A new passport for the South West Coast Path

A new way to enjoy the South West Coast Path and support its businesses

Photographs by Mike Newman

Millions of visitors walking the South West Coast Path this summer can keep a lasting record of their journey by stamping their Coast Path Passport. The booklet is being trialled by the South West Coast Path Association (SWCPA), the charity that looks after the National Trail - Britain’s longest at 630 miles, stretching from Minehead in Somerset to Poole in Dorset, via Land’s End at Cornwall’s western tip.

The passport is based on the model used by the world-famous Camino de Santiago walk across Northern Spain. Walkers are invited to stop on their journey and collect ‘stamps’ from more than 100 ‘Way Makers’ - SWCPA business supporters, including visitor information centres, museums, cafés, shops and pubs. It's hoped that when they do, they will take refreshment or stock up on supplies, helping local businesses get their share of the £520 million that nine million path visitors contribute to the local economy each year.

Craftsman Marc Hoskin of Dartmoorbased Wild Work has created stamps with seven designs to reflect different sections of the South West Coast Path: a wave for North Cornwall, a tin mine for West Cornwall and an anchor for South Cornwall, as well as a lighthouse for South Devon, a seal for North Devon, an ammonite for the Jurassic Coast and a moorland pony for Exmoor. “We hope the fun of collecting the stamps will encourage people of all ages to experience the amazing health and wellbeing that the South West Coast Path offers, whether they are walking just one small bit or the whole lot,” says SWPCA director Julian Gray.

“It’s also a great way to raise awareness of the work we do as a charity to help protect, care for, and share this amazing environmental and tourism asset which costs almost £1 million a year to do – half of which we raise from our supporters.”

Way Makers include 18 St Austell Brewery pubs scattered all along the trail, and The Godolphin hotel in Marazion. “As a business located on the South West Coast Path, we understand how important it is to the local economy and recognise that by being a Way Maker, we are doing our bit to help support and protect this natural resource,” says events manager Alexa Allen. “We have been welcoming walkers for years, and we are sure the Passport will encourage many people to explore all that the path has to offer.”

The oldest ferry crossing in Britain is also on board. “We’ve been helping people to cross the Helford passage for over 1,000 years,” says Phil Brewer of Helford River Boats. “Without the Helford Passage ferry, hikers on the South West Coast Path have to walk an extra 13 miles inland to reach Helford Village. “We’re honoured to be selected as one of the first Coast Path Passport Stamping points and help walkers to save their tired feet! It’s a great initiative which means we can also support the charity doing such a great job in looking after this amazing environmental and tourism asset for the region."

Passports cost £6.50 each. During the summer trial, passport users and stamping point venues will be asked for their feedback with a view to growing the scheme in time for the charity’s 50th anniversary celebrations next year.

The South West Coast Path National Trail was originally a means for the coastguard to track and pursue smugglers, and continues to provide access to. As a designated National Trail, it is the longest and most popular walk in the country, passing through Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, including two World Heritage Sites, five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and one National Park. It’s a journey through one of the most diverse coastal landscapes in the world, where no two days walking it are ever the same. l

For more information about the South West Coast Path Passport and to buy your own, visit www.southwestcoastpath. org.uk/passport

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