2 minute read
Great South West Coast Path Experience 2023
If you’re a food and drink business along the South West Coast Path, you’ll know Autumn is walking season now and the 9 million visitors who use the Trail every year are on the look out for great places to eat and drink along the way.
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The South West Coast Path brings over £520 million into the local economy every year and a recent survey revealed that 82% of visitors said that eating out was an essential part of their coastal experience and 72% said they wanted to sample local produce.
Now the South West Coast Path Association – the charity which protects, cares for and shares the Path has come up with two ways to celebrate local food and drink businesses along the 630 mile Trail, whilst working together with them to help look after one of the region’s most important environmental and tourism assets.
The charity’s Way Maker scheme connects its 11,000 members, 1.4 million website visitors and 80,000 social media followers with cafes, restaurants and hotels along the Trail by encouraging its supporters to ‘vote with their feet’ and stop off with those businesses who show their support for the Path as Way Makers.
Over 400 businesses are already on board , including the award winning eateries in South Devon like the Cary Arms and Ode café in Shaldon. Way Makers can be found on-line at www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk or in the charity’s best-selling annual Complete Guide to the South West Coast Path. Businesses who join as Way Makers before October 7th this year will get a chance to feature in the charity’s special 50th anniversary guide out in January 2023.
Over 100 Way Makers are also currently taking part in a trial of the charity’s ‘camino’ style South West Coast Path Passport scheme. The Passport encourages walkers to stop off at 100 ‘stamping points’ across the Trail to collect special stamps to create a lasting memory of their trip and enjoy some local hospitality.
The first stamping point in North Devon was featured on Alex Polizzi’s Hotel Inspector show and over 2,000 Passports have already been sold with the first batch selling out in 3 hours! Over 18 St Austell Brewery pubs are taking part as well as independent cafes, pubs, restaurants and hotels along the way. The charity will be adding hundreds more stamping points to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year - those interested in becoming a point should sign up as Way Makers. Sarah Gunn, Business Development Manager for the South West Coast Path Association says,
“Food and drink is an essential part of the South West Coast Path experience – including the local producers along the way. We’re looking forward to working with them during our 50th anniversary year to both celebrate them and help protect the Path as the important wildlife, tourism and health and well-being resource for everyone to enjoy”.
To find out more about getting involved in the 50th anniversary South West Coast Path celebrations as a business contact business@ southwestcoastpath.org.uk. Sign up as a Way Maker Plus on line before 7th October for a place in the 50th Anniversary Complete Guide at www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk .
