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2025 SW Coast Path Forum and Events
The charity hosted a busy two days on the 6th – 7th June, in and around Plymouth, Britain's Ocean City. The events and activities celebrated the South West Coast Path National Trail, and the people who make a difference and help us to care for, connect communities and champion this incredible natural asset.
SW Coast Path Forum
We kicked off with our biennial SW Coast Path Forum at Royal William Yard, Plymouth, where inspiring speakers shared their transformational journeys on the SWCP, discussing community engagement projects, the benefits of getting out into nature and the power of the trail in providing solace and healing benefits for those who use it.
Speakers included (as pictured above, from left to right):
Lisa Franklin who has walked the entire path raising money for the SWCPA and PAPYRUS, and shared her transformational journey on the path and taking on a fundraising challenge.
Katie Ash, SWCPA Trustee and NHS consultant, who talked about the public health benefits of walking and how the health sector is rising to the challenge of engaging people to walk through social prescribing.
Julian Gray, SWCPA Director, who provided a welcome and insight into the health and wellbeing work we are doing.
Sarah Mukherjee MBE, forum facilitator.
Lorna Sherriff, SWCP National Trail Officer, talked about the successful Coast Path Connectors project and how the charity is mainstreaming this work within the team as a broader community engagement and equity of access programme.
Mike Radford, Vocational Development Officer, St Petrocs, talked about St Petroc’s experience of being involved with the Coast Path Connectors project and the benefits this has had for both staff and residents.
Sharon Thomas, access advocate, shared her YouTube channel (Wheelie Fun Adventures), and the advocacy work she does to help raise awareness and understanding to enable people with disabilities to enjoy the trail and have a choice when accessing the SWCP.
Farewell and special thanks to retiring volunteers
The Forum was followed by our AGM and a special presentation to Bob Mark, retiring trustee (and previous Chair), and Margaret Bonner, retiring Area Path Rep for the Padstow – Hayle section. Hilary Dinsdale, Chair, presented them each with a beautiful oak SWCP sign.
Completers Ceremony
At the conclusion of our AGM, we held a Completers Ceremony for members who have completed the 630 miles of SWCP in the last 12 months. We were delighted that several of our members attended and received their certificates, including Steve Pattemore, who is currently on his 6th (and 7th in places!) circumnavigation of the South West Coast Path, but received his certificate to celebrate the 5th time of completing the SWCP! Congratulations to Steve and all our completers!
Steve Pattemore presented with his certificate from SWCPA Director, Julian Gray.
King's Award for Voluntary Service Ceremony
We were honoured to welcome the Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon, who presented the charity's King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) to long-standing SWCPA volunteer, Ken Carter. Awarded to the charity in 2024, the ceremonial event was a perfect way to celebrate #VolunteersWeek, with many of our volunteers in attendance. Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK and is awarded in perpetuity.
Ken Carter (left) and David Fursdon, Lord-Lieutenant of Devon
Left: Geoff Garfield, Area Path Rep, Minehead to Bideford
Right: Caroline Hanlan, Community Engagement Volunteer, Plymouth
World Trails Day - 7th June
On Saturday, we celebrated World Trails Day #WTD with a walk along the trail, starting at Wembury and finishing at Mount Batten. It was a fantastic walk led by Gemma Dunn, SWCPA Community Engagement lead in Plymouth. With the mewstone as a backdrop, and the rain clouds overhead, we set off and were very lucky to reach our lunchtime stop at Bovisands before the rain came down! Following lunch, the rain dissipated and we enjoyed a relatively dry walk through the woodland and on to Jennycliff, before reaching our end point at Mount Batten.
Special Screenings of The Salt Path to raise funds for the charity
We are grateful to Plymouth Arts Cinema and the Everyman Cinema at Royal William Yard for supporting the charity at special screenings of The Salt Path film.
Plymouth Arts Cinema held a special screening on the Friday evening where we held a raffle, and Julian Gray, SWCPA Director, provided a welcome and introduction.
Everyman Cinema at Royal William Yard invited us to show our Trailblazer Walk film (narrated by Raynor Winn) prior to the feature film, and Lorna Sherriff, SWCP National Trail Officer, provided a welcome. It was thrilling to see our Trailblazer Walk film on the 'big screen' and even more fitting as the 630 mile relay walk that the film chronicles (celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2023), concluded at Royal William Yard.
We also held raffles at each screening raising almost £150 for the Path.
Trailblazer Walk film at Everyman Cinema Plymouth
Published on: June 12, 2025
