It's a double whammy for the outdoors in Somerset today, Tuesday 9
May, with the Quantock Hills celebrating its golden jubilee as
the first area in England to be designated an Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty (AONB) while Somerset County Council will open the
West Somerset Coast Path.
A day of activities see the speakers from local and regional
organisations looking back over the past 50 years, then in the
afternoon, the West Somerset Coast Path will be officially
opened.
The new path links the River Parrett Trail at Steart
in Bridgwater Bay to the South West Coast Path National Trail in
Minehead,
making the south west peninsula available as a circular
walk.
It's even possible to link the West Somerset Coast Path to the
South West Coast in Minehead, all the way round the coast to West Bay
in Dorset, along the Brit Valley Way to Cheddington and finally on
the River Parrett Trail back to Steart. This covers a distance
of 640 miles - over twice the distance of the Pennine Way.
The new route was conceived as part of Somerset County Council's
response to the ravages of Foot and Mouth and it's hoped that the
coastal path will 'provide benefits for walkers and local businesses
alike'.
More details of the new path at www.somerset.gov.uk
complete with detailed map.
