The Practical Caravan & Practical Motorhome editorial team has signed up to do several of the sections of the South West Coast Path Association’s Great South West Walk.
The
630-mile walk celebrates the Association’s 40th anniversary with 56
guided, sponsored walks. The monies raised will be used to fund more
than 50 improvement projects along the path’s route.
Landslips
along the route have made the fund-raising even more important. Rangers
have been putting in temporary diversions to make the path safe while
they secure new routes.
The Association
hopes to raise £85,000 from individual sponsorship to attract grants
from other sources to reach an ultimate target of £250,000 for
improvements.
Coast path improvements
Projects
include on the south coast a new path between Cheyne Weares (near
Portland Bill) and Church Ope Cove, based on informal paths through an
area of quarrying and landslip. This would enable the Coast Path to be
moved off the road and improve walkers’ coastal experience.
On
the north coast the path from Padstow Harbour through to the War
Memorial suffers drainage problems. Walkers have to go up the banks to
avoid the flooding. Plans are to improve the surfacing and the drainage
to make this section more accessible to families with pushchairs and
mobility scooter users.
Coast path guided walks
The half- and full-day walks kick off on the south coast on 3 April for South Haven Point in Dorset and on the north coast from Minehead on 16 April.
The
Practical Caravan & Practical Motorhome team have all opted for half-day walks – varying
excuses for not taking on full days include lack of fitness (Claudia)
and carrying children (Rob).
Editor Rob Ganley and his family
pick up the baton on 7 April at Langton Herring for an afternoon’s
five-mile amble to Abbotsbury in the hope that son Joe will get to visit
the swannery.
Abbotsbury in Dorset is home to the famous swannery
Travel
editor Claudia Dowell, who only ever walks this far on New Year’s day,
usually with a slight headache, will take up the seven-mile challenge
from Sidmouth to Budleigh Salterton.
View of Sidmouth in Devon from High Peak is on Claudia’s walk
Staff
writer and keen (and very good) photographer Clare Kelly wanted to see
the Lizard in Cornwall, she’s doing the afternoon five-mile stint on 2
May from Kennack Sands to the Lizard.
Housel Cove, Cornwall will be a treat for Clare to photograph
Web
editor Nigel Donnelly will be tackling the morning five-mile yomp on 2
May from Crantock to Holywell Bay before he hitches up his van to go on
to Practical Caravan’s Reader Rally at Stowford Farm Meadows, Combe Martin, which takes place over the early May Bank Holiday.
Holywell Bay’s beautiful sandy beach on Cornwall’s north coast
We’ll
all be there so why not join us? Call Stowford Farm Meadows on 01272
882 476, quoting ‘Practical Rally’. It’s a terrific deal, three nights
for £42 per pitch, and includes afternoon tea with a jazz band, a
barbecue, barn dance and lots more besides. There may even be more
walking.
Dog display at the Reader Rally at Stowford Farm Meadows
We look forward to meeting up with many of you on our walks. Let the training begin!
