SWCP-2024-Impact Report by southwestcoastpath

Impact Report 2024

Welcome:

The South West Coast Path Association was established in 1973 to champion the creation of England’s longest National Trail. Fifty years later, the charity has taken on a pivotal role co-ordinating the organisations that help maintain the trail (the Trail Partnership), to help ensure the South West Coast Path is open and accessible for everyone.

2024 marked the 75th anniversary of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, creating the legislative framework for National Trails – to help people get to and through our ﬁnest landscapes. Designated a National Trail in 1978, the South West Coast Path now has over 9 million people a year using the Path to connect with nature.

In 2024 our work has focused on:

• Protecting and enhancing the Path corridor in the face of intensifying threats from climate change and nature in crisis;

Extending the opportunities for more people to access the coast through our Coast Path Connectors community engagement work; and

Supporting the local economy through our Way Maker programme.

Working across environment, community and economic issues enables us to manage this national resource sustainably, ensuring that the Coast Path is one of the world’s great trails, now and for future generations.

Volunteers are at the heart of the charity, and we have been working this year to increase their scope and impact. It was with great pleasure that at the end of 2024 this amazing work was formally acknowledged through the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

This Impact Report is both a reﬂection of the progress that the charity and Trail Partnership have made and a call to accelerate action. We are now able to better articulate the impact of our work and the importance of the South West Coast Path and need to leverage this to ensure the transformative power of the Coast Path is accessible to all.

Julian Gray Director, South West Coast Path Association

Working in Partnership

We’d like to acknowledge the work and dedication of the South West Coast Path Trail Partnership, who help protect, maintain and enhance this world class trail: Cornwall Council, Devon County Council, Dorset Council, Exmoor National Park, Plymouth City Council, National Trust, Natural England, South West Coast Path Association and Torbay Council.

Photograph by Andrew Barrett Mawgan Porth, North Cornwall

Stretching across 630 miles of England’s most dramatic coastline, from Minehead in Somerset to South Haven Point in Dorset, with an ascent equivalent to climbing Mount Everest 4 times, the South West Coast Path stands as one of the world’s great trails, a living testament to the power of collective stewardship and shared vision. This Impact Report captures a year of remarkable progress, where passionate partners, dedicated supporters, and countless visitors have come together to protect, enhance, and celebrate this National Trail treasure.

The numbers within these pages tell an important story. As we champion access, enjoyment, and protection of this iconic path, every metric reﬂects the charity’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that future explorers will inherit a trail that is not just preserved but thriving, ready to inspire wonder, adventure, and connection with England’s great South West.

This isn’t just about maintaining a walking route. The path is a vital thread that connects diverse landscapes, vibrant communities, and irreplaceable wildlife habitats, contributing over £520 million annually to the regional economy.

As a charity, our vision is to protect and improve the South West Coast Path as one of the world’s great trails, now and for future generations. In our mission to achieve this, we will champion the South West Coast Path to help everyone access, enjoy and protect the National Trail.

King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award

Julian Gray, Director, South West Coast Path Association

CPC Volunteer Jeannie Blackall Volunteer Award, Active Devon, Healing Steps Walking Group

International Friendship Trail with Bruce Trail, Canada

Trailblazer Walk Film Premiere at World Trails Film Festival, Ottawa, Canada

Named World’s Happiest Walk in a study by Inghams based on the analysis of smiles of walkers on social media posts earning a 99.30 happiness score.

Photograph by Jon Lovejoy Cellars Beach, South Devon

Path Guardians:

Protecting and Improving the Trail

In collaboration with partners, including the National Trust, which owns a third of the land that the Coast Path travels through, we continued our programme to protect and improve the path.

Our dedicated volunteers serve as the eyes and ears of the Coast Path. Between October 2023 and March 2024, over 70 volunteers surveyed 97.3% of the National Trail using digital tablets, recording observations against National Trail Quality Standards. Survey ﬁndings were used to plan path maintenance and improvements, from erosion repairs to footbridge replacements.

Being a Path Rep gets you outside and lets you enjoy what is our national treasure. You have the satisfaction of helping to keep the path in good order for all to enjoy.

Bryn

Gittins, Area Path Rep, Dorset

2024 Achievements

£512k generated to spend on 59 improvement projects.

2,296 volunteer hours.

504 miles of vegetation cutting.

613 miles of path surveyed.

31,153 steps

600 stepboards funded by Step Up Appeal.

