast of Wales in 2003, spending just short of £650 million (Wales Tourist Board, 2003). A new coastal access right would open up even more of our beautiful coastline and create a resource with real, popular appeal.
Whitesands Bay, Pembrokeshire © Welsh Assembly Government
We are seeking the opportunity for a continuous route around Wales’ coast and for the access to be certain, clear and secure. Designating a wide band of mapped access land is the best way to do this. Such a band would be available all along the coast of Wales, narrowing and widening in line with local conditions, but with a guide minimum of 20m. This would ensure a quality walking experience, minimise erosion and be a focus for agri-environment money to allow for the development of coastal habitats. Utilising the Countryside and Rights of Way Act – the Act that brought the “right to
roam” to our mountains and moorland last year – we could map a secure right of access and cater for restrictions in line with land management interests. To do this we need backing from the Welsh Assembly Government. They have already made a commitment to extending public access to the coast by 2008/09 and we need to make sure that we get the best deal for walkers. Help us and join our campaign for a coastal access right for Wales by writing to your local Assembly member today. Check out our website for more details and our official campaign statement. PAGE
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