News

A popular section of the South West Coast Path, between St Ives and Carbis Bay in Cornwall, is receiving some TLC thanks to the Great South West Walk.

The Great South West Walk, which took place this year to celebrate the South West Coast Path Association’s 40^th anniversary, raised over £500,000 and identified 90 much needed improvement projects around the entire 630 mile South West Coast Path.

Cormac Environment has led the work to improve this section from CarbisBay to St Ives along a stretch that can be slippery and muddy in places, particularly after wet weather.

The work includes new flights of steps and improved drainage to divert surface water off the path.  Vegetation has also been cut back to open up the views across St Ives Bay to Godrevy lighthouse.

Colin Bayes, Senior Countryside Officer at Cormac is pleased with the result:

“We now have a much nicer and easier path for walkers to use between Carbis Bay and St Ives and we would like to thank everyone involved in funding and carrying out the work. This project has received funding from the Rural Development Programme for England and significant sponsorship from Carbis Bay Hotel. It has been a real team effort and the result is fantastic for everyone”.

Stephen Baker, owner of the Carbis Bay Hotel is delighted:

“Many of our guests, as well as people who live in the area, enjoy this section of the South West Coast Path so we are very proud to be involved with improving it.  The views are truly fantastic and the path joins together everything that St Ives harbour has to offer with the beautiful beaches of Carbis Bay.”

John Slater from the South West Coast Path Team, who co-ordinated all of the funding for the Great South West Walk to make the repairs possible also commented:

“The South West Coast Path is a unique asset for the region’s tourism industry with 630 miles of coastal access to stunning landscapes and heritage. The Great South West Walk has been a fantastic partnership between the voluntary sector, public bodies and private business with an interest in the Coast Path.”

The event and the improvements it supports are all part of the South West Coast Path Team’s ‘Unlocking our Coastal Heritage’ project, which received funding from the RDPE to conserve, enhance and interpret the Coast Path.

John continued: “We have been working on the funding being levered by the Great South West Walk for over a year and now have until the end of 2013 to complete all of the 90 or so improvement projects being supported by it. This is the first of many more to come and what a fantastic place in which to start, just in time for summer when I am sure it will get extremely well walked!”

The Carbis Bay to St Ives section of the South West Coast Path follows the railway line to St Ives, passing Carbis Bay and through the wooded outskirts of the town before arriving at the large, sheltered expanse of golden sand that is Porthminster Beach.

For further information on this section of the South West Coast Path, or any other improvement project being funded by the Great South West Walk and its partners, please visit www.GreatSouthWestWalk.co.uk

Pictured above (L to R): John Slater (South West Coast Path Team), Colin Bayes (Cormac Environment) and Stephen Baker (Carbis Bay Hotel) in front of the Carbis Bay to St Ives section of the Coast Path that has been improved.