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The South West Coast Path has beaten four nominees, including the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail and the South Downs Way, to be crowned the country’s most spectacular coastal path at this year’s Coast magazine awards in London.Pictured from left to right: Mark Owen, National Trail Officer for the SWCP Team, Martine Joule and Valentine Warner

Described in its nomination as “an epic 630-mile odyssey encompassing one National Park, five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and two World Heritage Sites – the Jurassic Coast and the Cornish Mining landscapes”, the South West Coast Path impressed a panel of expert judges that included TV presenter and adventurer Ben Fogle, and Director of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing academy Ben Ainslie.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mark Owen, the National Trail Officer for the South West Coast Path team,said: “We are delighted to have won the accolade of the country’s Best Coastal Path. It is the longest National Trail and a truly spectacular route around the South West peninsula, passing through incredible sites of historical and natural interest. Wherever you choose to walk along the South West Coast Path, the views are simply stunning and will keep you coming back time and again.

“We are really pleased that it has got the recognition it deserves, and hope that this means that even more people will now get out on to the coast path to enjoy all that is has to offer!”

It was a clear winner with 33% of the 40,000 votes - an impressive figure that reveals just how passionate people are about the UK's coastline and the South West in particular.

The South West as a whole was a runaway winner with a number of the awards presented to people and places in the region. To find out who won and for a Coast Path walk linked to that location visit www.southwestcoastpath.com/coastaward