4,920 signs 24 signs funded by Find Your Way Appeal.

good condition

1,140 gates

566 bridges

good condition

280 stiles

Photograph by Andrew Turner Bolberry Down, South Devon

Building Coastal Resilience:

Championing Nature and Climate Action

The South West Coast Path provides unparalleled opportunities to experience diverse and dynamic landscapes. We work to protect and enhance the Coast Path corridor to improve its natural beauty, cultural heritage and biodiversity, protecting England’s coastal ecosystems, from rare cliff-top ﬂora to internationally important seabird colonies.

Climate change isn’t a future concern for the Coast Path; it’s a daily reality. We’re seeing more frequent storms and extreme weather events, causing ﬂooding, fires and accelerated coastal erosion. Our response demonstrates the strength of working in collaboration with partners across the South West.

King Charles III England Coast Path Progress

103 miles of new coastal access created through King Charles III England Coast Path. This once-in-a-generation opportunity will create the world’s longest continuous waymarked coastal walking route of 2,700 miles. The establishment works delivered long-sought-after improvements to the South West Coast Path which the charity has been championing for over a decade.

Climate Change

signiﬁcant coastal erosion events affecting the Path.

9 named storms. Henk, Isha, Jocelyn, Kathleen, Lilian, Ashley, Bert, Conall, Darragh.

300 trees blown over and uprooted across Exmoor National Park paths following Storm Darragh.

Conservation Action

Devised and championed the Coastal Wildbelt for positive nature action and reconnecting people with nature.

Supported National Trust SW Coast Programme to make the SW coast wider and wilder.

Advocated for coastal access and nature in coastal management with Environment Agency, Coastal and Marine Partnerships.

Promoted screenings of Living on the Edge Cornwall Climate Care ﬁlm showing impacts of climate change along the Coast Path.

Photograph by Andrew Hocking Reed Bunting, Marazion, West Cornwall

Breaking Down Barriers:

Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion

As a health and wellbeing charity our work focuses on ensuring that everyone can experience the transformative power of the coast.

2024 saw unprecedented efforts to make the Coast Path accessible for everyone:

Creating a few well-marked wheelchair-accessible sections opens up opportunities for more people to explore the coastline. Seeing individuals and families enjoy newly accessible paths is incredibly rewarding. The journey towards full accessibility is ongoing, but each step forward is a step towards inclusivity.

Sharon Thomas, SWCPA Access Advocate

Coast Path Connectors Project

Thanks to National Lottery Heritage Fund support, our Community Engagement team worked across ﬁve hub areas to improve access and boost health and wellbeing for local communities:

466

walks led for new audiences.

3,291

3,500 2,561

Over people participated in wellbeing walks, events, and challenges. hours contributed by 40 volunteers.

Of all the health groups I have joined or been part of since my husband died, Healing Steps Walking Group has helped my mental health the most.

Coast Path Connectors Participant

456

NHS referrals and 226 socially prescribed participants, demonstrating recognition of walking’s therapeutic beneﬁts.

volunteers and partner organisation staff trained to lead or support walks.

36 participants welcomed, many experiencing coastal environments for the ﬁrst time.

40 organisations, including Mustard Tree, Devon Mind, NHS, Macmillan, David Ellis Charity, Lantern Trust, The Lodge Cancer Support, and St Petrocs, were involved in the project.

Photograph by Pete Hemington Exmouth, South Devon

Inspiring Adventures:

Promoting Responsible Coastal Experiences

As the ofﬁcial provider of Coast Path information, we inspire millions to discover the trail’s wonders while promoting responsible enjoyment of this precious resource.

Coast Path Passport

Our Coast Path Passport transforms individual walks into personal adventures, providing walkers with the opportunity to log their journey - whether it's a day trip, a week-long adventure, or the ultimate challenge of completing all 630 miles.

Partnership Success

Our partnership with Great Western Railway demonstrated how sustainable transport and trail promotion can work together.

• Sponsorship of the South West Coast Path Photographer of the Year

• Sponsorship of Every Mile Matters campaign with seven fundraising walks demonstrating car-free coastal access.

International Friendship Trail with Bruce Trail Conservancy

The Wembury section (nr Plymouth) of the South West Coast Path is twinned with the Canadian Bruce Trail as a mark of friendship and international cooperation between our two Trails.

170 Million

reached through national, regional and local media coverage, including features in Countryﬁle.

Information and Engagement: 1 Million Over website visits.

5 Million travellers through Paddington Station with opportunity to view SWCP Photographer of the Year Exhibition.

20k

views from 40 blogs.

11k monthly newsletter subscribers.

6k copies of the Ofﬁcial Guide to the South West Coast Path published and distributed.

125k

social media followers, building a community of Coast Path enthusiasts.

Coast Path Passport holders tracking personal journeys.

