Somerset Officially Opens New Coastal Path

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.