Our members are vital to caring for the South West Coast Path. £10 of every membership fee is now put directly towards improvements on the Path through the Membership Fund. One of the first projects to be carried out with these funds will be on Exmoor, where the Coast Path runs through Culbone Woods.
This woodland has a rich history, including being previously worked for charcoal. Deep combes had to be bridged to allow for horse and carts to work and these tracks now form part of the Trail. One of these old stone bridges crosses Silcombe Combe, just to the west of Culbone Church. Some of the structure is a substantial retaining wall that has in part collapsed and work is now needed to prevent further collapse of this impressive structure. The plan is to completely dismantle the wall and rebuild it from the bottom using the same techniques they would have used when the first was built a couple of hundred years ago. We are working with our partners at Exmoor National Park to carry out this work with the Association providing 50% of the funds.
In another project, working jointly with Landewednack Parish Council on The Lizard, we will create a new combined interpretation panel and information board to be located in the centre of Lizard village. This will be used to promote the Coast Path and associated circular walks alongside local businesses with the Association again providing much needed match funding to make this happen. Both projects are anticipated to be completed by the end of June, so if you are planning trips to these parts of the Path you and many many others will be able to benefit from them by the time high season is in full swing.
To find out more about future projects, visit our Future Projects page on our website.
The South West Coast Path 