Photograph by Jasmin Fernholz Tintagel, North Cornwall

We are grateful to everyone who supports us and helps make a difference in the work we do. From amazing community fundraisers such as Lisa Franklin and Tom Keys-Toyer, to great Coast Path Friendly events like Plymouth Coastal Runners who every year run their October Challenge and donate all funds raised back to the charity, we couldn't do what we do without you.

How We’re Making a Difference

At the South West Coast Path Association, our vision is to protect and improve the South West Coast Path as one of the world’s great trails, now and for future generations. In our mission to achieve this, we will champion the South West Coast Path to help people access, enjoy and protect the National Trail.

Our charity is founded on a dedicated membership who love the Path as much as we do. Membership fees support the charity’s work caring for, promoting, and improving access to the Coast Path for all, with 50% automatically designated for projects to protect and promote the Path.

Thank You to our Members Coast Path Friendly activities giving back to the Trail. £3.8k

Photograph by Martin Cockayne Babbacombe, South Devon

Photograph by James Loveridge Lulworth Cove, Jurassic Coast

Powering the South West Economy:

The South West Coast Path supports thousands of jobs while encouraging responsible travel. Every footstep sustains local businesses, from great places to stay, eat and drink, to discovering new experiences and activities, every business is helping to make the way for precious memories to be made. Supporting Coastal Communities

Our growing network of local businesses creates a web of coastal hospitality built on shared commitments to sustainable tourism and conservation: Way Maker Business Network

560 Way Maker businesses that include cafes, hotels, restaurants, retail, visitor attractions, National Coastwatch Institutions, Tourist Information Centres.

Over 200 Coast Path Passport stamping points create connections between businesses and adventurers.

Fundraising to Build Financial Stability: Business Support

Economic Impact

Photograph by Lloyd Cosway Ansteys Cove, South Devon

Financial Strength and Transparency

Our diversiﬁed funding approach has grown the charity’s income from £400k in 2018 to over £900k in 2024, creating resilience and enabling conﬁdent long-term plann

£1,021,063*

Photograph by Shani Mirwis Pedn Vounder, West Cornwall

Financial Strength and Transparency Looking Ahead: Strategic Priorities

Path Guardians

We are committed to developing and enhancing the South West Coast Path experience as one of the world’s great trails. Through rigorous maintenance, innovative improvement, and dedicated stewardship, we strive for the path to not only meet but exceed National Trail Quality Standards, delivering an exceptional experience for every visitor.

Nature and Climate Action Leadership

We champion the protection and enhancement of the Coast Path corridor, safeguarding its extraordinary natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and diverse habitats. The charity and partners we work with are building resilience against climate change impacts and actively promoting nature recovery throughout the coastal margin. Our advocacy inﬂuences planning policy to secure lasting protection for the South West Coast Path and its surrounding coastal environment.

Championing Health and Wellbeing

We believe the Coast Path should be accessible to everyone. Through targeted outreach and engagement with new audiences, we work to improve equity of access and remove barriers along the National Trail. We celebrate and actively promote the health and wellbeing beneﬁts that come from walking and connecting with nature, positioning the path as part of Britain’s natural health service.

Expanding Our Community

As the ofﬁcial information source for the South West Coast Path, we engage diverse communities in both the Trail itself and our charitable mission. We are committed to ensuring our Coast Path community truly reﬂects the full diversity of modern Britain, welcoming visitors from all backgrounds, abilities and experiences.

Partnership Growth

Through strategic partnerships with tourism businesses and conservation organisations, we amplify our impact and extend our reach. These collaborations create valuable funding opportunities while enabling coordinated coastal protection efforts that beneﬁt the entire region.

Photograph by Jennifer Rogers Hartland Quay, North Devon

Financial Strength and Transparency The Power of Partnership:

From emergency cliff-fall responses to celebrating coastal beauty at London’s Paddington Station, 2024 proved that collaboration creates extraordinary impact. Working with the National Trust, Natural England, local authorities, and countless volunteers, we transformed obstacles into opportunities for improvement and innovation.

Whether through corporate sponsorship, volunteer hours, or simply sharing Coast Path experiences on social media, every form of support contributes to a future where England’s most spectacular coastal trail remains accessible to all.

Thank You

Every member, volunteer, donor, and partner made 2024’s achievements possible. Your support doesn’t just maintain the Coast Path, it preserves living heritage that connects people with nature and sustains communities across the South West.

Acknowledgements

Editorial team: Sally Robins and Aletha Mays Design: Kate Battersby, Idenna

Photograph by Harry Williams Stepper Point, North Cornwall