Running the South West Coast Path

The South West Coast Path: Who’s Who?

The South West Coast Path doesn't just run itself. Several groups work in partnership to maintain, develop and promote the path. The organisations in this partnership are:

The Countryside Agency

The Countryside Agency develops National Trails through the powers it was given by the 1949 National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act. It is also their prime funder, making grants to the highway authorities for their management and maintenance.

Highway Authorities

The highway authorities are responsible for managing the path and its furniture, carrying out all practical work on the ground. They also contribute to the cost of this work. Any problems you may encounter with the path should be referred to the relevant highway authority. In path order, starting at Minehead these are as follows: Exmoor National Park Authority, Devon County Council, Cornwall County Council, Plymouth City Council, Torbay Council and Dorset County Council.

The National Trust

The National Trust owns and manages one third of the coastal land through which the South West Coast Path runs. In most such cases the relevant highway authority has delegated its path maintenance responsibilities to the Trust, and like the highway authorities the Trust contributes to the cost of the work it carries out.

Much of the National Trust's land along the South West Coast Path has been bought through the Neptune Coastline campaign which has raised over £36 million and acquired more than 413 miles (665 km) of the coastline of England, Wales and Northern Ireland since 1965. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coastline/save/neptune_campaign.html

South West Coast Path Team

A small team of three people spear-heads the partnership of organisations which manages and promotes the National Trail. The Team:

Provides an independent voice for the South West Coast Path and influences appropriate organisations for the benefit of the National Trail
Provides expertise on South West Coast Path management issues and advises Coast Path managers
Initiates developmental and experimental work on the Coast Path, spreading best practice around the region and further afield
Is a catalyst for regional and strategic projects, by assessing need, planning, providing the framework and, if appropriate, raising funds
Holds the overview for the entire South West Coast Path and promotes Trail management to the highest possible standards.

Here are some recent examples of the work carried out by the Team:

Continuous monitoring of the condition of the South West Coast Path and every individual piece of furniture along it (i.e. stiles, gates, steps, bridges, drainage features, signs and waymarks). Each year a third of the Path is surveyed using GPS equipment.
Matching this information with funding to meet management needs consistently across the region.
Development of a new route for the South West Coast Path between Strete Gate and Warren Point in South Devon.
Running the annual training workshop for Coast Path managers.
Working with Coast Path managers and staff from DEFRA’s Rural Development Service and English Nature to improve land management, access and public enjoyment in the Coast Path corridor.
Publication and distribution of an introductory promotional leaflet for the South West Coast Path.
Development of the official South West Coast Path website www.nationaltrail.co.uk/southwestcoastpath
Working with Exmoor National Park Authority and the South West Coast Path Association to pilot local guide books incorporating circular walks for individual sections of the Coast Path

Contact: The South West Coast Path Team, c/o Devon County Council, Topsham Rd, Exeter, EX2 4QW Tel: (01392) 383560 Fax: (01392) 383526 E-mail: swcpteam@devon.gov.uk

The Team works with and through:

The South West Coast Path Management Group, consisting of member organisations which have a direct interest in the path. Current membership is the Countryside Agency, the 6 relevant highway authorities, the 3 relevant National Trust regions, National Farmers Union, Country Land & Business Association, South West Protected Landscapes Forum, South West Tourism and South West Coast Path Association. The Management Group normally meets 4 times a year.

The South West Coast Path Forum, which draws in a wider range of interests, raising awareness of issues and approaches and keeping the South West Coast Path on the agenda of its members. Forum members meet once a year, and receive the Coast Path newsletter (usually twice a year).

South West Coast Path Association

The Association is a voluntary member organisation, and promotes the interests of users of the South West Coast Path. Amongst other things, it does this by lobbying the numerous bodies which are responsible for the path (as identified on this page) in order to see it is maintained to a high standard and to continually seek realignment of several sections of the South West Coast Path onto where it should be--namely the coast.

The South West Coast Path is part of the National Trail Network		Copyright ©2008 South West Coast Path Association
Whilst care is taken to ensure accuracy of the information provided, neither the website authors or The South West Coast Path Association will be held responsible for consequences arising from using information from this website. In situations where accurate information is required readers are recommended to cross-check using other published sources.