Our Projects - Lowland Point and Dean Point-31 elements

This large and complex project consisted of 31 separate elements, including building stepping stones, relocating the Path to avoid coastal landslips, replacing gates and stiles, and building board walks. Storms and erosion had meant that the Path was in very poor condition with sections washed out, and at risk of a large landslide which could have severed the route between Dean Point and Godrevy Cove.

This stretch of the South Cornish coast has a number of designations marking its special environment, it is an Area of Great Scientific Value, and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a National Nature Reserve, a Special Area of Conservation, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and Area of Great Historic Value and has a formal Biodiversity Plan in place to protect it. This meant that the contractors had to be especially careful of the way they carried out the work, with minimal impact on the habitat and environment. Access to this section of Path is also limited by its distance from any public roads, and so much of the transportation of materials was handled by the local landowner, and the work gang had to walk along the Path to get to their starting point each shift.

The South West Coast Path Association’s grant from the Coastal Communities Fund enabled this work to go ahead, and savings were made through the tendering process and on reduced cost of materials as more stone was salvageable from the site than had first been anticipated.

A diversion had been put in place before the work took place, and on completion in October, full access has been restored.

Contractor: JLD Planthire of Helston